Bob Smith

Year Inducted: 2012

Robert A. “Bob” Smith was born to Jerry and Vivian Smith on April 22, 1953.   Bob began playing hockey in the Port Huron Minor Hockey Association at the age of nine.  While playing in the Squirt Division House League on a winless team, his Coach, decided to have him play goalie.   In that game he earned a shutout, winning 7-0 and a career was born.

Bob became a goalie for the Port Huron Indians Juvenile Team in 1971-72.  The team was runner-up in the State Championship and the following year were Michigan State Champs and placed third in the U.S. National Championship Tournament.

Bob also played football for Port Huron Catholic High School and was named ALL-SCAL (St. Clair Area League) as a nose guard in 1970.   He graduated from Port Huron Catholic in 1971.

Bob attended St. Clair County Community College while playing for the Indians and then for the Port Huron Fogcutter Junior League Team.   He was the Junior League All-Star goalie.   He signed to play hockey at the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle, a Division II school.   Bob started there in goal his first year (as a sophomore) and was team MVP and First Team All-American.   During his junior year he was again MVP and First Team All-American.   And in his senior year he was the Team Captain and once again MVP.   His college goals-against average was 2.99 with a save percentage of .915.

While he dreamed of playing professional hockey Bob played for the Waterloo Blackhawks in Iowa.  Soon he realized that he could not play hockey at that level and support a growing family.   He had to work and finish his education.   Bob did that at the University of Michigan, Flint earning a BS degree and at Wayne State University where he earned a Masters in Education and a Specialist in Education/Administration.   He is currently a building Principal in the Romeo School District.   He and his wife, Mary Jo live in Port Huron.


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