PAT SMITH Dimondale, MIPATRICK "PAT" J. SMITH was born January 10th, 1917 at Greeley, Nebraska. He was raised on a large ranch, farm 1 1/2 miles west of Greeley. He graduated from the local high school in 1935 and migrated, on the heels of the great depression, to Michigan 2 years later. Smith married Ila M Campbell March 16, 1940. From this union 5 children were born. PAT helped organize the Dimondale Horseshoe Club, as a charter member, in 1964. He served as it's first and only Director of Publicity, under president Earl Grable, Until it merged with the Chief Okemos Sportsman's Club in 1970. Smith joined the Wolverine State Horseshoe Pitchers Association - WSHPA in 1963 and was appointed the first Director of Publicity of the WSHPA by it's president Earl Grable in 1965. That year the Dimondale Horseshoe Club hosted it's first state championship tournament. It enjoyed T.V. coverage on channel 6, Lansing, channel 10, Jackson and 7, Detroit. Mort Neff's "Michigan Outdoors" state wide TV network showed segments of the 1965 and 1966 state championships at Dimondale and Burr Oak Respectively. Smith also appeared a number of times on radio and TV programs publicizing horseshoe tournaments around the state. 
He worked with newspapers: Lansing State Journal, Detroit Free Press, Sturgis Journal, Maple Valley News, Battle Creek Enquirer-News, Grand Ledge Independent, Eaton Rapids Landmark, Dimondale News, Charlotte Republican - Tribune, Ingham County News and Holt-Dimondale and Jackson Citizen-Patriot. News articles were published in the national horseshoe pitcher's News Digest and with national open and state championship tournament results, when liaison secretary between the WSHPA and NHPA during the 1966-70 period.President Jonas Otto, prevailed on Smith to reorganize and be editor of the WSHPA news letter and named it the Ringer Report in 1968. This was accomplished with a committee consisting of Earl and Irene Grable, Jim and Donna Compton, Jim and Irene Ostrander with expert assistance from wife Ila Smith, during their 4 years of service. Smith devised a working arrangement with over 15 radio stations around the state who consistently publicized upcoming tournaments and reported their results from 1966 to 1979 as Public Relations Director of the WSHPA. He along with several members of the Chief Okemos horseshoe division, Compton, Kimball, Benson, Ostrander, Schneeberger, to name a few, joined Oscar Hope, W. Horton, A Moon and Jim Kane of Lansing, conducting several pitching demonstrations at the Lansing Mall to promote the sport. Smith has won several trophies in the state tournament and national open competition plus district meets, at least 40. However, in recent years has taken the equivalent in cash. He pitched in class A from about 73 to 77. Smith loved horseshoe pitching competition but is better known for his writing and publicity achievements. Note Dates may not be exact but are approximately accurate. Pat won Mens Class B-2 at the State Tournament in 1972 |