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'Snuffy' Smith dies; well-liked AHS principal By Tony Boom For The Tidings Longtime Ashland High School Principal Gaylord William "Snuffy" Smith, 77, died Monday at Rogue Valley Medical Center. He led the school from 1957 until 1985 and was employed by the Ashland School District for 34 years. "Once you went to work for him, nobody ever left," said Bud Silver, vice principal at the school during Smith's tenure. "That speaks quite a bit for him. Everyone liked him." Smith and Silver were friends from their days at Southern Oregon College, now Southern Oregon University, in the late 1940s. They worked together throughout their careers, which began at Ashland Junior High School. Smith taught at the high school for several years before becoming principal. "He was a true advocate for young people. He'll be missed," said Silver. A 1985 Mail Tribune article on Smith's retirement revealed that he earned the nickname "Snuffy" because he looked somewhat like the famous newspaper comic strip character "Snuffy Smith" created by Billy DeBeck and Fred Lasswell in 1934. Former student Jerry Hauck, who later worked under Smith as a basketball coach and teacher, said he could both discipline and support a student. Smith's ability to discipline was shown in several incidents. He denied a student with a 3.98 grade point average the right to speak as co-valedictorian after she sipped beer at an honor society picnic in 1979. Another time he punished one of his sons for violating a rule against leaving campus "When he saw good in someone, he really pushed to get that out of them," said Hauck. "He was the teacher's dream of a principal, and also a coach's dream. He was extremely supportive." Smith almost had tears in his eyes when Ashland's basketball team qualified for the state tournament for the first time in 44 years during his last year as principal, Hauck said. Smith was a standout on three of Southern Oregon College's best football teams from 1946 to 1948, said Rich Rosenthal, SOU sports information director. He was inducted into the school's sports hall of fame in 1995. Smith played left halfback and defensive back. He scored the winning touchdown for a 9-7 victory over the Oregon State College junior varsity team in 1946 when the Raiders went 8-0. The team won Far West Conference championships all three years that Smith played. He also played baseball and coached the sport at the high school and for the American Legion. After serving in the Navy during World War II, Smith earned a teaching degree at SOC and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He was born March 1, 1926, in Grants Pass and graduated from Grants Pass High School in 1944. He is survived by his wife, Patricia J. Smith of Ashland, a daughter, three sons, two brothers and a sister. Tony Boom is a reporter for the Mail Tribune. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -