Nelson Smotherman, longtime Murfreesboro area, TSSAA sports historian, dies at 89
Nelson Smotherman, a Murfreesboro sports icon and state high school sports historian, died Friday morning at the age of 89 after a short health battle, his sister Jane LaPaglia confirmed.
Smotherman was a lifelong Murfreesboro resident, having attended Central High before enlisting in the Army after high school.
He was an avid sports fan, particularly of softball, and he was a mainstay at Oakland High games during the past 40-plus years. The Lady Patriots' field is named in his honor.
"Nelson was the definition of a true Patriot," Oakland softball coach and former player Charlotte Peay said. "He loved the Oakland community and boldly supported our athletics. He was loyal and reliable. He will be missed."
Smotherman was one of the most knowledgeable historians of high school sports history, not just in Rutherford County, but statewide.
He worked closely with the TSSAA, where he was inducted into the organization's Hall of Fame in 1997. He kept statistics at state football, basketball, softball and baseball events for more than 60 years. He worked hundreds of football championship games and thousands of state tournament basketball games (beginning in 1955) for TSSAA.
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He compiled the first TSSAA record book in 1991, something he helped maintain until his death.
"Nelson, basically, in my eyes, is TSSAA history," said TSSAA Assistant Executive Director Matthew Gillespie. "He worked, not hundreds but thousands of TSSAA events, and was the official record keeper. He kept binders and booklets. There was so much info that he kept, not only on his own, but had hard copies and would come update with us.
"He was the official (TSSAA state basketball tournament and softball tournament) bookkeeper for us for a long time. He still continued to come to every state tournament and Spring Fling. We always made sure to have a reserved spot for him on press row for basketball and credentials for everything. He's in the hall of fame, and rightfully so.
"He is the definition of what a (TSSAA) contributor is, better than anybody."
Gillespie said Smotherman worked with more than 50 announcers during his career, including Dick Enberg, Al Maguire, John Hood, Monte Hale Sr., Larry Munson, Dick Palmer, Bill Haney and Chip Walters.
Smotherman was passionate about sports and the contributions he made as a statistician and record keeper.
"Since childhood, Nelson had a fulfilled life dedicated to gathering sports statistics, leading and encouraging student athletes," said a statement from the Smotherman family, via LaPaglia. "The loss of his presence and statistical knowledge will be felt across the state, whether in the press box, in the stands, on the team bench or among fans.
"His vivid memory of sporting events was a welcome conversation to those who knew him. He captivated all with his ability to bring life to Middle Tennessee athletic history."
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: TSSAA record keeper, Hall of Famer Nelson Smotherman dies
