Bill Smoker Scholarship

Bill Smoker was an remarkable person. He was a gifted athlete as a youth, he was a charismatic and inspiring college student, and through his adult life he was a witness to God’s love for his children in trying circumstances.

Bill grew up in New Paris, Ind., where he lettered in baseball, track and basketball in high school. But basketball was his favorite sport. In the 1948-49 season he led all scorers in Elkhart County with 316 points and his New Paris team to an upset win over Elkhart High School before losing to Concord in the sectional championship. As a freshman at Goshen College the next year, he spent his spare time watching the new gymnasium going up, looking forward to playing there in his sophomore year.

However, in August 1950, Bill’s life changed dramatically. He contracted polio, was in critical condition for several months, and was hospitalized for a total of 26 months. The polio left him paralyzed from the neck down, requiring him to sleep in an iron lung. He was never able to walk again or complete his college degree.

Much of the inspiration Bill provided to others came after the onslaught of polio. In spite of his paralysis, Bill accepted his disability, often drawing comfort from Paul’s advice in Philippians 4:11, “For I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” With that as his motto Bill was a source of strength, courage, and inspiration to family, friends, and strangers. In 1956 he married one of the nurses who had cared for him during his hospital stay, and they moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida where they lived the remaining years of his life. All his adult life he enjoyed attending basketball games, reading, travel and watching football on TV.

His niece, Beth Ann Smoker, says “I never once remember anything but positive energy from my uncle’s life.” She remembers that his wit, wisdom and intelligence overshadowed the fact that polio had rendered him unable to move. He was unwilling to allow this disease to strip him of life or his faith. My memories of my uncle are full of life — examining the daily papers, continually reading and listening to the latest news, faithfully following his beloved Miami Dolphins and always interested in life and those he loved.”

In a statement written for the The Goshen News on the 25th anniversary of his high-school scoring championship, Bill said, “Athletics helped prepare me for my particular fate in life, in that it taught me discipline and that one doesn’t always win. And for every defeat, if you have learned something to help prepare for the next game, it has been worthwhile.”

When people asked Bill if he believed in miracles, he said, “Yes I do. The fact that I am alive, able to enjoy life, hardly noticing any handicap because of the unselfish love and devotion of my wife, mother, family and friends, is a miracle to me.”

Bill Smoker died in 1976 at the age of 44.