‘Consummate pro’ - Colleagues, coaches remember Kyle Smith

Colleagues and local coaches past and present have fond memories of veteran Dexter Statesman and Daily American Republic journalist Kyle Smith.

Smith passed away suddenly and unexpectedly over the weekend in Springfield while covering the MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown for the DAR and Dexter Statesman. He was 52.

Smith was covering the Ellington girls and Bernie boys basketball teams at the Class 2 state tournament. He covered Ellington’s semifinal win Friday morning over St. Paul Lutheran of Concordia, but took ill before Bernie’s semifinal contest Friday night.

“Our athletes were upset to hear the news of his death. The entire Bernie athletic department and school would like to join all the people in the area who will miss Kyle in sending our love and prayers to his family,” Bernie boys basketball coach and athletic director Jason Long said. “I’m always bothered by the untimely death of such a kind person.”

Smith was currently sports editor for the Dexter Statesman and a contributing writer for other Rust Communications newspapers in Southeast Missouri.

His time at the Statesman dates back to the early 1990s, when his uncle, Sherm Smith, as publisher of the then-daily newspaper. Smith went on to hold many roles in Southeast Missouri newspapers, including as sports editor at different times for the Daily Dunklin Democrat in Kennett and the DAR in Poplar Bluff.

He had returned home to the Statesman and Stoddard County in recent years.

Butler County Publishing Publisher Chris Pruett said Smith wasn’t your average small-town sports editor.

“Kyle’s love for Dexter and Stoddard County is what made him stand out as a sports editor. He could tell you when certain players played, when a certain school won a state title last, and when something was going to take place,” Pruett said.

“Kyle was from Dexter and loved his job. I don’t believe Kyle thought what he did was a job, it was a labor of love because he wanted the student-athletes to be recognized.

“Butler County Publishing will keep Kyle and his family and friends in our prayers.”

Smith was a dedicated professional, according Statesman Editor Josh Ayers.

“I enjoyed working with Kyle,” Ayers said. “He had a good sense of humor and seemed to have a smile on his face often. Myself and Lynda (Whitmer), our graphic designer, shared a lot of laughs with Kyle in the office. He was willing to take Insta Print deliveries, go to the bank, post office, etc.”

Ayers also praised Smith’s professionalism.

“He was very professional and knowledgeable,” Ayers said. “I think he knew most, if not all, grammar, punctuation and AP style rules by heart. He was never hesitant to share that knowledge with anyone or offer assistance. I never had to worry about Kyle being at a game or meeting. If he said he was going to be there, he was. He was also almost always the first one at the office in the morning.”

Others in Stoddard County echoed Long’s sentiments.

Aaron Pixley, who recently retired as Dexter High School football coach, attended high school with Smith in addition to working with him the last four seasons while Smith covered DHS football.

“Kyle was an excellent sportswriter and even better person,” Pixley said. “He was very polite and thoughtful when seeking information for his articles. He will be sorely missed.”

Dexter R-XI superintendent Amy James agreed with Pixley.

“Dexter R-XI School District is saddened by the untimely death of Mr. Kyle Smith,” James said. “Mr. Smith was a friendly gentleman who was easy to talk to and passionate about his job. The district appreciates the recognition and coverage he provided to the school and our students. He will be greatly missed.”

Dexter R-XI assistant superintendent Gavin Miller also attended DHS with Smith and later worked with him when Smith was sports editor at the DAR.

“Kyle and I go back to the year 2000, when I first became the head girls basketball coach here at Dexter,” Miller said. “He was definitely a sports guy, but an even better guy in general.”

DAR sports editor Brian Rosener worked with Smith the last few years as Smith assisted the DAR sports department with Stoddard County sports coverage.

“Knowing and working with Kyle was a blessing and privilege,” Rosener said. “He was a dependable, professional reporter and a really great person. I’m going to miss our conversations and, most of all, the fun we had working together.”

Whitmer also is saddened by news of Smith’s passing.

“I will miss having someone to discuss music trivia with,” said Whitmer. “And will also miss being able to ask where all the correct punctuation goes.”

Pruett went on to say Kyle’s personality was perfect for working on deadline.

“Kyle was someone who didn’t get upset when something went wrong on deadline or a game went late. He calmly went about his business and got the job done,” Pruett said. “He was someone who was easy to talk to and he communicated well with others.”

Smith worked at the then-Daily Statesman in Dexter in the early 1990s, then served as the sports editor at the Daily Dunklin Democrat in Kennett in the mid-1990s before joining the DAR as a sports writer in 1996.

“We were tickled to death to get him,” said Ron Smith, who was the DAR’s sports editor when Kyle joined the staff in 1996. “He was a great addition (to our staff). He just had the knack for doing things the right way. Especially with covering sports, you want to make people happy. Everybody was pleased with the quality of work that he did.

“He was just a very talented writer and talented photographer. I think he enjoyed his work. It seemed to come real easy to him. He was very well liked by everybody.”

Kyle Smith then succeeded Ron Smith as sports editor of the DAR in 1998 and held that position until 2001, when he left to become sports editor of the Sedalia Democrat. Kyle Smith returned to Southeast Missouri a few years ago and began working again for the DAR and the Dexter Statesman.

During Kyle’s time as DAR sports editor, he covered Poplar Bluff Mules football from 1998-2000, a stretch in which the Mules won a pair of district titles with Stan Revelle as the team’s starting quarterback.

“I always remember that he didn’t miss a beat,” then-Mules head coach Mark Barousse said. “He was there for everything and was fair in all he did. I thought he was good at what he did.”

Barousse described Kyle as “very attentive” to his work.

“I’ve got nothing but good memories,” Barousse said. “He always treated me fair. I thought he was a great small-town sports editor. I thought he did a great job (of) focusing on Poplar Bluff kids. He definitely did justice to the sports programs.”

Jake Kreulen was a sports writer at the DAR from 1999 to 2001. Kyle and then-DAR editor Stan Berry gave Kreulen his first sports writing job.

“Kyle Smith was a great guy and a great boss,” Kreulen said. “I consider myself lucky to have cut my teeth in journalism working with Kyle. His impact on my career was one that I will always appreciate, and he is already greatly missed.”

Several have described Smith as a “consummate pro” as they reflect on his life and career — an assessment Ayers agrees with.

“He loved writing and was a very talented writer,” Ayers said. “He was also a talented photographer. He had seven schools in Stoddard County he covered and always did everything he could to make sure they all received coverage. He had a very good relationship with all the coaches in the county and probably some outside the county. He will be greatly missed by many people.”