George Smith: While the American Legion baseball state tournament has just begun, his long reign as athletic director has come to an end.

THERE WAS no formal announcement, but then again, George Smith never was one to seek the spotlight.

In a telephone conversation this week about this season's American Legion Sweeney Post baseball team, Smith made what sounded like an offhand remark but, actually, was major news.

“I'm through as the athletic director,” he said. “Paul Lemire is now taking over the program.”

And, that was it. As the American Legion state tournament was about to get under way with Friday's first round at Holman Stadium in Nashua, a 36-year tenure at one of Manchester's historic posts had come to an end.

Health issues were the main reasons Smith, a former Manchester alderman, decided now was the right time to step down from the position he'd held at Sweeney Post since 1977.

“I've recently had three surgeries, have had shingles and even developed bed sores from being in the hospital for long stretches,” Smith said. “I've got a lung problem I'm dealing with due to asbestos from a job I had years ago. Physically, I just can't do everything the (athletic director's) job demands.”

Smith said he, along with longtime Sweeney Post officers John Cashin and Eddie Collins, will remain on the post's baseball committee.

“I'm 76 years old, Eddie is 77, and John is 81,” Smith said. “For years, we've enjoyed working year-round on various fundraisers to raise money for the baseball team. But, let's face it: We're all getting older, and, for me, it's time to step down and hand the program over to Paul.”

Although Smith will be remembered in the Manchester sports community primarily as the athletic director at Sweeney Post, earlier in his life he was active in many other youth programs.

He served many years as a junior high and high school director for the CYO basketball program in the city. He coached St. Raphael to a New England basketball championship one year.

In football, he was a longtime high school referee who also served as commissioner of the statewide Pop Warner organization.

In 1976 and 1977, when Manchester Post 79 hosted consecutive American Legion World Series at Gill Stadium, Smith was a major contributor to the event, working with the national staff coordinator of American Legion baseball, the late George W. Rulon.

When Smith agreed to become the athletic director at Sweeney Post on Maple Street, he and his brother, Denny, were assistant coaches for a few years under the late head coach John “Jumbo” Reilly.

When it came to baseball coaches, Smith said, no one was better than Reilly.

“As a kid, I played CYO basketball for Jumbo at St. Anne's — grew up five houses down from him,” Smith said. “I might sound biased, but I don't care, because it's true: Jumbo is still the best American Legion coach I've ever seen. And don't forget (longtime Reilly assistant) Chris Tonery. I mean, Chris, as a player and coach, meant so much to Sweeney Post baseball for five decades.”

Smith said one of Reilly's rules was, “If you didn't get a haircut, you weren't going to play. One year, Dave Roy walked into Gill Stadium with a goatee, and Reilly didn't start him. (Longtime youth coach) Mickey Hanagan knew the reason why and pulled Roy off the field and behind the stands. He pulled out a knife and shaved Roy's goatee off. That's a true story.”

Sweeney Post has won 30 Legion baseball state titles, 10 under Smith's direction, including a state-record six straight from 1977-82, with Reilly as head coach. The 1980 state finals against Coffey Post of Nashua at Laconia's Memorial Field remain a highlight for Smith. That team was deep in talent, with Adam Yanulis, Marc Provencher, Kevin Emond, Colin O'Meara, Mike Reilly, Mike Campano, Mike Roy, Pat O'Neil, Kevin Foley, Pat McCafferty, John Plentzas, Mike Croteau, Shawn O'Neil and Keith McDonald.

“In the first championship game, we were down 10-0, entering the ninth inning, and we came back to tie it,” recalled Smith. “Can you imagine that? Yanulis hit two homers in the ninth inning, including a grand slam. We ended up losing that first title game in extra innings, but we won the second championship game. That was just a gritty team.”

In 1982, behind solid pitching from Croteau, McDonald, Scott Howard and Mark Abad, Sweeney won the regional title in Montpelier, Vt., and earned a World Series berth at Boyerstown, Pa. Sweeney Post earned another World Series berth at Danbury, Va., in 2002, with Lemire as head coach.

“Paul is a great organizer and loves Sweeney Post as much as I do,” said Smith. “He's going to do a wonderful job for years to come. We also have (current head coach) David Flurey, (and assistants) Matt Welch, Ron Beaurivage, Bobby Beaudet and the list goes on. I'm leaving Sweeney in very good hands.”

The Ward 10 alderman from 2002-10, Smith was honored by the city last month when it named the complex at Piscataquog River Park after him. But to those who really know him, most of all his loving wife, Ruthie, it's Gill Stadium that is most associated with George Smith. In fact, he's chairing the committee planning the stadium's 100th birthday next year.

“This will officially be the last project I ever work on,” said Smith. “Gill Stadium has always been a jewel to me.”

And Smith remains a living jewel to this city.

jhabib@unionleader.com