HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Alabama A&M Athletics is saddened to share the passing of longtime athletic trainer Terry Smith, who died at the age of 50 on Thursday, May 12.
 
"Terry had such an appreciation for life and touched the lives of countless student-athletes as a member of the Bulldog family for a decade," said Director of Athletics Bryan Hicks. "He truly valued taking care of the individuals in his charge and he battled to the very end to continue to do so. He made a lasting impact on our program and the people he met and will forever be a part of the Bulldog family."
 
A native of Sparta, Wisconsin, Smith joined the Bulldogs as an assistant athletic trainer in 2012 and spent a decade covering the A&M football program during his time in Huntsville, Alabama. Prior to his time caring for Bulldog student-athletes, Smith worked at Lake Orion High School in Michigan, Mauston, Wisconsin and served as the head athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach at Oklahoma Panhandle State beginning in 1999.
 
He also served in the latter two roles at Aurora University (Aurora, Ill.) beginning in 2004. While there he covered football, basketball and baseball and was promoted to head athletic trainer in 2006.
 
A former student-athlete himself, Smith went to Adams State in Alamosa, Colorado, then an NAIA member, and was a key member of a powerhouse wrestling program. The Grizzlies won the national title during his freshman year in 1990 and would follow with a sixth place outing the following year and a runner-up finish in 1992.
 
In the latter campaign he earned the final NAIA All-American honor in that program's history, finishing eighth in the nation in the heavyweight division. Following his collegiate career, Smith maintained that competitive edge, competing all across the country in the Highland Games, Strongman competitions and Olympic Weightlifting and Powerlifting.
 
Smith passed away surrounded by his mother, two brothers and puppies Ashla and Aifa. Memorial and funeral arrangements will be announced by the family in the near future.

UPDATE
A memorial service will not be held in Alabama but Terry had asked that those who knew him "raise a glass or share a story when they gather".