Member of Puxico's title teams has died

Welborn Smith, who played on four final four teams at Puxico, has died. He was 75.

A four-year all-state basketball player for the Indians from 1949-53, Smith played on both of Puxico's state championship teams, including the undefeated season in '51 that finished 40-0.

Smith died Sunday at his home in Poplar Bluff.

Puxico was 149-10 during the four years in which Smith played. Those teams were known as the "Run-Shoot-Run Indians" as chronicled Matt Chaney's book "My Name is Mister Ryan."

Smith, who wore No. 88, scored 19 points in an 85-37 win over Shelbyville to win the 1952 Class B title and two points as a sophomore in the '51 title game, a 42-38 win over Waynesville.

The 1951 team, which featured future pro Win Wilfong, averaged 89 points a game and topped 100 or more 13 times.

Puxico lost in the 1950 state semifinal 43-39 and finished third. Smith's senior year, the Indians lost to John Burroughs of St. Louis, 73-65, in the championship game.

Here is Mr. Smith's obituary:

PUXICO -- Astie Welborn "Leb" Smith, 75, of Poplar Bluff went home to the Lord on Sunday, April 4, 2010, at his home.

Mr. Smith was born a twin on Sept. 21, 1934, in Bismarck. He attended the First Christian Church in Poplar Bluff.

In 1943, while he was a child, the family moved to Puxico. He graduated from Puxico High School in 1953. He was Puxico Indian basketball team member No. 88, who played all four years in the Missouri Champion basketball tournament. He was chosen All-State all four years.

In the early 60s, he worked for Lockhead Aircraft and helped build the SR-71 Blackbird. In 1961, he became a LA police officer and served as a detective II until his retirement in July, 1981. He worked at pawnshops and other jobs.

In 1972, he was married to Eva Kay Dorman. In 1990, they built a home in Tivy Valley, Calif. and lived there until they moved back to Missouri in 2004.

Mr. Smith is survived by his wife of Poplar Bluff; one son, Esca Smith, two daughters, Fortune Smith of Van Nuys, Calif., and Jewell and husband, Corey, of Green Valley Calif. (mother of children is Roberta Smith of Van Nuys, Calif.); grandchildren, Megan Rose, Weston and Bailey, all of Green Valley, Calif., Olivia Ruble and husband, Tim, of Frankfort Ky.; great-grandchildren, Bela, Laura, Julia and is expecting another in May; brothers, Olaf and wife, Mary Jo, of Palmdale, Calif., twin brother Marshall and wife, Wilma, of Skiatook, Okla., James and wife, Patricia, of Frederick, Md.; a sister-in-law, Mary Margaret Smith of Riverside, Calif.; many living nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents John WE and Olivia Smith; three brothers, Alexandra, Frank and John.

Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home chapel with James Cookson officiating. Burial will be in Puxico City Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Precious Acres Cemetery, C/0 Teresa Bollenbacher, 110 Mallard Trail, Poplar Bluff or Arnold Ryan Gymnasium, c/o Puxico School District.

Paid

Mr. Smith was also featured during our summer series "Catching Up With..." on June 2, 2007. Here's part of that story written by Tanner Kent:

Welborn Smith was one of seven Smith brothers that grew up in and around Puxico. He was a four-year all-stater for the Indians from 1949 to 1953 and starred on both state championship teams (1951 and 1952).

Today he lives with his wife in Poplar Bluff, still an avid basketball fan and supporter of the Puxico Indians. His home is adorned with a multitude of Puxico paraphernalia: team photos, commemorative quilts, sketches of Puxico's famed log gym, even a letter of recognition from the Missouri House of Representatives for Puxico's team accomplishments.

As a conversationalist, Smith is a natural. As a basketball resource, both present and past, Smith is a goldmine.

"I still go to all the games," said Smith, his wide smile illustrating an ever-present love for the game his Puxico teams helped to create.

But as a member of the Run-Shoot-Run Indians, Smith remains an integral part of one of Southeast Missouri's most dearly held treasures.

Like all of coach (Arnold) Ryan's players, Smith shot baskets on a homemade goal at home. And like most of Ryan's players, Smith's goal was tacked onto the wall of the barn. It was there that he played with his younger brother James and helped him overcome a serious farming accident in which he lost two toes. James recovered enough to play four years of basketball for Puxico and earn a partial scholarship to Memphis State.

But when Smith wasn't practicing in his barn, he was at the log gym. There, Smith labored under Ryan's intense eye for hustle and hard work. Ryan was a taskmaster who controlled his team, both physically and mentally, demanding a winning attitude both on and off the court.

His practices were mainly scrimmage sessions with the varsity and reserve players evenly split. Conditioning was a cornerstone of Ryan's philosophy and the players had no choice but to buy into the system if they wanted to play ball in Puxico.

"Ryan taught us that if you worked hard enough, you could succeed," Smith said. "And if you didn't succeed, you always knew you did your best. If you are determined, you can overcome any challenge."

And challenge was something the Puxico team was familiar with.

Even though they made a habit of rolling through their competition, the Indians faced criticism everywhere they went. Coaches and players from the opposition decried the Indians' "Sneak" play -- in which a player would race down the court after a free throw to score an easy basket -- as cheating. Traditionalists said their high-scoring, fast break offense was dirty basketball. Everywhere they went, the Indians faced derision and scorn for ushering in a new brand of basketball.

Puxico was also at the center of a recruiting scandal after Grady Smith transferred from Advance. And although Puxico and Smith were repeatedly cleared by MSHSAA of any wrongdoing, opposing fans never seemed to forget the incident.

But, try as they might, no one could stop the Indians from running and gunning. Coach Ryan never called his players off in a high-scoring game as that would be antithetical to his maxim of constant hustle. And coach Ryan never apologized for his bold style of play -- especially when Puxico had to re-locate games to Cape Girardeau and Poplar Bluff to accommodate record numbers of fans.

"We developed the press and the fast break," Smith said. "It was faster than some NBA games. It was just a constant blitz.

"But the game evolved because the fans liked it and it made for a different game. ... Coaches would say we were crazy and that we weren't supposed to rush them or play the fast break. It was a difficult thing for the coaching culture to accept."

The Indians did away with primary ball-handlers and instituted an offense built on constant, creative motion and quick passing. Players were encouraged to shoot when they were open and were required to play strict, pressing defense. Under coach Ryan, only the center had a set position, everyone else was pretty much allowed to play where they wanted.

"We played all the positions," Smith said. "Ryan didn't care as long as you ran."

But, low and behold, the system caught on.

Carroll Cookson took what he learned as a Puxico player and applied it toward winning two state championships with Advance. Ronnie Cookson traces his coaching philosophy back to Arnold Ryan and has 12 state championships with Scott County Central to show for it. Eight of the 12 players on the 1951 Puxico team became coaches or teachers.