TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
John Walter “J.W.” Smith, Jr., Ph.D. 1937–2022 Retired Chicago Educator, Coach, U.S. Air Force By Aaron Williams
education teacher at Harlan High Scholl and also served as an assistant football coach under the tutelage of legendary coach Sherman Howard. Smith’s career included building football programs at Kenwood and Percy L. Julian High School. After two years at Julian, Smith led the football program into the “Red” top division in the Chicago Public League, where the Julian Jaguars became a Public League dynasty for the next 12 years. The Jaguars won a Blue-Green championship and seven Public League championships, including two Prep Bowl championships versus the Chi- cago Catholic League. This Prep Bowl game, played at Soldier Field each year, was a major sporting event in Chicago prior to the establishment of the IHSA State Football Playoffs. His Julian teams qualified for the Illinois state playoffs six times. The Julian program under Smith produced multiple all-Public League selections, all-state honorees, major college players. Seven of Smith’s players played in the National Football League. Smith also coached many track athletes who won individual medals at the IHSA State Track Meet in Charleston, IL. He also served as athletic director and Physical Education Chair, becoming an administrator with the Department of Sports Administration and principal of Adam Clayton Powell Elementary School. Smith was Executive Director of the Department of Sports Adminis- tration and Facilities Management for CPS when he retired in 2003. The Illinois House of Representatives issued a resolution honoring and congratulat- ing Smith on his 40 years of dedicated services to CPS and his years leading Chicago students. Retiring as an educator and coach, Smith became the Football Coordina- tor and, later Executive Director, for the
CPS Department of Sports Administra- tor. He instituted sweeping changes to the interscholastic programs offered within the Chicago Public Schools. During his tenure as Executive Director, he doubled the number of paid coaches available per sport, helped institute a no pass-no play policy for athletic eligibility, clarified and enforced student transfer rules, and realigned sports conferences with equity according to competitive levels. He also reinstituted the indoor track and field program, established freshmen levels of competition, and implemented summer sports camps. Lacrosse, 16-inch softball, golf, water polo, and elementary double dutch were also added to the program of sports offerings. He is credited for organizing and implementing the first structured sports program for elementary schools, covering 14 sports. Smith also consulted public school districts on creating and managing athletic programs and assisted the Philadelphia Public School District in patterning their athletic program after the Chicago model. A Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Smith was a longtime member of the Chicago (IL) Alumni Chapter and led the chapter as its 39 th Polemarch [1991- 1992]. Brother John Walter “J.W.” Smith, Jr. is survived by his devoted wife of 18 years Deborah; four children, Ginger Bryant, Sheila Morris, Thomas (Andria) Smith and Kelli (Curtis) Smith- Cureton, step-children Brandy (George) McCoy, Mandy Newman, and ONeal Carter; five grandchildren, Timothy Bryant Jr., Tinger Bryant, Kimberly Porter, Staci Morris, and Ariana Smith; his great-grandchildren, Kadon Mar- tin and Iverson Bryant; siblings, Carol Edwards, Michael (Zella) Smith, and Robin Smith; and host of relatives, close friends, professional colleagues, and former students and players.
O ne of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) most successful and beloved football coaches, John Walter "J. W." Smith, Jr. (Alpha Rho 1962), entered the Chapter Invisible on Saturday, January 8, 2022. Smith was a strong proponent of the positive impact athletic participation can have on the educational process for stu- dents and advocated for the educational advancement for disadvantaged students in Chicago. Smith was born in Chicago, IL on July 19, 1937, the oldest son of the late John Walter Sr. and Theresa Smith. He attended A.O. Sexton Elementary School and Dunbar Vocational School, where he excelled in academics and athletics. In 1954, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After his honorable discharge, he attended Chicago Teachers’ College (now Chicago State University) and then Northern Illinois University (NIU) located in DeKalb, IL, earning a B.S. degree in physical education. A stand- out on the Huskie football team, he was named College Academic All-American for the 1962 season and saw game action in the Mineral Bowl. The Huskies were named the number one college team in the nation in its division. While at NIU, Smith joined the Fraternity in 1962 via the Alpha Rho Chapter. Smith was a member of a group of Kappas at NIU, who helped the Fraternity establish a presence on the NIU campus leading to the chartering in 1967 of the Northern Illinois University Chapter, the Epsilon Omicron of Kappa Alpha Psi. He later earned M.Ed from Indiana University and a Ph.D. in educa- tion administration from the University of Illinois Chicago. In 1963, he joined CPS as a physical
58 | SUMMER 2022 ♦ THE JOURNAL
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