William “Bill” Smith, class of 1956, was a multi-year, All-KCAC selection in both football and basketball while earning 12 varsity letters in three sports for McPherson College.

A native of McPherson, Smith was a four-year starter and letter winner in football for the Bulldogs. As a senior, Smith was named to the All-KCAC first team. He received the honorable mention All-KCAC recognition as a 170-pound freshman defensive lineman following the Bulldogs’ 1952 undefeated, championship season. Following his sophomore season he was named to the All-KCAC’s second team, and then as a junior, when he co-captained the Bulldogs and was named honorable mention all-conference.

During his senior year, Smith set a KCAC and McPherson College single game basketball scoring record of 47 points against Friends University, a school record that still stands. In that same game, he also set school records for free throws made (21) and attempted (28). His 466 single season points and 1149 career points were also school records at the time of his graduation. As a junior he was named to the all-conference second team while leading McPherson in rebounding. As a senior, he broke his own record and again led the conference in scoring and was named to the All-KCAC first team.

In track and field, Smith medaled in the discus at the conference meet all four years, and set a school record as a sophomore.

After receiving his B.S. in mathematics from McPherson College, Smith went on to a distinguished 20-year career as an officer in the U.S. Navy. He attended the United State Naval Postgraduate School in Engineering Science, the Armed Forces Staff College, and George Washington University, where he received a Masters in Information Technology. A Vietnam veteran, Smith concluded his naval career on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon, retiring with the rank of Commander in 1977.

Following his naval career, Smith worked in private industry as a Systems Engineer in information systems research and development until his retirement in 1997.

At the present time, he is active at Christ Church Episcopal in Richmond, Va, the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, and participates in senior track & field and basketball. A state and regional senior champion in the shot put and discus, Smith has also been a member of several Virginia state championship senior basketball teams.

Smith joins his brother Paul “Gene” Smith, Hall of Fame class of 2000, as the second brother combination in the McPherson College Athletic Hall of Fame.