Ernie Smith

Who was Ernie Smith?

Ernest Frederick Smith was an American football offensive tackle under coach Howard Jones of the University of Southern California. He also handled the placekicking and kickoff duties for the men of Troy. Smith was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa. He played prominent roles in the Trojan Rose Bowl triumphs over Tulane University as a junior and against University of Pittsburgh as a senior. While in college, he was a member of the Spirit of Troy as a trombone player.

He played professionally from 1935 to 1939 for the Green Bay Packers.

He was assistant football coach at Southern California two years, was a Major in the United States Air Force between 1940 and 1945, and became an insurance underwriter. He worked with the Boy Scouts, was on the Rose Bowl Committee, an officer of the Southern California Symphony, and president of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Football Foundation.

He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1970.