The Lincoln times., 1954-12-13

1t is reported that a fund
raising drive has been instigat-
ed among Lbs alumni here for
a plaque that will be placed in
the new !.incOlnton high school
physical education building in
memory of the immortal Lbs
athletic coach and teacher.
Block" Smith. The new. long
needed athletic plant was nam
ed in honor of the late coach at
dedication ceremonies last
Wednesday night.
TEAMS WELL COACHED
The immolta Block" during his
l3-yeac legime as head coach Of
Lbs athletics. and as a member
of the faculty, became a color
ful and popular personality at the
school and among the toWnspeo-
pie. He developed strong sports
teams here that quickly gained
local area. district and state re-
cognitition, and his outstanding
coaching ability gained him deep
respect ana admiration from
those in the coaching ranks. His
teams, clear, hard-playing ones
by the Smith brand. earned the
"well-coached" label from opposi-
ton coaches and players.
During those days 1924
of "Dlock's" oaching reign
here. athletic facilities, equip
ment, etc, and money to fin
ance athletic programs were
Inadequate in comparison TO
ample financed programs of to-
day. Block often was known
to dig dOw1 into his own pock-
cts to buy 4 pair of shoes. a
glove. or some other item of
equipment for athletes of his
that he found could not afford
them. Gasoline, used for the
cars in transportating players
on the out of town trips, also
often was paid for out of his
pocket.
Winning, although a major OBJ
jective. wasn't stressed by
Block" above other more i'm
portant principles. He taught his
boys" craftsmanship and to live
and plag oy the creed of the i'm
mortal Knute Rockne (NOtre
Dance that: ''it matters not
whether you won or lost, but
how YOU PLAYED the game" Incl
dentallv. "Block" attended g
numbe. Of the Rochne cOaching
schools, as we'll as schools taught
by Other leading college coaches
he was always interested II
learnin- from the masters" anC
Impartiug this knowledge to his
athletes. HIS philosophy, too, was
tc build thinss the right way fol
| those traI a"e to follow.
COACHED 6 SPORTS
Block" not only coached
the major sports at LHS-fOOt-
ball, basketball. baseball. but
also tutored boxing, wrestling
and Track teams. He had no
assistants. like many present
day mentors. and had plenty
/ of work tc do as One-man
coaching staff. The list of his
! athletes VINO went on to be-
come great stars in college and
pro ball is 4 long and impress
Sive one. His teams won num-
ber af titles, and usually could
be found in the top division of
conference and tourney teams.
Quite a few of his boxers made
name" for themselves in the
early Golden Gloves Journeys
] at Charlotte. He coached sew
eral LincOinton American Le-
/ gion Junior baseball teams; the
I 1887 LincOInton Legion team
/ of his being the only Lincoln
ton team 20 ever advance as
far As the state Semi-finalS He
/ was d stIcEler for conditioning
! and coaching of fundamentals
in any sport. and in football
his practice sessions were de-
voted almost entirely with
! tCdtLthS LiS pay CiS ho" w
block aid tackle He often said
he diaL't want a player who
couldn't block and tackle"
His widow Mrs Libby" Hok,
Smith served as the voluntee
and unpaid coach of the LHf
basketball teams during Block S
carly coaching days here. Through
| the years she has maintained ;
Keen interest in Lbs sports, ant
a loyal booster of the school ant
it's progrems In recent years sh'
las served as adviser (the girl
affectiorately call her Mother
SMITH Of the LHS girls cham
pionshio basketball teams, coach
ed by another popular, success
iul and respected LES coach
Jack KiSer.
GUILTORD COACH
When Smith left Lincolntol
IN 1887. he went back to mis- col
lege alma meter, Guilford, a
coach OF the athletics teams. Lik'
at LHS, he developed good team