Richard “Dick” Smith was a Walkersville native, beginning his career in 1950 as a Little League pitcher, completing an 18-game winning season. While a high school student, he lettered in soccer, basketball, and baseball all four years, winning county, regional, and state honors. Recruited by 14 of the then 16 major league baseball teams, he signed a $100,000 contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. After he developed arm problems, he stayed with the Phillies system as a baseball executive and general manager in the farm system during the 1960’s.