"Bill" Smith was a student/athlete at Socastee High School in the 1950's, graduating in 1956. He was the youngest of six kids and one of only two siblings to graduate high school. He was the only sibling to attend college and attain a master's degree in mathematics. He returned to his alma mater to teach and coach for 18 years prior to his death from a brain tumor July 1980. While attending Socast
ee as a student/athlete, he averaged double digit scoring as a point guard for the Braves. His passion was baseball in which I am told he held records in the state for his batting average that stood for years following his graduation. When he returned as a teacher, he began a nine year coaching career for the Braves baseball team in the 1960's, in which he won conference championships seven of those nine years. He resigned as baseball coach to spend more time with his growing family. As my sister and I grew older, he began a new coaching career for the Braves golf team during the mid to late 1970's. I am going by memory, but I believe he won conference championship in 1975, and perhaps in subsequent years. He was twice voted Socastee High Teacher of the year, and the yearbook was dedicated to him twice during his tenure. Socastee began a short lived football team (prior to a permanent established program) in 1962, where he was an assistant coach to head coach Al Cheatwood. He also coached jv basketball multiple years early in his career. Bill Smith retired from teaching at the end of the 1979 school year due to his illness. His life was Socastee High School and Socastee the community. He was so admired and respected by the school and community that the inaugural Beach Ball Classic in 1981 was dedicated to my father and my mother threw out the first gameball for tip off to begin what is now considered the premier holiday basketball tournament in the country. I am asking support for the induction of my father into the Socastee High School Hall of Fame, as I believe he is deserving of this honor. What I ask of my facebook friends is that if anyone has any type of paraphenalia or documentation to support the attributes of my father, be it newspaper articles, pictures, trophies or anything that can show his accomplishments, please scan and place on this page. I thank each of you in advance for your consideration.
