Bishop Donahue opened up it’s regular season schedule at home on Friday night, but not before recognizing one of it’s biggest supporters.
Tommy “Dino” Smith joined the Bishop Donahue family many years ago when he volunteered to help out with the basketball team. From there, he gave his time to help with other sports such as with the football team where he would encourage every player he encountered to do their best with a smile on his face. He would also attend other school functions with the same encouraging attitude up until his passing last March. The news of his passing saddened everyone he had touched.
“He was Mr. Donahue,” said Bishop Donahue Athletic Director, Jim Dailer. “He was at every event we had, faithfully. The epitome of school spirit, always supported our teams, win or lose. He did whatever he could for the kids, again with unending dedication.”
That dedication earned the respect of every person he encountered. Not only in the Bishop Donahue community, but with everyone that walked into the gymnasium/field for an event. He treated everyone like they had been his good friend for years. He enjoyed doing what he did not because he had to do it, but because he wanted to do it.
“There was no calling off sick,” said Dailer “Actually, when he was in the hospital last year, he would call here during games to find out a score and tell the guys “I’m thinking of them and tell the guys I’m rooting for them. We’d call him at halftime and after games and let him know what the score was .”
When Dailer and other members of the athletic and school staff met last year, they all came to the same conclusion to keep Dino’s memory going by renaming the court, that the team he rooted on for decades played on, in his name.
“It was really a no-brainer,” said Dailer. “It wasn’t too long, last spring, after he passed away that several of us almost simultaneously said we need to do something for Dino for all he did for Bishop Donahue over the years. The best way, at that time, we could think of what we could do was rename the floor in his honor and dedicate the floor to him.”
They have also come up with a plan to establish a scholarship at Donahue.
“We’ve since, with the help of the Smith family, started a scholarship at Donahue in Dino’s name and I’m sure this is just the beginning of many things we will do with the help of the Smith family to make sure we honor Dino in the proper way.”
It’s a fitting way to keep the legacy of Dino going at a school that adored him so much.
“I knew who Dino was well before I got here,” said Dailer. “Obviously with coaching in the valley all of these years that I did. Coaches come-and-go, players come-and-go, but Dino was the one constant for Donahue over all those years.”
Following the dedication, the Bishop Donahue boys basketball team showed their appreciation for Dino by defeating Beallsville 110 – 43 in a dominating performance by the Bishops to start the season off on the right foot.
The game began with Donahue winning the tip and taking the first offensive possession. Once Bishop gained control of the ball, the student section broke out into a loud “Dino” chant which followed with cheers as Bryce Jones nailed a long three.
From there, Donahue went on a 12 – 1 run over the games first three minutes to take control for good. Jones paced the Bishops with 28 points while Chase Truex scored 26 with both performances coming in only three quarters of play.
Dalton Secrest lead the Blue Devils with 14 points while Susac scored 10.
