Henry Smither

Henry Smither
Smither as colonel in France, 1918
Biographical details
Born(1873-07-28)July 28, 1873
Fort Sill, Oklahoma, U.S.
DiedJuly 13, 1930(1930-07-13) (aged 56)
Lawrenceville, Illinois, U.S.
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1906–1907Army
Head coaching record
Overall7–2–1

Henry Carpenter Smither (July 28, 1873 – July 13, 1930) was a United States Army officer and American football coach. He served as the head football coach at the United States Military Academy from 1906 to 1907, compiling a record of 7–2–1.

Smither was born on July 28, 1873, at Fort Sill and was the son General Robert Gano Smither. He attended schools in Burlington, Iowa, and graduated from West Point in 1897.[1] Smither was a commanding officer during the Spanish–American War and the Philippine–American War. During World War I, he served as an adjutant to Peyton C. March, the Chief of Staff of the United States Army. Smither was promoted to brigadier general in 1925.

Smither died on July 13, 1930, at the Olney sanitarium in Lawrenceville, Illinois, following two operations for appendicitis.[2][3]

Head coaching record

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Army Cadets (Independent) (1906–1907)
1906 Army 1–0[n 1]
1907 Army 6–2–1
Army: 7–2–1
Total: 7–2–1

Notes

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  1. ^ Smither was relieved from duty following a 12–0 victory over Tufts in the season opener. Ernest Graves Sr. served as head coach for the remaining eight games of the season, leading Army to a record of 2–5–1.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Cullum, George W. (1920). Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York Since Its Establishment in 1802. Saginaw, Michigan: Sherman & Peters, Printers. p. 801. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  2. ^ "General Dies After Having Operations". Nebraska State Journal. Lincoln, Nebraska. Associated Press. July 13, 1930. p. 2. Retrieved July 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  3. ^ "General Henry Smither Dies In Lawrenceville". The Dispatch. Moline, Illinois. Associated Press. July 13, 1930. p. 14. Retrieved July 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  4. ^ "2020 Army West Point Football Media Guide" (PDF). United States Military Academy. p. 117. Retrieved July 1, 2021.