Five for the Fifth
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Served as VSGA Director of Championships
for more than 15 years.
Upon retirement in 2008, he turned his focus
solely on juniors and was instrumental in devel-
oping the VSGA Junior Golf Club, which has
evolved into the thriving VSGA Junior Golf Cir-
cuit. In the first three years he attended nearly
every tournament.
Received the David Wortman Citizen of the
A
lasting, indelible impression was one
thing Richard Smith left with almost
everyone with whom he crossed paths.
Smith was the Director of Competi-
tions for the VSGA more than 15 years.
Whatever tournament he was directing,
Smith knew the players, the moms, the
dads, the grandparents, the friends.
His work as director of competitions was
part time for much of his tenure, but not to
Smith. He put his heart and soul and time
into every tournament no matter the level.
Born in Burlington, N.C., in 1939, he
spent his life in North Carolina and Vir-
Wynsol Spencer
H
is friend and fellow 2020 Hall of Fame
inductee Wayne Jackson called Spen-
cer “the finest, most accurate iron player I
ever played with.” Spencer won the first of his
five VSGA Amateur titles in 1939 and his fifth
20 years later in 1959. The five championships
are the second-most in the commonwealth.
Spencer dominated amateur golf in Vir-
ginia and the Peninsula region, starting
with two state high school championships
at Newport News High School, before he
turned professional in 1959. He was head
professional at Fort Eustis Golf Club and
played in the 1965 PGA Championship
where he missed the cut by a single shot.
Born in Kentucky, Spencer’s family
moved to Newport News when he was 5
years old. Spencer always had a love for
THEY SAID IT
“One of Richard’s favorite sayings was
‘leave it better than you found it.’ It was
his way of reminding other staff members
and volunteers to go the extra mile to take
care of member clubs. Thinking about
Richard’s impact on so many people, I can
honestly say that applies to how Richard
left so many people better than he found
them.” —Smiley
“He was always running the junior tour-
naments even though he did a bunch more
than that, but I just remember him always
being around … I gravitated toward him in
the sense that he didn’t give a whole lot of
compliments, but I do remember when he
gave you a compliment, you knew you had
earned it … He always had a certain respect
for me, mainly because I had such a high
level of respect for him.” —Jay Woodson,
two-time VSGA Amateur and four-time
State Open champion.
“He doesn’t think he does anything bet-
ter than anyone else. But he does.” – Cindi
Townsend, a mom quoted in Virginia Golfer
column written by Jim Ducibella when
Smith retired.
bluegrass music, Jackson said. Spencer
served in the U.S. Navy during World War
II. He died in 2013 at age 94.
FOND MEMORIES
“He was a tremendous guy. He was one of
those people that was not only respected by all
the people he played against, but he was well-
liked by them. He had a nice manner about
him,” Jackson said. “I think he was a gracious
winner and a gracious loser. He was one of the
most competitive guys that I have known.”
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Won VSGA Amateur five times: 1939, 1948,
1953, 1955 and 1959.
Was VSGA Amateur runner-up in 1947, 1949 and
1950; medalist in 1940, 1941 and 1951 and in
1948 and 1955 when he went on to win the title.
Won 11 of the 13 Peninsula Amateurs in which
he played.
Won the Valentine Invitational, Belle Haven Invita-
tional and two state high school championships.
Reached the round of 16 in the U.S. Amateur and
was runner-up in the North and South Amateur.
During his career, he held seven course records
and logged 34 holes-in-one.
Inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in
1991.
One of 10 individuals to have been elected
into the Virginia Sports and Virginia Golf halls
of fame.
NOTE: Some facts, figures, tidbits of information, quotes and stories in each inductee’s biography box come courtesy of Virginia author Jim Ducibella’s book
entitled Par Excellence: A Celebration of Virginia Golf. Ducibella is a former sportswriter and columnist for The Virginian Pilot. He currently writes the My Turn
column that appears in each issue of Virginia Golfer.
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V I R G I N I A G O L F E R | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y 2 0 2 0
vsga.org
Richard Smith
ginia. He worked for Western Electric for
30 years and retired as a supervisor for
AT&T’s Richmond manufacturing facility.
Golf always was a part of his life. He
was an excellent player and he knew how
to run an event. He was involved with the
VSGA for nearly 30 years.
Along the way he picked up the playful,
and affectionate, nickname “Grumpy.” He
could be just that, but as current Execu-
tive Director Matt Smiley, who succeeded
Smith as director of competitions, says,
“He was committed to creating a positive
experience for everyone involved with an
event. This included the host club, volun-
teers and players.”
Smith died in January of 2016 at the
age of 76.
Year Award from the MAPGA in 2008.
Became a lifetime honorary member of Her-
mitage Country Club in 2007 in recognition of
his years of service to golf.
Teamed with Stan Fischer to win 1999 VSGA
Senior Four-Ball Championship.
Won the Valentine Invitational in 1976 and the
Richmond Golf Association Senior Champion-
ship in 1995 and 1996.