By Dan Nilsen
At 6-foot-2, Larry Smith was not built to dominate the center position in high school basketball, play forward in Division I college hoops, or run pass routes as a 180-pound split end in the National Football League.
Yet Smith did all three.
From Holy Redeemer High School, to the University of Toledo, to a legitimate shot at the NFL, Larry Smith made it possible.
“He was the consummate athlete,” said Randy Smith, Larry’s younger brother.
“He was 6-2, but he could jump unbelievably. And he was fast. And smart.”
Larry spent the spring sharpening his foot speed in track and field, running the mile, the 440, and several relays, including sprint medleys. He also competed in the long jump.
His speed and versatility showed up clearly on the football field at Holy Redeemer, where he scored touchdowns on both offense and defense.
As a defensive back, he intercepted seven passes in one season—two returned for touchdowns, including a 90-yard return—along with two fumble recoveries for scores.
He caught just as many touchdown passes that year and earned first-team All-Valley Catholic Conference honors in 1965.
Smith’s star shone even brighter on the basketball court.
As a 6-2 center, he earned unanimous Class C All-State honors during a record-setting senior season that carried Holy Redeemer to the state finals.
He served as team captain and Most Valuable Player his final two seasons and was an All-Flint Area Parochial Conference selection.
“A great inside player,” wrote Flint Journal sports writer Vince Sikora, “Smith had a fine turnaround shot but was also deadly on tips because of his great jumping ability.”
In a key FAPC game, Smith’s turnaround 18-foot jumper in the final seconds capped a 33-point performance and sealed a 73-71 win over second-place St. Agnes.
“That was his favorite thing,” Randy said.
“Have his back to the guy, take a dribble, spin around and shoot. He could just elevate. He also had a mean windmill slam dunk—but it wasn’t allowed in games back then.”
During the 1966 state tournament, unranked Holy Redeemer stunned undefeated Middleville 79-74 in the semifinals.
In the first half, however, Smith tripped over a cameraman while going for a loose ball and suffered a hairline fracture in his right ankle.
He finished the game, but Flyers coach Pat McDevitt told him he would not play in the final.
“Larry insisted he was playing,” Randy recalled.
“They brought in my dad and the team doctor, who said they could wrap it almost like a cast—but it would be horrendously painful.
“Larry stayed up all night soaking the ankle in warm and cold water just to get the swelling down enough to put on a tennis shoe. He played the first half, but couldn’t go anymore. Our whole rhythm was off.”
Holy Redeemer lost the final to L’Anse, 89-70.
“Probably one of the best athletes to come out of Holy Redeemer,” said teammate and neighbor Mike Blondin.
“He was our whole team. Losing him was devastating.”
Smith graduated holding school records of 49 points in a single game (also a city record for four days), 670 points in a season, 1,109 career points, 534 career rebounds (21 per game), and 273 field goals in a season.
He averaged 26.8 points as a senior.
“He had 30 to 40 colleges interested in him, in both football and basketball,” Randy said.
“Purdue wanted him for football. He was accepted at Annapolis—or maybe West Point. Then Toledo offered him a full basketball scholarship.”
Sikora later noted Smith was starting on Toledo’s freshman team, averaging 17.4 points per game.
By his junior season, Smith had become a regular forward.
In a Dec. 19, 1968 Toledo Blade story, sports writer Jim Taylor recalled assistant coach Bob Conroy’s advice to head coach Bob Nichols during recruiting:
“Don’t measure him—just play him.”
Taylor wrote that Smith was the quickest Rocket on the fast break.
After a win over Western Kentucky at Madison Square Garden, Nichols said, “I don’t see how he gets out of there so fast.”
Ten days later, following a win over Marshall, Taylor wrote:
“Smith frequently wound up on the front end of a volcanic fast break… scoring 18 of his 23 points. … Smith was the leader, scoring on 11 of the 13 shots he attempted.”
“That was my brother,” Randy said.
“Like John Havlicek—he never stopped running.”
After his senior basketball season, Smith received an unexpected football opportunity.
Raymond Berry, the former Baltimore Colts star and then wide receivers coach for the Dallas Cowboys, came to Toledo to scout two All-Americans.
Afterward, Berry asked if there was anyone else he should see.
“Yeah—Larry Smith.”
Smith caught passes, ran drills, and ran the 40 faster than the players Berry came to scout.
“Ray told Larry, ‘I can’t promise anything, but if you want to sign as a free agent, we’ll pay for everything,’” Randy said.
Smith declined the Cowboys’ offer, along with interest from Detroit, Chicago, and Cleveland.
“At 6-2, 180 pounds, Larry told me, ‘I think I’m too small,’” Randy said.
Instead, Smith pursued business—and succeeded.
He later co-founded a software company that did remarkably well.
Larry Smith’s story ended far too soon.
Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at age 60, he died in December 2008 at 61.
“He is sorely missed,” Randy said.
“We retired close together. We just didn’t get the time we wanted.”
Growing up, though, they had plenty.
Their father built a half-court basketball court in the backyard for Larry, Randy, and brother Kenny at a cost of $500.
When all three earned full-ride college basketball scholarships, their father called it “the best investment I ever made.”
“We chipped ice and shoveled snow,” Randy said.
“We played basketball year-round.”
