WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Local residents Dale and Carolyn Smith, long-time supporters of Grizzly Athletics and members of the Grizzly Booster Club at Missouri State University-West Plains, have been chosen as recipients of the club’s Grizzly Track Award.
The couple were given the award Tuesday, Nov. 21, at the Grizzly Basketball team’s game against Arkansas Baptist College, Little Rock, at the West Plains Civic Center. The award honors extraordinary support given by individuals or organizations on behalf of Grizzly Athletics.
“You will not find any bigger Grizzly fans than Dale and Carolyn Smith,” said Grizzly Booster Club Vice President Bo Pace. “They have been host families and helped with multiple fund-raising events over the years. We are celebrating 25 years of Grizzly Athletics because of devoted supporters like them.”
TRACK RECORD OF SUPPORT
The Smiths have been members of the Grizzly Booster club since its inception, traveling as far as Arizona and Florida to cheer on the teams.
They also served as a host family for 15 basketball players and one volleyball player through the Adopt-A-Grizzly program. Carolyn coordinated the program for its final six years before it was discontinued due to changes in the requirements for such programs handed down by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
Carolyn Smith joined the Grizzly Booster Club Executive Board of Directors in 2002 and immediately spearheaded an effort to sponsor a garage sale, which netted more than $10,000 for Grizzly Athletics. She also served as president of the board during the 2005-06 and 2011-12 athletics seasons.
“It has been a pleasure cheering on and caring for our student athletes,” said Carolyn Smith. “Dale and I have made many memories and lifelong friendships throughout the years as members of the Grizzly Booster Club. Our wish is that this program and the university will be successful for many years to come.”
THE AWARD
The Grizzly Track Award is presented periodically to members of the Grizzly Booster Club who have shown exceptional enthusiasm for and extraordinary support of Grizzly Athletics over an extended period of time. Actions by the recipient(s) must have enabled Grizzly Athletics to take a giant step forward. Honorees are selected by the executive board of directors of the Grizzly Booster Club.
The award for Dale and Carolyn Smith is the 18th Grizzly Track Award given by the Grizzly Booster Club. Past recipients include Richard and Mary Sheid (1999), Jess and Betty Garnett and Bob Neathery (2000), Russ and Laura Gant (2001), Norma Hilburn and Herb and Mary Beth Lunday (2002), Dr. Robert Martin (2003), Allison Smith, her husband Bruce (in memoriam) and sons Travis and Chase and their extended families (2004), Paul Childers (2005), Ozark Radio Network and the West Plains Daily Quill (January 2006), Rick and Lois Frazier and Bo and Sunie Pace (November 2006), Dean Smith (April 2010), John and Dixie Williams (April 2011), Shawn and Allyson Bice (2013), and Bob and Donna Frey (2017).
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