Earl H. Smith, Jr.

1952 graduate of Gary Roosevelt had 56-year-career with Gary Schools including coaching at Tolleston, Froebel, West Side, Emerson and Lew Wallace and as citywide athletic director…  the 1^st African-American head coach at Froebel, Emerson and Lew Wallace, his teams won 323 games in 26 seasons, five conference titles, three sectionals, and three regional championships, reaching the state tournament’s “Elite Eight” twice…  1977 Emerson team won the inaugural HOF Classic and reached #1 in the state polls… 1975 Emerson and 1983 Lew Wallace teams broke 30+ year droughts to reach semi-state… set IHSAA long jump record and twice won long jump state title on Roosevelt 1951 & 1952 track and field state championship teams… 1954 Big Ten long jump champ at University of Iowa & leading scorer in Big Ten football as running back.