By KEN IRVING
Senior Reporter
The outside of Northwestern’s complex will sport a new look from now on.
On Saturday, members of the Northwestern community surrounded the front of the baseball field for dedication of the third Ranger statue to Dr. Troy Smith. His wife Liz Smith and their family was present for the dedication. President Bo Hannaford led the dedication ceremony.
“It symbolizes, not only for our university, but for our community that we never quit,” said Bo Hannaford, President of the University. “It shows our Ranger spirit and that we never quit and I think we are always determined to be the best that we can be.”
Hannaford said that there was a third statue made but they didn’t know where to place it or who to dedicate it for.
“Troy loved Northwestern, and he loved the community,” said Hannaford. “He was a great symbol of everything we talk about.”
Troy Smith graduated from Northwestern in 1976 and has been a part of Northwestern events his entire life. Hannaford repeatedly stated that the statue could not have been dedicated to a better or more deserving person than Troy Smith. Hannaford also thanked the supporters that went into making the statue happen which was Jeff Allen, Woody Glass and Troy’s wife: Liz Smith.
“We’ve always been a Ranger,” said Liz Smith. “Troy and I met our freshman year of college and married our junior year. … I remember getting on the bus to Tennesse to support our Rangers. … I remember driving to South Dakota to watch. We were a part of Adopt-A-Ranger where we fed two to four football players a night.”
The Smith family roots have been strong at Northwestern. Liz and Troy have always been a part of supporting Northwestern. They traveled across the United States to support their team. Their kids grew up and attended Northwestern. Their daughter was on the soccer team, and their son played golf. Their daughter also met her husband on the football team.
“I’m just happy that this can be a part of Northwestern,” said Liz Smith. She said that she was proud of the statue and felt like it symbolizes everything Troy had worked for.
“He was a very strong man of God who led by example,” said Tiffany Eddy (Troy’s daughter). He was not just an amazing Dad but he was an amazing Husband which set standards for me to find a man of God. He was an amazing grandfather, and he loved people. … I saw how he was with his patients. He really cared about them and got to know each and every one of them.”
Eddy describes her father as a compassionate and caring person who truly cared about an individual. Eddy said that her father taught by example. She can’t think of a basketball game or football game that they didn’t attend. She remembers traveling to far places such as Colorado and Iowa. She said that he was very involved with the community as a man of God.
Troy Smith impacted the people around him and elevated the standard of Northwestern. Now, anyone who passes the Athletic Facilities, will forever see the statue of Dr. Troy Smith enriched into the history of NWOSU.
