Finis Dean Smith (born January 15, 1932) is a former American track and field athlete and stuntman, winner of gold medal in 4x100 m relay at the 1952 Summer Olympics.
Born in Breckenridge, Texas, Smith won the Amateur Athletic Union championships in 100 m in 1952. At the Helsinki Olympics, he was fourth in the 100 m and ran the leadoff leg for American gold medal winning 4x100 m relay team.
After graduating from University of Texas at Austin, Smith played professional football for the Los Angeles Rams and the Pittsburgh Steelers but never played in a regular season game. After his sports career, Smith performed as a professional rodeo cowboy and stuntman in various Western movies as The Alamo, The Comancheros, How The West Was Won, McLintock!, Rio Conchos, Big Jake, and El Dorado. He also appeared in such Western TV shows as Tales of Wells Fargo, Maverick, Gunsmoke, Lawman, Have Gun Will Travel, The Iron Horse and Walker, Texas Ranger.
In 2006 he was inducted in to the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame
Dean Smith is a member of the Stuntman's Hall of Fame. In 1997 he was named "All American Cowboy" and in 1998 he received a Golden Boot Award. In 2007 he received the Silver Spur award for his contribution as a stuntman (one of the best) in the film business.
Famous quotes containing the words dean and/or smith:
“Some people can stay longer in an hour than others can in a week.”
—William Dean Howells (1837–1920)
“I would rather be remembered by a song than by a victory.”
—Alexander Smith (1830–1867)