Dave Wilborn Smith | Eastern North Carolina Now

Born: July 1, 1932, Died: July 23, 2014

    Dave Wilborn Smith, age 82, a resident of N. Bridge St., Washington, NC, passed away Wednesday, July 23, 2014.

    There will be a celebration of his life, at 4:00 pm, Sunday, July 27, in the Performing Arts Center at Washington High School. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Burial will be private. The body will lie in state Sunday, from 9 am to 2 pm at Hillside Funeral Service.

    Coach Smith was born July 1, 1932 in Houston, TX, son of the late J.Q. Smith and Olivia Scott Smith. He graduated from Yeates High School in Houston, TX and Tennessee State College. He was married to Alfreda Lovette Smith who preceded him in death. Coach Smith has been a resident of Washington since 1957. Coach Smith was a member of Spring Garden Baptist Church and Omega Psi Phi.

    Coach Smith was a long-time educator and a Beaufort County basketball coach icon. In 1957 he became the head coach at PS Jones High School until 1968 when he filled the same role at PS Jones Junior high School. In 1972 Coach Smith took the helm at Washington High School where he remained until his retirement in 1991. In 1995 he became the Director of the Washington Midnight Basketball Program until 2011.

    From 1977 to 1979 he held the nation's longest winning streak for Boys Basketball with 56. In his 34 years of teaching and coaching, he NEVER MISSED A DAY. His combined coaching record from PS Jones High School and Washington High School is 753 varsity games: 520-233, plus four years at PS Jones Junior High School.

    While at PS Jones High School in 1961 and 1962, he held the National Doubles Championship for Boys Tennis. In 1976 he was the East All-Star Coach. McDonald's named him 3A Coach of the Year in 1978. The News and Observer named him Tar Heel of the Week in 1979. Coach Smith was named Beaufort County Coach of the Decade in 1979-1980. He received a 20 Year Service Award by the NCCA in 1980. In 1985 Coach Smith was named Area Coach of the Year. He was named Who's Who Among American High School Coaches in 1989. In 1990 he was named Colonial Conference Coach of the Year. Coach Smith received the NCHSAA Distinguished Service Award in 1991. He was inducted into the Washington Daily News Walk of Fame 1992. In 1996 Tennessee State University inducted Coach Smith into the Football Hall of Fame. In 2004 he was inducted into the NCHSAA Hall of Fame and in 2007 the Texas Football Hall of Fame. On February 15, 2011 the NCHSAA recognized Dave Smith for his contributions to High School Sports in our State. Also in 2011, the Washington High School Gymnasium was named "The Dave W. Smith Gymnasium". Coach Smith was selected as one of the top 100 high school coaches of the centennial by the NCHSAA in 2013.

    Some of Coach Smith's top basketball achievements are: four Washington Daily News Tournament wins, nine Conference Titles, six Conference Tournament wins, two State 3A Titles, four Runner-up 3A Titles, Eastern Carolina Community College Champion and he coached four seniors who started as freshmen at Division I Schools.

    Coach Smith is survived by his sons, Earl Smith of Winterville and Jason Smith of Charlotte; his daughter, Charlene King and husband Ron of Orlando, FL; his brother, John Scott of Houston, TX; and his grandchildren, Capri King, Kiara Smith, Kenyana Smith, Jalan Bean and Ciara King.