Carol Smith (2013) - Hall of Fame - St. Cloud State University Athletics

Carol Smith

Induction:
2013
Class:
1969

Carol Smith Distinguished Service Award Winner
Carol Smith graduated from St. Cloud State in the spring of 1969 with a physical education major and a health minor. When she arrived on campus in the fall of 1965 the only sports competition available to women was in the Women’s Recreation Association and she competed in badminton, volleyball, basketball and softball. Smith served as the vice-president of the W.R.A. in 1967-68 and the physical education majors at the time were very involved in the organization. As committee members and leaders, they would organize tournaments and play days. In 1969, St. Cloud State formed its first intercollegiate softball team and Carol Smith was on that team. The Huskies won the first game of that inaugural season and Smith scored three runs and had one hit in the game. After leaving St. Cloud State, she taught at Mora High School for two years. In 1971 she began teaching at Paynesville High School and spent the next 32 years nurturing girls’ athletics. She established the Paynesville girls’ sports program by coaching basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, and track and field. In 2005 Paynesville High School established the Paynesville Bulldog Athletic Hall of Fame and Smith was in the first group of inductees. Smith continued her involvement with Husky athletics as she served on the St. Cloud State Athletic Hall of Fame committee for several decades until her death in 2011. An advocate of women’s athletics at the college and high school levels, and a wonderful friend of SCSU athletics, Carol Smith was a true pioneer in women’s athletics.