Riley Henry "General" Smith (1911 - 1999)

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Riley Henry "General" Smith

Birth:	Jul. 14, 1911 Carrollton Carroll County Mississippi, USA
Death:	Aug. 9, 1999 Mobile Mobile County Alabama, USA
Professional football player. He began playing football in high school in Greenwood, Mississippi. At the University of Alabama, he was converted from a fullback to quarterback after the 1933 season. He led the Crimson Tide to a national championship in 1934. In 1935 he was named to the All-America teams of the Associated Press, Collier's Magazine and the All-America Board. He also won the Jacobs Trophy as the best blocker in the Southeastern Conference. He played in the East-West Shrine Game, the Chicago All-Star Game and the New York All-Star Game and was captain of his team in each one. He was the second player chosen in the first-ever NFL draft. He played in the NFL for the Redskins from 1936 thru 1938. An injury ended his playing career, and he moved to Washington and Lee, as assistant coach in 1939 and head coach 1940-42. He served in the Navy as Lieutenant commander in 1942-45 and became a real estate developer in Mobile, Alabama. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985. He was also in the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, and Mobile Sports Hall of Fame. (bio by: Mel Bashore) Search Amazon for Riley Smith

Burial: Pine Crest Cemetery Mobile Mobile County Alabama, USA
Maintained by: Find A Grave Originally Created by: Mel Bashore Record added: Dec 23, 2007 Find A Grave Memorial# 23530225