Templeton and Smith will be inducted on Aug. 1, 2020.
Templeton, Smith Announced To 2020 Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Class
October 23, 2019 | Athletics
by Bill Martin, Senior Associate Athletic Director/Communications
JACKSON, Miss. – Two members of the Mississippi State community make up the 2020 Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame class, the organization announced this week.
Larry Templeton and Janet Marie Smith comprise the six-member class that will officially be inducted on Aug. 1, 2020, at the Jackson Convention Complex. The addition of the six new members brings the total number of inductees to 322.
Templeton, born and raised in Starkville, was one of the longest tenured athletic directors in Mississippi State history. Templeton oversaw great changes at MSU during his two-decade run, including renovations to Scott Field, Dudy Noble Field, Humphrey Coliseum and the construction of a new state of the art academic center. He also hired the first African-American head football coach in the SEC when he picked Sylvester Croom to lead the Bulldogs.
Templeton, a 1969 MSU graduate and former worker in the sports information office, oversaw the addition of women's soccer and softball as varsity sports. During the 2005-06 athletic year, MSU recorded the highest combined student-athlete grade point average and received a commendation from the American Football Coaches Association. Since retiring from his athletic director post, Templeton has stayed involved with helping the SEC offices as an associate commissioner in many capacities and serving on NCAA committees.
Smith, a Jackson native and Mississippi State graduate, has revolutionized the way people watch sporting events today. Smith been the chief architect of transforming the Atlanta Olympic Stadium into Turner Field, designed what is now State Farm Arena in Atlanta, worked on building and remodeling Camden Yards in Baltimore, modernized Fenway Park and added the Monster Seats in Boston. She also provided input on the new Dudy Noble Field, which has opened to rave reviews nationally.
She currently works for the Los Angeles Dodgers. With the Dodgers she had her finger on creating the Dodgers Dominican Complex and is currently heading up a major renovation of Dodger Stadium.
JACKSON, Miss. – Two members of the Mississippi State community make up the 2020 Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame class, the organization announced this week.
Larry Templeton and Janet Marie Smith comprise the six-member class that will officially be inducted on Aug. 1, 2020, at the Jackson Convention Complex. The addition of the six new members brings the total number of inductees to 322.
Templeton, born and raised in Starkville, was one of the longest tenured athletic directors in Mississippi State history. Templeton oversaw great changes at MSU during his two-decade run, including renovations to Scott Field, Dudy Noble Field, Humphrey Coliseum and the construction of a new state of the art academic center. He also hired the first African-American head football coach in the SEC when he picked Sylvester Croom to lead the Bulldogs.
Templeton, a 1969 MSU graduate and former worker in the sports information office, oversaw the addition of women's soccer and softball as varsity sports. During the 2005-06 athletic year, MSU recorded the highest combined student-athlete grade point average and received a commendation from the American Football Coaches Association. Since retiring from his athletic director post, Templeton has stayed involved with helping the SEC offices as an associate commissioner in many capacities and serving on NCAA committees.
Smith, a Jackson native and Mississippi State graduate, has revolutionized the way people watch sporting events today. Smith been the chief architect of transforming the Atlanta Olympic Stadium into Turner Field, designed what is now State Farm Arena in Atlanta, worked on building and remodeling Camden Yards in Baltimore, modernized Fenway Park and added the Monster Seats in Boston. She also provided input on the new Dudy Noble Field, which has opened to rave reviews nationally.
She currently works for the Los Angeles Dodgers. With the Dodgers she had her finger on creating the Dodgers Dominican Complex and is currently heading up a major renovation of Dodger Stadium.
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