Posted on 10/03/2019
CAPT W. Earle Smith Jr. (USN Ret)
The world lost a remarkable "Southern Gentleman". William Earle Smith, Jr. (Earle), passed due to cardiovascular issues, on September 6th, at the age of 85. Born in Mobile, AL on 3-15-34, he went on to become an incredible athlete, a successful U.S. Naval Officer and a "Mover & Shaker" for his adopted home in Washington state. Earle was Mobile, Alabama's "Outstanding Amateur Athlete of 1951. He played four sports at his high school, University Military School (UMS), and earned 14 letters. He was "All City" in football and basketball his Jr. and Sr. years. He earned "All American" for high school football. In 1949, Earle was runner up for the state of Alabama's Junior Golf Championship. Earle was inducted into the UMS-Wright Sports Hall of Fame in 1981. At the Naval Academy, he played First String Tight End for three years. Earle was selected for "Honorable Mention All American" in 1954, when he played on the football team that beat Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl 21-0. Earle still holds the record for most touchdowns by a Tight End in an Army/Navy football game. He was voted by his teammates to serve as Team Captain of the football team his senior year. That was the year that Navy beat Notre Dame, 33-7. The family still has that "game ball". He was selected to play in the North-South Shrine Game (1957). Earle was a versatile athlete and played catcher for the Naval Academy Baseball team (1954) and was invited to try out with the St. Louis Cardinals. He played the #1 position of the Naval Academy Golf Team (1956). Navy won the Eastern Intercollegiate in Golf that year and Earle qualified as a "Medalist" (4 under Par for 36 holes). He was inducted into the "Mobile Sports Hall of Fame" in 2010. Earle leaves behind his wife of 39 years, Sandra Howes Smith, who is also a retired Navy Captain. They met in Yokosuka, Japan during a "War Game" exercise. Other family members are (his three children) W. Earle Smith, III, Shannon (Smith) Longo and Jennifer (Smith) Bock, (their spouses) Jackson Warring, Paul Longo and Kurtis Bock, (the grandchildren) Anthony Longo, Natalie Longo and Alayna Bock, (his brother) Ben Smith and Ben's wife, Emily Adkins. The family wants everyone to know that his success as an athlete, a Naval Officer, and his many activities/efforts on the various projects in Kitsap County were just a small part of who the man was. The most important part of Earle Smith was how he made people feel special. He was able to bring out the best in people and could persuade them to volunteer their time and talents. Go to www.miller-woodlawn.com for a complete memorial. "At the end of the day, people won't remember what you said or did. They will remember how you made them feel." --- Maya Angelou
Published in the Mobile Register and Baldwin County on Oct. 4, 2019