Shirley Smith

Shirley Smith
Shirley Smith
1929–2017

Category
Swimming
Year Inducted
1995

For the second time in a very distinguished swimming career, Shirley Smith has the honor of being selected to a Hall of Fame. Prior to being inducted in the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame, Smith was inducted as a high school official in the Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for the 1988-89 season. She was endorsed at the time by the Jamestown Area Chapter of Swimming Officials and received the New York State Distinguished Service Award.

Born in Buffalo on July 25, 1929, Smith lived in several places as a youngster because her father, Willard May, was a minister for several churches.

Smith began swimming competitively with an AAU club in the Philadelphia area from 1936-40 and in 1940 moved to the Albany-Troy area where she was a member of the Tri-City AAU Swim Club. Due to World War II, competition was mostly local and she racked up several ribbons.

more about Shirley Smith


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