If you followed high school or college sports in this county, that nickname needs no introduction. “Smitty” belongs to the voice that has been woven throughout our sports landscape for over half a century, the familiar voice of Joe Smith.
With Smith’s passing on July 13, our county lost a second legend within a single year. In July, 2025, longtime Bloomington Herald-Times sportswriter Bob Hammel passed away, a loss that is still felt. Losing Joe Smith leaves another void is equally empty because, just as Hammel was “The Word,” Smitty was “The Voice.”
There was no mistaking that velvety voice when you landed on it on your radio dial, whether it was a high school game, a college game or one of his afternoon talk shows. Outside of Monroe County, Smitty was best known as part of the Indiana University broadcast team alongside Don Fischer. But to us closer to home, Joe’s biggest impact was on the high school scene. If he came to your football field or gym, it was a big deal because he made it a big deal.
Smitty wasn’t just there for the big tournament games, which he seldom missed, he was also there on Friday and Saturday nights for regular season events. It would surely take a calculator to determine how many sporting events he covered.
As a sportswriter for the Herald-Times, I often had the privilege of sharing a booth with Smitty and watch him work his magic. His passion for the game filled the press box with his enthusiasm.
Going on road trips with Smitty was about as good as it gets. It never felt like work. I recall one occasion when Joe was on the Bloomington North tournament trail in 1997 as the Cougars advanced to the Evansville Semistate. North promptly reserved a spot in the nightcap by winning the early morning game, leaving Smitty with enough time between sessions to catch the horse races at Ellis Park. He placed some wagers, won a few, lost a few, but got back in plenty of time for the evening tipoff. North went on to win the nightcap, making it a perfect day in Joe Smith’s orbit.
Oh how he loved to play the ponies. A highlight was the fall and spring meets at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington. I was lucky enough to be included in a group that featured Kit Klingelhoffer, Bill Mallory, Smitty and his son, Jeff Smith. The stories they shared were priceless, shortening the three-hour drive from Bloomington to Lexington. I wouldn’t be surprised if Smitty had his eye on a racing sheet when the end arrived.
It sure is going to be awfully quiet on the country sports scene this fall and beyond without “The Voice.” I’ll say it again: “Smitty.” You know the rest.
The recently announced Joe Smith Memorial Endowment will fund the Bob Hammel Memorial Scholarship Athlete Award.
Lynn Houser covered sports for the Bloomington Herald-Times for 28 years. He is now retired and living in Florida with his wife Pat.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Remembering ‘Smitty,’ voice of Indiana sports
Reporting by Lynn Houser, Special to the Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Lynn Houser, Special to the Herald-Times | USA TODAY Network
