Harold “Hal” Meloy Smeltzly died on June 15, 2018. He was born October 24, 1931, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Hal began a fifty-year association with Florida Southern College in 1950 as a student majoring in education and playing basketball and baseball.
In 1953 he signed a professional baseball contract and was drafted into the Army in the same year. In June of 1952 Hal married his college sweetheart, Sylvia Moyer. After leaving the Army, Hal resumed his baseball career while… Read More » continuing his education during the off season.
In 1957 he graduated from FSC and was hired as the Mocs Head Baseball coach. In the preceding years Hal built Florida Southern’s baseball program into the nationally-acclaimed program it remains today. Under Coach Smeltzly, Mocs baseball teams won three Division II NCAA National Titles, six regional titles and eight straight regional appearances, until Hal’s retirement from coaching in 1976.
Beginning in 1972, Hal served for 28 years as the FSC Athletic Director, during which time FSC won 22 NCAA Division II national titles in softball, golf, baseball and basketball. Hal ended his tenure at Florida Southern in 2000. That year, the Sunshine State Conference acknowledged his 25 years of leadership and dedicated service to the conference.
After retirement, Hal served as a Trustee to FSC for several years. In addition to his dedication to FSC athletics, Hal served eighteen years on the NCAA Division II Rules Committee and was heavily involved in International and Olympic baseball. Hal and Sylvia traveled in these efforts in Europe, South America and Asia with teams representing the US.
He was inducted into seven baseball and sports Halls of Fame, and in 1997, was selected as the NCAA’s Division II All-Time Coach on the 30th Anniversary of Div. II baseball. Beyond baseball, Hal was an extremely dedicated husband and frequent golfing companion to Sylvia, who passed away in June of 2017, and father to their three daughters, Debra Lee (Greg), Lora Jaye (Michael) and Sara Louise (Jim).
He was also a very proud grandfather to his three granddaughters, Elizabeth Lee (Humphries) Keller, Chloe Annie Michaela Finch and Lily Meloy Tess Finch. All of his children and grandchildren survive him. He also is survived by his nephews Robert Sexton and Stuart Smeltzly and niece Valerie Smeltzly.
Memorials or gifts may be made in lieu of flowers to the Carol Jenkins Pavilion for Women and Children or to VISTE, Volunteers in Service to the Elderly, 1232 E.Magnolia St.,Lakeland, FL 33801. Condolences may be sent to the family at www. heathfuneralchapel.com.
Please check that site for notification of a memorial service which will be scheduled at a later date.
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