Gary Smith is a proud member of the K-Ram Class of 1978. He was a two-sport three-year letterman in track and football. He played the position of wide receiver and ranked as one of the top receivers in the city each of his varsity seasons. Gary played on the dominant Kashmere football teams of 1976 – 1978 that reached the State Quarter-Finals each year. Gary received academic honors from Kashmere, graduating in the top five percent of his class. He was a part of the historical “Kashmere Connection” comprising a group of eight athletes, including his older brother Anthony, who received full athletic scholarships to Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas.
Gary excelled at SMU, setting a single-game freshman record and was selected by Texas Magazine as the top sophomore receiver in the Southwest Conference. He was a four-year letterman. He also played on two Conference Championship teams of 1982 and 1983, which included winning the 1983 Cotton Bowl Championship. The team ended the season ranked as the number two team in the nation.
Gary graduated from SMU in 1983 with a degree in Business Marketing. He later obtained a Masters’ Degree in Ministry from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.
From 2005 to present Gary has served as the Senior Minister of Fifth Ward Church of Christ in Houston, Texas. The church is recognized as one of the city leaders in massive outreach ministry efforts to communities in Houston and beyond. Gary also serves as Co-Chairman for the Houston Area Campaign for Christ, coordinating the combined fellowship and outreach of over fifty churches.
Gary and his wife of thirty-four years (Karen, KB) are the directors and founders of a 501c3 non-profit, Discovery Youth Foundation. DYF provides a dynamic summer enrichment program and year-round mentoring for teenagers, emphasizing career exposure, entrepreneurship, college preparation, and life skills. Gary and Karen have three daughters, two son-in-law’s, and six grandchildren.
