Vernon "Catfish" Smith Sr.

     Colonel Vernon “Catfish” Smith spent his career in service to our country, from the moment he entered ROTC at the University of Georgia in 1929 until he retired in 1963 as a Full Bird Colonel.  From Army ROTC, he joined the Army Air Corps, transitioning to the Air Force, where he earned Legion of Merit, Air Force Commendation Medal (twice), World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Reserve Medal, and Air Force Longevity Medal.   

 

     Colonel Smith’s tenacity and leadership were honed by both ROTC and sports at the University of Georgia, where he was a standout, captain of three varsity teams and Consensus All-America in football in 1931. He is often remembered, on the day Georgia dedicated the Sanford Stadium in 1929, for scoring every point in the game in their 15-0 victory over the favored Yale. In a scoring blitz that would be impossible as the game is played today, he fell on a blocked point in the endzone, kicked an extra point, caught a touchdown pass from Spud Chandler, and tackled Albie Booth in the endzone.  Finding the tackle somewhat rough, Booth shouted at Smith, “That kind of stuff doesn’t go around here.”  Smith replied, “Neither do you.” As tenacious as he was, Smith was known for enjoying his companions, attending countless reunions, and sharing the stories of their history, so it is a fitting tribute to share this often-told legend here. In 1979, Georgia celebrated the 50th anniversary of the stadium, and on the same day gave Smith his on-campus salute for induction into the college Football Hall of Fame.

 

     Throughout his coaching career, Smith’s experience with athletes on the field paralleled his influence in ROTC.  From 1932 through 1941, he consecutively coached at Georgia, South Carolina, and Mississippi. He later retired from the Air Force as the Commander of the University of Florida, Gainesville, Air Force ROTC program.      

 

     While at the Veterans Administration Medical center in La Jolla, San Diego, where he passed through the valley of the shadow of death to join the many other Veterans who are now gathered at the Lord’s table and His house forever, Chaplain(LTC) Vernon S. Smith Jr, USMC(7564)/USA, Retired, read his favorite Bible passage, Psalm 23.