Daniel "Rump" Smith Tribute
Daniel "Rump" Smith, a first team All-Public WR for Martin Luther King High in the 2003 season, and a freshman player at Millersville University, passed on Dec. 27, 2004.
He is survived by his parents, Irving and Shirley (stepmother), sister and brother, Keli and Maceo, and his mother, Denise, along with numerous other family members and loving friends.
Services were Tuesday, Jan. 4, at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, 230 W. Coulter Street, in Germantown.
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Remembrances
Coach Damond "Smash" Warren, Bartram HS (Martin Luther King 2000 & 2001 seasons): "I first met Danny Smith during the 2001 season. He was a sophomore on our junior varsity team at the time. I would watch them practice and say wow, who is that little guy down there catching everything? It was Danny. I told coach Wood he's moving up with varsity A.S.A.P... His future was very bright. He was very disciplined, focused academically, and came from a good family."
Brandon Truesdale, Shippensburg University, M.L. King #65 2002 Captain: "'Rump' was a special football player in my eyes. Throughout my years at M.L. King I had the opportunity to watch him mature into an all around young man. He exhibited great skills not only on the football field but also in the classroom."
Maceo (Danny's brother): "Danny was my little brother and I loved him to death. I really can't believe it happened... I know a lot of people might remember him for football but I remember him always smiling and being happy."
"Coach Scott" Latisha Forster Scott: "If Danny were here right now I would just give him a hug and tell him that I was proud of him... As his academic coach, I could always rely on Danny to consistently have good grades, and I absolutely enjoyed watching him on the field. It was less than a year ago that I was happy to present Danny with a plaque from the National Football Foundation for being selected to go into the NFF Hall of Fame as a scholar-athlete."
Na'im Mincy: "I played football with Danny for 2 years at King and he is the person who I really felt I was the closest to. We worked out together almost everyday over the past year and became close. He honestly was a great football player and worked hard to improve."
Maurice Kelley, Millersville University, former Bartram Player: "Its hard for me to express in words about how I feel about Danny not being around no longer. Our semester just started yesterday and its hard not seeing Danny hanging around the lobby. I still have these vivid memories about how you always screamed west oak lane."