ROY SMITH Muskegon, MI
 Roy was a world class A pitcher.He has pitched in many world tournaments. He finished 5th in the championship class at Erie, PA in 1969. He has won two world class B titles. 1968 - 79. Roy is a 13 time State champion 1962-63-64-65-67-68-69-70-73-73-77-80-82. He set two records in a state tournament, High Game of 93.7% in 1969 and a high tournament average of 80% in 1977. Row won three Water Wonderland Titles in Class A 1966-71-79. He was the M-46 handicap champion in 1979. 
Roy won the Woodside title in the UP in 1980-81.Roy served as WSHPA president in 1965-66. He also served on many committees and was on the executive board. Row has won numerous district tournaments and the Capitol City Open. Roy passed away July 1st 1989. 
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| Citizen Patriot News paper 1978 article by Dave Alexander Roy Smith put on his worn, white glove and filed down his shoes. "You have to loosen-up and get the kinks out. There are a couple of tough cookies out there," Smith said as he eyed the competition at Michigan's Water Wonderland Horseshoe pitching tournament. "This sport isn't like bowling, where you can go out cold and throw strikes," the Muskegon pitcher said. "You have to get your reach, height and follow through. There are a million things you have to think about." Smith has been pitching for 20 years, ever since he started in a shop league back in Muskegon. When you speak of Michigan horseshoe pitchers, you are speaking of Roy Smith. Smith has won the state tourney 12 times, has placed fifth in the World Class A Tournament, and won the world title in Class B. He is the defending state champ this year, tossing a 78.9 ringer percentage. He was the top pitcher entered in the weekend tournament, which was held at Best Field and sponsored by the Jackson County Horseshoe Club. |
"It is going to be a long time today - I'm stiff," muttered Smith. It took him quite a while to loosen up for Sunday's competition. He spent most of his first match getting his timing down, eeking out a 50-47 victory on the last shoe pitched. "I play just about every weekend in some tourney. It is a family sport," stated Smith. "My wife is a state champion and my kids have won the state boy's and girl's titles." Participants in the sport use more than their arms in the four hours or so it takes to run through a round-robin tournament. Smith said you have to be in good shape or it could be a long day. "This is a hobby and a sport. There is more to it than it looks," he said. "Try to hit a 1-inch stake with a 3-inch opening from 40 feet." Smith doesn't make horseshoe pitching sound easy, but to watch him in action is something else. He scores the ringers with such confidence, a casual observer might think anyone could be a state champion. In the Water Wonderland meet, Smith wound up second to Gerald Maison of Warren. Maison went unbeaten through 11 rounds, while Smith was 10-1. |