Sidney Smith

Sidney Lawson Smith passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006, at Memorial Hospital in McPheson. He was the eldest son of Marietta Belle (Lawson)Smith and Hylas C. Smith. He was born in Delta, Colorado on August 3, 1912. He moved to Cortez, Colorado where Sidney completed grade school and entered high school.

During the summer of 1929, Sidney's mother's health failed and the family came to Kansas and his mother was admitted to the Hertzler Clinic in Halstead. The doctor recommended a lower climate and Sidney's father resigned his teaching position in Colorado and went to work for the Salina Journal with his home in Beloit, Kansas. Sidney had remained in Cortez, finishing his junior year of High School. He followed his family to Beloit in 1931 and finished his senior year of High School in Beloit. The next fall, he entered Kansas Wesleyan University at Salina, Kansas. He graduated in 1936 with a degree having a major in Economics, and minors in Math and German.

Sidney started his teaching career in Simpson, Kansas, where he taught and coached all sports until 1945 when he returned to Beloit to be head coach of all sports there.

During his junior year at Kansas Wesleyan, he married Frances M. Toll of Sharon Springs, Kansas. To this union was born four children; Sidney, Shirley, Sheldon, and Steve. During the summer of 1949, Shirley and Sheldon died of polio. The loss prompted Sidney and Frances to leave Beloit and take a coaching job in Highland Park, near Topeka, Kansas. Their youngest son, Steve, was born during the first year of living at Topeka, Kansas.

Mr. Smith was offered the coaching job at McPherson College in the spring of 1953. He accepted this position and was athletic director for 20 years. Sid always said that he learned more from his athletes than they learned from him. He entered the college's Development Department in 1973 and successfully worked in this capacity for another 20 years, until failing eyesight caused by macular degeneration forced him to retire.

Sid was a member of the Lions Club in Beloit, a member of the Rotary Club in McPherson, a charter member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and joined Gideons International in 1980. He gave Gideon messages in numerous churches around the McPherson area.

He is preceded in death by three sisters, Naomi, Eugenia, and Bette; a younger brother, Hylas; his wife, Frances; and two children, Shirley and Sheldon.

He is survived by his brother, John of Independence, CA; his sister, Barbara Harrison of Beloit, KS; two sons, Sidney R. of Rolling Hills Estates, CA. and Steve A. of Sunnyvale, CA.; four grandchildren, and three great granddaughters.

A memorial service is scheduled at the First United Methodist Church, Saturday, March 18, at 2:00 PM. There will be no visitation. Mr. Smith donated his body to the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Inurnment will be at the Elmwood Cemetery, Beloit.

Memorial donations may be sent to; the Sidney and Frances Smith Scholarship Fund at Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina, KS or the Smith-Coppock Athletic Fund at McPherson College, McPherson, KS. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Sidney Smith please visit our Sympathy Store.