A gift from a long-time University of Georgia supporter has created the Loran Smith Senior Associate Athletic Director for Sports Communications endowed position at UGA.
The endowment honors Loran Smith who has been associated with UGA for over five decades as an athlete and multi-talented staff member.
“We express our thanks and appreciation for this generous gift,” said J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Greg McGarity. “It is wonderful to see Loran honored in this manner. Loran started his professional career working for Dan Magill in the UGA Sports Information Office, and it is fitting that Loran’s named be forever linked to UGA Sports Communications.”
A native of Wrightsville, Ga., Smith graduated from the University of Georgia where he captained the 1960 Bulldog track team and was named MVP his senior year.
He has served in multiple positions during his tenure including Assistant Sports Information Director, Business Manager of Athletics, Executive Director of the Georgia Bulldog Club, editor of the Bulldog football game programs, and a member of the Athletic Association development team. He originated the football coach’s locker room show in the 1970s. It was the first live locker room show in the SEC. In 1974, he became Georgia’s first sideline announcer. Smith also originated the popular Tailgate Show in 1984. He was executive producer of the weekly football coach’s TV for over 35 years.
His current weekly radio show, “Sports Conversations,” runs on over 47 stations in Georgia and his daily radio show, “Two Minute Drill,” runs on over 30 shows in the state.
Smith is a columnist for the Athens Banner-Herald and his column is syndicated in more than 20 papers in the state of Georgia. He has authored or co-authored 17 books mostly centered on Georgia football history. He also wrote the first five Masters Annuals, an official publication of the Augusta National Golf Club.
A past chairman of the State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, he was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1997.
He is married to the former Myrna Warren of Covington, Ga. They have two children, Camille and Kent, who are both Georgia graduates. They have four grandchildren: Alex and Zoe Smith of Dallas, Texas, and Sophie and Penny Martin of Charlotte, N.C.