March 6, 2007

WACO - Former Lamar University sports information director Joe Lee Smith has been selected for induction into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame May 5, 2007 at the Ferrell Center on the campus of Baylor University.

There will be a press conference at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame at 3 p.m. and the banquet will start at 6 p.m. in the Ferrell Center. Tickets for the banquet are $30 for adults and $10 for students. To order tickets, contact Tiffany Wilkins at (254) 829-1556.

Smith is being honored as a "special contributor to Texas High School Football." The induction class includes Jerry Norton, Texarkana High School; Jakie Sandefer, Breckenridge High School; Ted Koy, Bellville High School; Gabe Rivera, San Antonio Jefferson High School; Brett Stafford, Belton High School; Priest Holmes, San Antonio Marshall High School; and Chuck Curtis, Jacksboro High School and Garland High School.

Members of the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame are selected by a statewide committee made up of eight sports writers, eight high school football coaches and eight members of the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame Board of Directors.

Known for his statistical prowess, Smith is one of the most knowledgeable historians of high school football in the state of Texas. He has current won-loss records of every high school team and coach in the state and is often used by media across the state as a historical reference.

Smith has received many offers to sell his historical data to publishers, but has decided to donate all his football statistics to the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.

A native of White Oak, Texas, Smith served as Lamar University's sports information director from 1963-79 and 1993-96. During his tenure, he successfully promoted Lamar's first two All-Americans in basketball - Don Bryson, Associated Press third-team in 1965 and Earl Dow, Associated Press third-team in 1969.

Smith was instrumental in helping Lamar University become a charter member of the Southland Conference in 1963 and was one of the founding members of the Cardinal Hall of Honor in 1973. He was later honored as the recipient of the Big Red Award in 1989, which is awarded to individuals who are non-coaches or student-athletes who have made significant contributions to the athletics department.