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Letter: Missing Coach Smith

The memories that I have about Jack Smith of Rifle couldn’t have been expressed any better than what Mike Vidakovich provided in his “open letter” written recently.

Smitty was an excellent coach in Rifle for many years, but I remember him more for his friendship and the way he carried himself every time I was around him. I always looked forward to events that I attended where I might get to see Jack.

Yes, we had a fierce rivalry with Rifle, but win or lose, you always knew that Jack was going to be fair and respectful. We were fortunate to be coached by men like Bob Chavez, Don Miller, Nick Stubler and Harlan Spencer. We were also fortunate to have competed against men like Jack Smith and Gordon Cooper in Rifle. The lessons we learned from all of these people went much further than the field or the court. Those of us who knew him are better off because of him, and he will be missed.



Scott Bolitho

New Castle




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