Beyond the Game: A Special Olympics Pennsylvania Profile Series
At Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s most recent Summer Games, an anniversary for the Smith family was quietly celebrated.
Thirty years ago, Brian Smith was asked if he could coach a Special Olympics softball team in Crawford County. Brian, a former softball player and umpire, agreed because he wanted to give athletes who usually got pushed to the sidelines a chance to compete. This decision changed the course of his life.
His softball team ended up qualifying for that year’s Summer Games. While at the event Brian witnesses an athlete, Lawrence, from his county struggling to finish his Track and Field race. He didn’t hesitate to jump in – walking alongside the track cheering on the athlete and encouraging him to finish.
What Brian didn’t know was that Lawrence’s mom, Barb, was in the crowd and saw his supportive actions and the rest has become history. Barb and Brian started dating and now have been together for 30 years. Throughout those 30 years, one of the constants in their life has been Special Olympics.
Brian has been hooked since that first Summer Games and stayed involved – even throughout his military career which took him and his family to Tennessee, Washington, Louisiana and North Carolina. Each and every time they moved, one of the first things Brian, Barb and Lawrence did was look up their local Special Olympics and get involved. Brian has added more sports to his coaching repertoire, including volleyball, swimming, athletics, and floorball. He is determined and driven to give back because not only did that original decision to volunteer introduce him to his wife, but it also made him a father.
When Lawrence turned 21 years old, he shocked Brian and Barb by asking Brian if he would adopt him. Brian was overcome that Lawrence was choosing to call him dad and take his last name.
Now more than 20 years later, Brian and Lawrence continue to share a special bond and Father’s Day always has a significant meaning for the Smith Family. Each year, Brian reflects that he wouldn’t have gotten to be a dad if it wasn’t for Lawrence and how exceptional it is to be chosen by the athlete he once helped get across the finish line.
This year, Brian’s Special Olympics story has come full circle as he is back to coaching the sport that got him involved – softball. When Brian thinks back to that first season, he can’t believe how his decision to volunteer ended up changing his life.
