Dewayne Arlington Smith

DeWayne Arlington Smith was born November 2, 1935, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was the

fourth child born to Walter and Paine Smith. His family moved to River Rouge, Michigan when he was

in the third grade. DeWayne loved and excelled in sports throughout his life. He was a proud graduate of

River Rouge Public Schools. Some of his greatest memories came from playing both tennis and

basketball at River Rouge High School. DeWayne excelled in tennis and basketball. In 1954, his senior

year, he played shooting guard for the legendary basketball coach Lofton Greene. That year the team

won their first of twelve state basketball championships. During that same year, DeWayne qualified for

the state tournament in doubles tennis under the same tutelage of Coach Greene. DeWayne was an

extremely proud graduate of River Rouge Public Schools.

After high school, DeWayne earned a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Bowling

Green State University. He worked twenty hours a week to help pay for college expenses. Upon

graduation, DeWayne was drafted into the United States Army. He was stationed at Eschenberg,

Germany where he served as a medic for injured soldiers for eighteen months. He also served as an

educator by assisting soldiers with obtaining their high school diploma. In 1960, DeWayne was

honorably discharged from military service.

After serving his country in the military, Dewayne became a physical education teacher. He started his

career in Detroit Public Schools and ended up teaching an additional thirty-four years for River Rouge

Public School District. While teaching in River Rouge, he earned multiple accolades. In 1985, he earned a

master’s degree in elementary education from Wayne State University. He became River Rouge High

School’s head basketball coach in 1984, after being an assistant to his former coach. DeWayne was also

the head tennis coach with an outstanding record of 293W & 88L. He was a member of the Allen Park

Library Commission, M.H.S.C.A., Basketball Coaches Association, Tennis Coaches Association, and served

as President of the Michigan Sports Sages for 1996.

Upon returning home from the services, DeWayne lived in Ecorse with his sister Betty Trimble until he

met and married the love of his life, Shirley McKinney. To this union, two sons

were born, Kevin and Garrick. DeWayne and Shirley were inseparable. Together, they served on the

governing boards for Allen Park and Wayne County libraries. They also loved traveling and taking cruises

around the World.

DeWayne and his wife were master gardeners, but DeWayne was the chef of the family. After retiring,

he honed his culinary skills by taking community college classes and attending Herman Breithaupt

Career and Technical Center. He especially enjoyed hosting events and cooking for family and friends.

Some of their annual events included back to school dinners, Valentine’s Day lunches for widows,

Christmas Day dinners, and making chocolate turtles candies for the community, family and friends.

Dwayne never met a stranger. He enjoyed socializing with others and instilling pearls of wisdom to

youth he encountered. DeWayne impacted the lives of many students and members of his community.

His legacy of community engagement, love, and determination will continue to live on through the

hundreds of lives he has touched.

DeWayne leaves to cherish his loving memory: grandson, Garrick smith; daughter-in-love Cassandra

Smith; brother, Phillip (Joan) Williams; brothers-in-love Ronald (Brenda) McKinney and Marvin

McKinney; sisters-in-love Joyce Leonard and Regina McKinney; a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and

wonderful friends