FHSAA

Evert to be inducted into FHSAA's Hall of Fame
--------------------
By Dave Brousseau
Staff Writer

April 26, 2005

Tennis great Chris Evert and St. Thomas Aquinas High football coach and
athletic director George Smith head a list of 10 selected for induction into
the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Founded in 1990, the hall of fame honors persons who have excelled in one or
more high school programs sponsored by the association and its member schools.
This year's inductees will bring to 93 the total enshrined.

Evert, 50, was a three-time state tennis singles and doubles champion for St.
Thomas Aquinas, in 1970-72. She was undefeated in her junior and senior
seasons.

Evert amassed six U.S. Junior titles andwent on to win 18 Grand Slam and 157
singles titles.

She is a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the National High
School Hall of Fame and the Florida Sports Hall of Fame.

"Obviously her name has gone a long way in this county, state, nationally and
internationally for the tennis world and charities," Smith said.

"It's unquestionably a huge deal how she has taken in her role. ... There are
not too many professional athletes who have done what she has."

Smith, 56, has guided Raiders football teams to three state championships, and
they were state runners-up five times.

He is a five-time choice of Football Coach of the Year of the South Florida
Sun-Sentinel.

Smith has received the Meritorious Service Award and the Lifetime Membership
Award from the Florida Athletic Coaches Association and is a member of its hall
of fame.

"For me it all goes back to the coaches and the players," Smith said. "It comes
from the people that are supporting you."

The induction ceremony will be June 16 at the Wyndham Westshore Hotel in Tampa.