Phyllis Edwards Smith
Class of 1958
2000 Hall of Fame
PHYLLIS EDWARDS SMITH
Phyllis Edwards Smith was born in Goshen, Ohio on May 31, 1940, the second child of Arley and Edna Edwards. She attended Goshen schools for 12 years and graduated in 1958. Phyllis played basketball, volleyball, and was a member of the Girl’s Athletic Association, Office Kadets, Student Council and one of the Goshenenis editors. She was extremely honored to be the first football homecoming queen and was the 1958 class valedictorian.It was in 1962 that Phyllis was married to her high school sweetheart; Bill Smith, also a 1958 GHS graduate. They have two children: Todd – GHS class of 1985 and Troy – GHS class of 1989. Four beautiful granddaughters have been such blessings to Bill and Phyliss. These two 1958 grads have lived their entire lives in the Goshen community.
Goshen United Methodist Church has always been an important part of Phyllis’ his life beginning when she was four years old. She has served as Sunday School Superintendent for many years as well as having served on various church committees.
Phyllis attended Wilmington College and Miami University in 1958- 1959 and returned to Goshen teaching sixth grade in the fall of 1959. She also coached girls’ high school basketball during that year. In the fall of 1960 she returned to Wilmington College, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1961. At Wilmington, Phyllis was a member of the Delta Omega Theta sorority, as well as the Green Key Honorary Academic Society. She earned a Masters of Education Degree in Administration from Xavier University in 1974.
For 37 years Phyllis was employed by the Goshen Local School District as a teacher and administrator. Twenty five of those years were as principal of Cook elementary, nine as a sixth grade teacher, and three as an assistant principal. She had the privilege of teaching her first years under the guidance of Principal Katherine Marr. It was also quite beneficial that her mother, Edna Edwards, taught first grade in the same building and could serve as a much-needed mentor. Phyllis retired in 1997 after having worked for superintendents Alley, Gower, Tennant, Goodwin, Russell, Shell, Dennison, and Varney.
Phyllis was honored to receive the following recognitions during her professional career: Clermont Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award, Clermont 2001 Education "Salute to Leaders" Award, Ohio National Guard State Chair Award for Support of a Reserve Component Teacher, 1997 homecoming parade grand marshal, and GHS Hall of Fame induction.
