A good friend all the way through high school, we began visiting on the phone about a year before his death, never able to talk for more than a few minutes.  Smitty was a very loyal friend.  Ellen Chapman (Ted and Joel's sister) emailed me after Smitty's death to tell me how Smitty came to her rescue in Memphis when Martin Luther King had been killed. The Memphis State students were told to leave town as soon as possible. Smitty and Ellen were both students there at the time.  Ted called Smitty to see if he could drive Ellen home.  Smitty picked her up and they both returned safely to Nashville.  We learned later that he didn't have a car at the time so he bought one so he could drive Ellen home.

I was priviledged to have you as a friend for over 40 years.  The upcoming reunion has made me recall many of the crazy, stupid, wonderful times we had together.  I miss you and think of you often.  R.I.P., buddy.