Clyde Smith: Professional Athlete

The Clyde Smith Manor on Jefferson Street in Lawrenceville is named for long time Lawrence County resident, Clyde W. Smith. But other than a man serving Lawrence County in various positions, who was Clyde Smith?

Clyde was born in 1904 in Steelville, Missouri to Henry W. and Perrigue Smith. After becoming a first-rate center on his high school team, he was recruited to play football at the University of Missouri. There he became a team leader and was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference team. Some news records also state he was named to the All-American team. Smith led the team in their post-season game against the University of Southern California Trojans in 1924.

After graduating, Smith played three years of professional football with the Kansas City Cowboys, the Cleveland Bulldogs, and the 1928 National Football League Champion team in Providence, Rhode Island. His brothers, Glenn and Raymond, continued the family tradition of being Centers for the University of Missouri.

Clyde Smith came to Lawrence County, Illinois, as football coach for the Bridgeport Bulldogs, a post which he held for a few years. He married Evlyn Neal, whose family owned the Lawrenceville Greenhouses. Smith was Chairman of the Lawrence County Housing Authority and also served on the Lawrence County Fair Board. Clyde never missed local football and basketball games in Lawrence County.

Clyde Smith died in 1982 and was buried in the Lawrenceville City Cemetery. According to researchers, he was one of only a few professional athletes to have lived in Lawrence County.