continued from page fields, and ….

continued from page

fields, and farms that keep Rabun County bustling with activity from the daffodils of April to the turning of leaves in the fall. He identified agreeably with the good living that came with being a resident of Rabun County having escaped “life below the gnat line” as he approached his sundown years.

I have visited the Smarts on occasion over the years and have never departed for home without them handing over a small bag of tomatoes and other garden staples. This not only reflected their good neighborly way, but an appreciation for nature, the land, down home industriousness, and the emotional fulfillment that came from a green thumb.

One of the highlights of the success of the Georgia football program, orchestrated by their middle child, Kirby, was visiting with Sonny pre-game and the two of them afterwards, when Sharon came down from her box seat upstairs to join him for a victory celebration.

Pre-game we always met up for a brief session at the Georgia bench, both of us hopeful for success, but ever cautiously optimistic. He knew the nuances of the game kept it from being as simple as the critics preached.

One hot September afternoon early in Kirby’s tenure, I asked Sonny why he would leave the air-conditioned comfort with refreshments at hand and endure the heat of the sidelines, he replied: “Well, everybody up there seems to think they know more football than I do, so I come down here so I can enjoy myself without having to listen to all that.”

Sonny, a passionate golfer, was an aficionado of Donald Ross designed golf courses. After Kirby got a healthy raise one year, I kidded him that he ought to get his world class coach/son to take him to Dornoch, Scotland, the birthplace of the famous Scottish course designer and play the course that influenced Ross’ design philosophy. He smiled, but I knew he would never make that ask.

That is one of the many things to appreciate about the senior Smart. He never doted on Kirby publicly. He did no interviews, he never proffered any quotes, and he avoided all cameras.

We were within arm’s length of each other when Kelee Ringo intercepted Bryce Young for the game clinching score that brought Kirby his first national championship in Indianapolis. We embraced briefly, and then I sprinted down the field to the end zone celebration. I can only imagine what went through his mind. To have a son coach his team to the national championship had to be one of the most fulfilling moments of his life, but he never injected himself into the mix in any way.

They had private talks about the historical journey Kirby was making; the son, especially early on in his career, sought out the father for advice. Nick Saban has a reputation for being difficult to work for but Sonny always told Kirby that he was the beneficiary of a great learning experience. Kirby always knew that Sonny was right.

Following retirement, Sonny started the “Georgia Mountain Senior Golf (GAMSGolf) Association, which he ran successfully for years. He gave it his fullest attention, which kept him active. In the process, it helped make countless seniors in North Georgia active.

There were tears at the service, but also laughter. Kirby told a story that had to do with Sonny’s interview for a job in Bainbridge. After the interview, he agreed to take the job. He had hardly returned home to Slapout, Ala., when he got a better offer from another school.

Sonny went to his father (Kirby’s grandfather) and told him of his dilemma which elicited this response: “Didn’t you tell those folks in Bainbridge you were going to take that job?” When Sonny replied, “Yes,” Sonny’s father said, “Son, I don’t think you have a decision to make.”

Such integrity is a hallmark in the Smart family.