At a time when most of life's dreams and ambitions have been reached or discarded, Smitty, at age 68, was starting a new adventure, a pursuit of perfection he would delightfully chase for nearly three more decades.
 
For a first time, Dr. T. Edison Smith shot his age on the golf course when he fired a four-under-par 68 at the Moorhead Country Club in 1968. It was a major milestone very few golfers have reached. For Smith, it was simply the beginning, a goal he would reach a remarkable 3,359 times, an achievement documented in Golf Digest magazine.
 
A former student-athlete, coach, professor and athletic administrator at Minnesota State Moorhead, Smith died on December 15 at the age of 95.
 
A native of Wadena, Smith lettered in football, baseball and track at Moorhead State and graduated in 1940. After a military tour of duty in the United States Air Force, he returned to Moorhead State to teach in the physical education department and coach the Dragon baseball team. He later coached the men's golf team for 22 years and his portfolio included six Northern Intercollegiate Conference championships, including three straight titles in 1970-72, an appearance at the 1977 NAIA National Championships and development of several future golf professionals.
 
“T.E. Smith was a true gentleman on and off the golf course and Moorhead Country Club is proud to have called him a member,” said MCC pro Larry Murphy. “He was one of our most beloved members, always willing to participate, be a club leader and play in all of our events. He was a championship caliber golfer and won our club championship and our senior club championship. He was a true competitor and loved competition, (and) in his later years his goal was to shoot his age every time he played.”
 
Smith was also more than willing to give back during his long association with the Moorhead Country Club.
 
“T.E. is a major reason why the MCC's Junior Golf Program has won awards,” Murphy said. “He never missed a chance to help and instruct boys and girls, and because of his commitment MCC began the T.E. Smith Junior Golf Award given to the junior who exhibited Sportsmanship, Dedication and Determination. He was very proud of that award. MCC also honored him by naming the new brick bridge on the fourth hole the 'T.E. Smith Bridge.' ”
 
Mark Holm, the head pro at Detroit Lakes Country Club, competed with his fellow Dragons at the 1977 national championships and also qualified individually the following year. He credits much of his success to the patient hand of Smith.
 
“He wasn't really a swing guru, but he was always there (for us), another set of eyes,” Holm said. “He always let a player keep his personality, and he would work with each one to make them better.”
 
Smith was a fixture on the regional golf scene for decades, an inspiration to countless men and women who dreamed of golfing greatness.
 
“He was a great ambassador for golf,” said Holm. “He loved the game of golf and he loved to give back, especially to the young people. He was also a fierce competitor in match play; he was so mentally tough and his short game was phenomenal.”  
 
During his stay at MSUM Smith also chaired the PE Department and served as Director of Athletics from 1971-73.  A health care specialist, he was an early advocate of the no-smoking campaign.
 
Smith played over 100 golf courses in his lifetime, including five in Ireland and a round at fabled St. Andrews in Scotland, the home of the British Open. Throughout his career he won over 80 medals, including a title in the Grand Masters division of the Minnesota Golf Association Senior Amateur Championship.
 
He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Ruth Elizabeth Downey, and is survived by four children, Linda Haugen, Peggy Smith, Dan Smith, a football letterman and graduate of MSU Moorhead, and Becky Smith-Powell, six grandchildren and three great grandsons.  (Larry Scott)