Hall of Fame Talent Imparts Wisdom Beyond the Diamond at Prestigious Scholarship Event
First-ballot inductee and St. Louis Cardinals standout Ozzie Smith was the keynote speaker at Southern Arkansas University (SAU) for the 20th Annual Farmers Bank and Trust Distinguished Speaker Series this past month.
The event, which has been held for two decades, brings together alumni, students, and community leaders to celebrate professional and academic excellence. The Distinguished Speaker Series has raised over $1 million to support scholarships for Southern Arkansas students through the Farmers Bank & Trust/Dr. Bob L. Burns Distinguished Speaker Scholarship Endowments. Past speakers have included Tim Tebow, Archie Manning, Terry Bradshaw, and Emmitt Smith.
“For twenty years, Farmers Bank & Trust has helped us bring stories of perseverance and purpose to our students,” remarked SAU President Dr. Bruno Hicks in his welcome speech. “Our friends at Farmers Bank & Trust have literally touched every facet of our campus through their gifts and service to SAU. Their contributions to SAU will impact higher education for generations to come.”
“The Wizard,” as Smith was famously nicknamed, was a legendary player during his 19-year MLB career with the St. Louis Cardinals. Smith won the Gold Glove Award at shortstop for 13 consecutive seasons, was selected to 15 MLB All-Star Games, and accumulated 2,460 career hits along with 580 stolen bases. He played a key role in the Cardinals’ 1982 World Series championship.
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Yolonda Lankford moderated the event as a casual sit-down conversation with the baseball legend, who was very candid about setbacks in life and the mindset for perseverance.
“It is not the turbulence in life that defines you. It is your ability to walk through the window of opportunity when it presents itself,” he told the audience. Smith reflected on not being drafted out of high school and working construction in the interim. “Do not let anyone deter you from your dream. Work hard, be the very best that you can be, and it will eventually work itself out.”
Smith described how tenacious grit and preparation became his greatest strengths. “The goal was never the Hall of Fame,” he said. “The goal was to be as good and as consistent a big-league ballplayer as I could be." When Cooperstown finally called, it was a cathartic experience. “All of the work, the frustration, and the sweat and tears came out,” he said.
He closed out the program with sage wisdom, “Be ready when opportunity comes and keep working until it does.”
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