| Billy Smith |
Full Name: Billy G. Smith
Born: September 6, 1931
Died: November 24, 2021, Tallahassee, Fla.
Legacy Bricks: Legacy Walk Map Link
2006 Moore-Stone Award HOF - Loc 63
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| FSU Career |
| Moore-Stone Award | |
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| Member of the FSU Hall of Fame |
| Elected into the FSU Hall of Fame in 2006 |
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When Bobby Bowden and the Seminoles take the field for the 2006 season, a familiar face will be right beside the FSU head coach as he has been for 42 seasons. This year Billy Smith will carry an extra
title in addition to his state trooper rank of major - he will be an FSU Hall of Fame selection as the 2006 Moore-Stone Award winner. In 1964, Smith was asked by then FSU coach Bill Peterson if he would be interested in traveling with the team, which was totally unique at the time. Peterson was looking to add credibility to a team still earning respect in its home state. The Governor of Florida agreed to the unique arrangement and they negotiated a salary of "zero," which has been doubled every year since as Smith jokes. Since that day, Smith has escorted the head coach and provided team security for FSU head coaches Bill Peterson, Larry Jones, Darrell Mudra and of course, Bobby Bowden. In 1992, he was presented with the Bobby Bowden Appreciation Award. He has also received a special award by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club and has been awarded the Circle of Gold by the FSU Alumni Association. Though never an athlete at FSU, Smith has also been given an honorary Varsity Letter. Very few in the history of college athletics have been as close to a football program for so many years and even fewer garnered the respect and genuine affection that Smith has with his
Florida State teams. Obituary for Billy G. Smith Billy G. Smith, 81, of Tallahassee, passed away Saturday, November 24, 2012 at the Margaret Z. Dozier Hospice House at Big Bend Hospice. Mr. Smith was a native of Webb, Alabama and a longtime resident of Tallahassee. He was a 1949 graduate of Bay High School in Panama City and was also a graduate of the Florida Highway Patrol Academy. Following graduation he joined the Florida Highway Patrol in 1953 and faithfully served until retiring in 2010. During the period from 1964 until the season of 2011 Major Smith provided security for the head football coach at Florida State University; a period that spanned from the days of Coach Bill Peterson to Bobby Bowden and Jimbo Fisher. He was also a Korean War veteran of the United States Air Force and was a longtime member of Fellowship Baptist Church, where he served as Deacon for many years. The members of his Fisherman's Sunday School Class will serve as Honorary Pallbearers. Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Jeanette P. Smith of Tallahassee; his son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Alisa Smith of Crawfordville; his daughter and son-in-law,
Terri S. and Richard Brown of Tallahassee; his sister, Othel Sanders of Panama City; and his brother, Larry Smith of Pace. Also surviving are two grandsons, Corey Smith of Crawfordville and Brandon
Boggis of Tallahassee. |
| FSU Statistics |