Jacksonville State University Athletics

Bill Smith was an outstanding track athlete from 1970-72. He came to JSU after graduating from Calhoun College in Decatur, where he was the AJCC State High Jump Champion in 1969 and 1970. In his junior season of 1971 in NAIA Regional Championship Competition, Smith won the gold in the High Jump at the West Georgia Championships in 1971 and then repeated in 1972. He also won the gold in High Jump at the Berry College Championships, the Rome (Ga.) Relays, won the Gold in 1971 & 1972 and broke the Stadium record he set in 1971. He won the Gold in the High Jump at the SEC Indoor in 1972 and was one of only two athletes from the state of Alabama to win an individual event. He won the bronze in the High Jump at the Auburn Invitational in 1971 and went on to win the gold in the High Jump at the very prestigious Auburn Invitational Indoor Track & Field Championships. He becomes the first Gamecock track star to be inducted into the JSU Athletics Hall of Fame. Following his JSU career, Smith continued to compete in USA Track & Field. He won Gold in the High Jump at the 1982 National Masters Track & Field Championships and won back-to-back titles in the 600-yard dash at the USA Championships in 1987 and 1988 defeating Mark Winzenried, former World Holder. In 1991, he was captain of the Team at the World Masters Championships in Turku, Finland, where he earned gold in the 4x400 Relay, silver in the 100 Meters and bronze in the 4x100 Relays. He was inducted into the United States Corporate Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992 in ceremonies at the University of Washington with UCLA Sprinter Benny Brown.