Aug. 13, 2012
Former Boston University wrestling coach Orin Smiley (SED '56), who passed away in April 2012, named the Boston University wrestling program as part of his estate, his family announced. His generous legacy gift will go to fund an operating endowment for the wrestling program as well as a scholarship for BU wrestlers.
The Smiley Endowed Funds for Wrestling were established as a legacy gift back in 2006 by Orin Smiley and his family. The Orin S. Smiley Endowment Fund for Wrestling will permanently provide general support for the wrestling program and the Clarke Smiley Scholarship Fund for Wrestling will provide an annual scholarship to one or more student-athletes in the wrestling program. The Clarke Smiley Scholarship Fund is named after Orin Smiley's son, Clarke, who was a Vietnam veteran and helicopter pilot who received the Distinguished Flying Cross and passed away in 2004.
"It was a great honor for me to meet and spend time with Orin on a number of occasions," said BU's head wrestling coach Carl Adams. "He was one of the most impressive people I have ever met. We are honored to be chosen by the Smiley family to receive this endowment fund for our wrestling program. Orin was a great man and a true pioneer of wrestling. This endowment will be a permanent reminder of Orin's enormous contribution to BU wrestling and his devotion to the entire University."
Smiley was born in St. Catherine's, Ontario in 1925 and was raised in Watertown, N.Y., where he was a state wrestling champion. He joined the U.S. Army during World War II and served his country in Europe, France and Italy during war. Using the G.I. Bill, Smiley attended Boston University where he was named head wrestling coach while still a student.
"In the middle of the `50s, wrestling was like the stepchild of athletics," Smiley said in 2004 when the Orin Smiley Award for outstanding wrestlers at BU was named in his honor. "Wrestling is on firm ground now."
Smiley is survived by his wife Marilyn, and daughter, Brooke. The endowment's funds will be bestowed upon the university after Marilyn's passing.
