James H. Smith, of Sciotoville, known to most as “Snuffy,” died unexpectedly on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Born in Portsmouth, he was a son of the late Arthur Marion Smith and Helen Templeman Smith and was a retired teacher.
A 1959 graduate of East High School, Jim obtained a bachelor’s degree in 1963 and a master’s degree in 1967, both from Ohio University. He started his teaching career at McKinley Junior High School in 1963 and began teaching at East High School in 1967, where he completed his teaching career with 34 years at Portsmouth City Schools. He coached football, track, and girls’ basketball.
Snuffy excelled for 30 years with his popular Saturday morning sports line on both WPAY and WNXT radio stations. During this time, Snuffy broadcast over 500 football games and 1200 basketball games. He was inducted into the Ohio High School Athletic Association for both officiating and sports broadcasting. A track official for 53 years, Jim’s latest recognition was the naming of Jim “Snuffy” Smith Football Field in Allard Park.
Also preceding him in death was his wife, Janice Shephard Smith, in 2017.
Surviving are his daughter, Jennifer (Scotty) Thompson of Clarktown; a sister, Linda (Duke) Maraman of Tampa, Florida, and his very special grandson, Jeb Thompson.
A Celebration of Jim’s Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 20th, at the BRANT FUNERAL HOME IN SCIOTOVILLE with Dennis DeCamp officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Burial Park.
The family will receive a host of friends at Brant’s from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
A Masonic service will be conducted at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday by the Western Sun Masonic Lodge, of which he was a member.
Memorial contributions may be made to any athletic department, Sierra’s Haven, or the Scioto County Dog Shelter.
A special request of Jennifer is that guests wear casual blue and white to the funeral home.
Traffic control will be handled by the Portsmouth Police Department.
