Helen Smith wouldn’t want words like icon and legend used to describe her, but she most definitely was both of those things in Oxford.
Helen Smith wouldn’t want folks making any sort of a big fuss over her, but the community is going to.
Helen Smith wouldn’t want Oxford to be sad, but it is.
On Monday, July 13, 2015, the longtime resident passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at her home in Oxford Oaks. She was 81 years old.
For decades, Smith, a 1952 Oxford High School graduate, was this community’s biggest booster, staunchest defender and best friend. She loved Oxford like no other.
‘She is the original Oxford Wildcat,? said Oxford football coach Bud Rowley, a friend of Smith’s for 42 years. ‘No one can replace her enthusiasm. You’re just not going to find anybody else like her.?
Her dedication to the community’s youth was second to none. Her passion for Wildcat athletics was unmatched. Her commitment to helping others was tireless and inspiring.
Leaton Noftz, who served as Oxford’s athletic director from 1970-92, called Smith ‘a tremendous positive force? for school athletics and the community in general.
‘There was never anybody that ever did any more (than she did),? he said. ‘She was always positive. She backed us 110 percent.?
‘She was one of a kind and there will never be anyone (else) like her, I’ll tell you that,? Noftz added.
Smith was never afraid to speak her mind. Her words were always honest and straight from the heart. Her respect for herself and others demanded no less.
‘She didn’t pull any punches when she talked to you,? Rowley said. ‘She never ducked controversy, ever. She (faced) it head-on.?
Smith was always active, never idle. Even when her body was failing her, Smith’s mind remained sharp as a tack and she never shirked any of the numerous responsibilities she had taken on. When there was a job to be done, she saw it through to the end, no excuses, just results, even if she had to work from a hospital bed.
Being involved in everything around her came quite naturally to Smith.
When she attended OHS, she was the senior class vice president, a member of the chorus and glee club, worked on the school newspaper and yearbook, took part in the junior and senior plays, served on student council and was a cheerleader. She was also a member of the Future Homemakers of America as well as the science and ushers clubs.
There was very little Smith didn’t do, so it should come as no surprise that she was voted ‘most popular? and her class prophecy was to become ‘Michigan’s first woman senator.?
Of course, her favorite thing was attending football games and rooting for her beloved Wildcats. The 1952 Oxford yearbook hit the nail right on the head when it proclaimed the ‘ideal senior girl should have Helen Smith’s school spirit.?
Over the years, she rarely ever missed a football game. In fact, she only missed one homecoming game between 1948 and 2014, and that was because she had pneumonia.
At the 2014 homecoming game, Smith was presented with a special custom-made chair so she could watch her Wildcats in comfort and style. The Queen of Oxford had finally gotten her throne.
Rowley said the University of Michigan had Bob Ufer, the Detroit Tigers had Ernie Harwell and the Oxford Wildcats had Helen Smith.
‘She’s right up there,? he said. ‘She went to basketball games, football games. She used to walk up and down the sidelines. The lady was nothing but a Wildcat ? end of story. Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat. She coined the phrase and that was her.?
‘If there was ever a Number One Wildcat, she had to be it,? Noftz said.
Following high school, Smith’s devotion to Oxford student athletes never wavered. In fact, it grew and grew. She made it her mission to see that Oxford’s young people always received the support they needed and the fond memories they deserved.
‘Mainly, I like to do it for our children, our high school students. They are our future,? she said in a 2007 interview.
‘She always spoke highly of the schools, spoke highly of the students,? Rowley said. ‘She was nothing but 100 percent supportive of Oxford education.?
In 1968, she became a charter member of the original Oxford Wildcat Booster Club.
‘She was really one of the major leaders in the Booster Club,? Noftz said. ‘She always helped me. Anytime I needed some help or suggestions about how to do things better, she was always there. You never had to worry about that. She always had your back.?
Smith was the heart and soul of the original Booster Club until its dissolution in 2005.
You name it, she did it. She couldn’t do enough for the student athletes. They were her kids and whenever she talked about them, she beamed with a mother’s pride.
Every year from the mid-1970s through 2005, Smith, without fail, made sure every single OHS senior athlete was honored with a plaque at a banquet held in their honor.
Smith did this sort of thing because way back when, somebody did it for her, and it only seemed right to return the favor.
‘I remember when I was in school all the things that were done for us that made our high school years so great,? she told this reporter back in 2007. ‘Those were some of the best times I’ve had in my life.?
Smith was so identified with OHS athletics that an award was named after her and every year since 1980, it’s been presented to the top female athlete in the senior class.
Outside of the booster club, Smith served on the Oxford Board of Education from 1974-77, spent six years as a cheerleading coach and was honored as the OHS Mother of the Year in 1973.
Smith’s commitment to helping young people wasn’t just limited to athletes.
For many years, she chaired the Oxford American Legion Post 108’s scholarship committee and was heavily involved in selecting high school students to represent Oxford at the annual Boys State and Girls State summer enrichment programs. There, young people learn how government and the democratic process work.
‘It is quite an opportunity for them and I haven’t run into one that did not think that it was a great experience,? Smith said in a 2010 interview.
Outside of her community involvement, Smith was a smart businesswoman with a head for numbers.
After attending Michigan State College, Smith returned to Oxford in 1954 to help run the family businesss, Smith Silo.
For 20 years, she helped manage the company, which was established when her grandfather, Hiram Smith, invented and patented the concrete stave silo in the early 1900s.
The first one was sold in 1909.
Her father, Warren Smith, expanded the company and built it into one of the leading concrete silo manufacturers in the Midwest. Under his leadership, the Smith name became synonymous with quality silos.
Smith Silo moved to Oxford in 1930 to be close to its gravel source and was located at 98 S. Glaspie St. through the 1970s.
Later on, Smith put her considerable accounting knowledge to work by the doing the books for a number of local businesses.
Smith never asked for thanks or craved accolades, but then again, Oxford never failed to express its gratitude and let her know just how much the community valued her herculean efforts and her indomitable spirit.
Smith served as grand marshal of the Christmas parade in 2002 and grand marshal of the Homecoming parade in 2011.
In May 2007, the Rotary Club of Oxford bestowed upon her the coveted G.E. Meads Award. Created in 2000, the award is presented to non-Rotarians who exemplify the club’s motto ‘Service Above Self? by making significant contributions to the community.
At the time, Rotarian Jim Tichenor, who had nominated her for the award, said, ‘I think Helen emulates everything Oxford stands for and what Rotary stands for. Helen Smith’s name is synonymous with Oxford . . . Anytime there was something needed, she would volunteer.?
Her dedication to student athletes earned her a very special varsity jacket in June 2007. The back contained the words ‘Oxford Varsity Super Booster? surrounded by patches representing all of the sports.
In September 2010, Smith was inducted into the OHS Athletics Hall of Fame as a charter member.
‘I can’t tell you how honored I am to be included with such athletes and great alumni of Oxford, especially the great coaches,? Smith said at the time. ‘We have so many that have done so well coming out of Oxford, even when Oxford was small.?
Smith cherished the people in her life and never forgot about them whenever special occasions and holidays rolled around.
Those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries could always count on receiving a personalized card from her and her cat, Sunny. Christmas brought packages filled with homemade strawberry jam, fudge and zucchini bread straight from Smith’s kitchen.
For those of us who received these treats, the holidays just won’t be the same without a bag of Smith’s goodies.
Visitation will be held 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Friday July 17 and funeral service on Satuday at 11 a.m. at Modetz Funeral Home located at 100 E. Silverbell Road in Lake Orion.