Jimmy Smothers

Dear Smothers Family,

Jimmy Smothers was the Sports Editor for the Gadsden Times and brought the world of sports to us during his long and storied career there. I got to know him as an athlete at Gadsden HS, AU, & Troy State and during my 24 years as a football coach. Jimmy Smothers loved writing about sports, but he also loved humanizing his stories with interesting tidbits and insights. He was a living legend around the state, highly respected for his work. Covering local sports was...

I have been a long time friend of Jimmy Smothers and his son Jim. We have lost a legendary figure in the sports world. He touched many, many lives including mine in his many years as Sports Editor at the Gadsden Times. He will long be remembered for the quality job he did on behalf of the untold number of individuals and organizations that he served. My sincere condolences to his loving family.

Dear Smothers Families:
Our prayers go out to the entire Smothers family in the loss of Jimmy! I worked for Mr. Smothers as a junior Sports Writer/Photographer from 1974-1980 at the Gadsden Times and loved all of his unique sports stories and how he would take time with me to improve my writing skills. I covered high school football, Talladgea and even Alabama football for him. What a thrill for a 19 year college student to be on the sidelines with Coach Paul Bear Bryant. I have fond...

Jimmy will surely be missed. His writing and creating stories about the people and events he covered was truly done with a passion. He help build the name of Gadsden as The City of Champions in the way he would tell his stories.His writing was indicative of the type of person he was. He cared about his work and he cared about those he wrote about.I pray for the family during this time and may God give you the peace to endure this time.

You will be missed. Thanks for all the games that you covered throughout the years.

I was privileged to know his wit and compassion while working with him for fourteen years at The Times.My fondest and humorous moments is when he came to the pressroom to award me the winning trophy for the first(and last)annual golf tournament.We had a big laugh about that as my stroke count was 135 before handicap,but 62 after.He even put my picture in the paper.Still have trophy and copy of the paper.We had a good laugh about that,didn't we,Jimmy?Rest in Peace,buddy,I will truly miss you.

Have so many great memories of working with Jimmy at the newspaper for over 20 years. He always had a smile on his face and had the best stories of what was going on in the sporting world. Prayers go out to all his family. He will be truly missed.

Long remember taking sports calls at the Times during 1959 and 1960 from Jimmy. I always knew he'd be a great sportswriter and sure enough he was ...my sincerest regards to the family.

Remembering a great man who made great impacts on those around him. A kind and generous man who thrived in a tough profession when being a journalist was really something special. Thank you for everything, Jimmy.