David R. Smith
1946-2023
David R. Smith, known as “Big Dave”, Supe, Super Dave, Coach and, most affectionately, PaPa by his grandchildren, passed away on November 21, 2023 in Edmond in the comfort of his home surrounded by his family. He was 77-years-old.
Dave was born January 20th, 1946 in Florence, Alabama to Lawrence and Mary Inez Smith. Even as a young boy growing up, he was an entrepreneur working for other farmers, trapping muskrat/mink/beaver and also catching rabbits to sell to a rabbit farm. He grew up fishing every chance he could on Burcham Creek which ran behind their farm house. He attended Central High School before attending Freed Hardeman University and Oklahoma Christian University (OC) on basketball scholarships. At 6’7”, Dave was a ferocious competitor and led OC to the 1968 NAIA District 9 basketball championship and went on to compete as the #4 seed out of 500 teams in the National tournament for the first time in the school’s history.
Dave met his wife, Linda Kern, when he came to OC on a recruiting trip and she was his “date”. When he returned to OC in the fall they began dating and were married in Lawton, Oklahoma in 1968. She was his devoted wife and partner for 55 years. They were blessed with two wonderful children and five precious grandchildren who he adored.
After graduating with a B.S.E in Education from OC, Dave taught and coached at Star Spencer High School and then at Southeast High School in Oklahoma City. His team won the 1976 State Basketball Championship and he was named Oklahoma All-City Coach of the year. On the collegiate level Dave served as an assistant basketball coach for OC from 1977 to 1979.
In 1971, Dave and Linda started Midwest Trophy Manufacturing out of their garage. Under his dedicated leadership and vision, Midwest Trophy grew into MTM Recognition Corporation, a global leader in the Rewards and Recognition industry. For over 50 years MTM has been instrumental in the recognition of Fortune 100 employees, NCAA champions and professional and amateur champions at all levels of competition. Dave was beloved by his employees and he cared deeply for them. He knew them, and he knew their families. As his health declined he was still at the plant daily to encourage and motivate. He enjoyed going through the plant just to greet employees and see how they were doing.
Over the years Dave received many honors including being named Entrepreneur of the year by Marriot Hotels in 1986. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Freed Hardeman University in 1990 and Oklahoma Christian University in 1993 for his contributions to the sport of basketball. He also was inducted into the Del City Hall of Fame in 2005, and the Lauderdale County Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. He received an honorary doctorate of Law degree from Freed Hardeman University and served on their board. The gymnasium, formerly known as ‘The Barn’ at Oklahoma Christian was renovated and formally renamed The David Smith Athletic Center in 2018. David and Linda were presented by OC with the Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2023, Del City renamed a street near MTM to Dave Smith Drive.
Dave was an avid golfer and professional bass fisherman who competed on the BASSMASTER, FLW tour and the Elite Series since 1991. He fished in over 138 professional events, finishing in the top 10 twice. He was considered a beloved veteran on the tour but could hold his own against much younger competitors due to his relentless competitive nature.
Dave was strongly committed to his family and was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Inez Smith, and father, Lawrence Smith. He is survived by his wife Linda, their son David Smith Jr., daughter Ashli Smith, and five grandchildren, Morgan Kennedy, Alyson Kennedy, Collin Smith, Leah Smith, and Ellis Cline, his two brothers Lawrence Smith and wife Janice of Florence, Alabama, and Charlie Smith and wife Nancy of Henderson, Tennessee, and many nieces and nephews.
They were members of the Del City Church of Christ for 35 years and are now members at Memorial Road Church of Christ. Services will be held at Memorial Road Church of Christ in Edmond Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 2:00 pm. Service will be livestreamed at https://youtube.com/live/MrSzhhYczX0?feature=share.
In lieu of flowers, the family wishes memorial contributions be made to Oklahoma Christian University, 2501 East Memorial Road, Edmond, Ok 73013
Our condolences: Dave was a wonderful man. He was so caring and always accommodating. We loved getting to fish with him at his lake house. He was so much fun. He will be sadly missed.
Dave was a very dear friend, we aplayed a lot of golf together, we fished and laughed a lot together. He went at everything, work, play, and family 101%. He had a great respect for friends, employees, family, and life in general. Dave had hundreds of employees and often while touring through his plant with him, I noticed he knew everyone by their first name and was familiar with the project the were working on. He was just a great man and I will miss him very much. GOD bless you dave
I was saddened to here of my friend, Coach Smith’s passing. I offer my sincere sympathy to Linda, Dave, Ashli & the entire Smith family. I met Coach Smith soon after arriving to a new school (Southeast HS) with a new system (integration) at a time when we were not well received by some students, teachers and neighbors. But, Coach Smith approached me with a big welcoming smile on his face and kind words. So, I felt God had placed me there for a good reason. He did so much for all races of people; with his help we survived well. Actually, I could write a book!
Fast forward 50 yrs, here we are now having to say good-bye. But he placed his faith in Jesus, so to me it’s “I’ll see you later.”
I’m praying for God to comfort and keep the family and those of us who are feeling the void that he left.
I met Dave while working as a bar cart boy, selling candy and drinks at Oak Tree Country Club in 1988. Dave gave me the opportunity to come work at MTM and it has been an incredible journey and I have enjoyed working for Dave for over 35 years.
I am so proud to be part of MTM and have always respected and admired Dave’s leadership qualities and his ability to see opportunity and capitalize on it, without fear. He will be missed, but his legacy and enduring spirit will continue through his family, our leadership team and those employees who loved and cared so much for Big Dave.
Over 35 years ago, when I was 30, I walked into MTM’s showroom looking for a job so I could go back to college and get one class that I needed to finish my BA. I had parked out front, obviously in a construction truck, laiden with materials from the job I was finishing. I asked for an application at the counter in the showroom. This really tall guy leaned around the corner of the doorway behind the counter.—“You use power equipment?” “Yes, I….” “Let me see your hands,” he quickly added. “Come back here, I want you to meet someone.”—I was hired by Big Dave right then. Dave and Midwest Trophy, now MTM Recognition, turned into God’s channel for blessing me and my family across all these years since that day in 1988.
There are few events in one’s life to which one can look back and see as major and life changing. The day I met Dave was one of those. I count it among the richest of God’s blessings. Like so many others, I am thankful for Dave and the Smith family. I owe most of the earthly blessings I have to them.
I pray that our mighty God will shower Linda and family with encouragement and peace in light of God’s grace and mercy. Amen.