Hall of Honor
Growing up the child of missionaries in Rhodesia, East Africa, Bob Smalley had an early love for God's creation and living an active lifestyle. Even to this day, he says that the outdoors is the place that he chooses to be, good weather or bad.
When Bob came to Houghton, he noticed something special about the community, and after the first day of classes, he says, "I knew this was the place for me".
While he majored in physical education, his athletics participation on a Houghton team was limited. The son of world class sprinter, Bob took track for a single credit course. When the coach saw how far he could throw the javelin, he was encouraged to keep throwing on that first day of practice. Bob ended up throwing his arm out and never threw that far again.
Bob graduated in 1978, but couldn't stay away. He returned in 1980 as part of the crew that helped build the Nielsen Center and in 1981 Bob became Houghton's first graduate assistant, teaching a full load, was assistant intramurals director under Doris Nielsen, began working with the Highlander Program, was the first varsity women's soccer coach and started graduate school. Later he served short stints as head coach for softball and women's basketball.
After a short time away, Bob and Laurie, found themselves back in the community in 1988 when he was asked to teach, direct intramurals and coach cross country. Though he initially committed to just one year, he wound up coaching cross country for 21 seasons. Head coaching duties for track and field naturally followed and he led that program for 15 years.
The cross country course was a perfect spot for Bob… and coaching allowed him to bring the love of Christ to his athletes, fellow coaches, and other competitors.
A person who believed in personal development that goes beyond athletics, Bob established an atmosphere on his teams where hard word and camaraderie went hand in hand. On the course, the Highlanders garnered numerous conference and region titles and regularly competed at the NAIA National Championships through the 1990s. Under his leadership, the women's team finished in the NAIA Top-25 on five occasions, with the men's team earning the honor twice. Six runners earned All-America honors for their championship finishes under Bob.
Bob, too, has been recognized for his hard work, earning a number of conference and regional coach of the year awards for both his men's and women's teams.
Our first two honorees tonight agree about Bob's impact on their lives. Each states that Bob cared more about them as individuals and their spiritual development than any of their results or honors on the course or track.
Joe Campagna says… "As I get older, I think about how I want to live my life and how I want to present myself to the world, and his example leads the way. I have met very few people who embodied those traits in the way Coach Smalley did."
Though he stepped away from his head coaching role in cross country in 2009 and track in 2010, Bob has remained a Houghton track assistant coach, continues to teach, and leads the annual Highlander Program for incoming freshmen.
He and Laurie have loved working, living and raising their children in the Houghton community. They are connected with Houghton Wesleyan Church and the location allows Bob to be outdoors and pursue his love of woodcarving, but most of all to stay invested in the community where he feels the Lord's calling. "As long as there is a ministry here, I will stay," Bob says.
Bob also enjoys the time he gets to spend with his daughter Angela, son Zac and his wife Erin and grandson Peter.
