A few months ago, Warner Smith submitted an application to hunt antelope in New Mexico. It tells you all you need to know about the spirit of Arizona’s 1990 Gatorade football Player of the Year.
At the time of his application, about 15 months after he was diagnosed with ALS — Lou Gehrig’s disease — Smith was unable to walk. He has to use an electric cart, and a lift, just to get into his truck for the drive to work at a Tucson GPS engineering and software firm.
A few weeks later, Smith won the hunting lottery; he is eligible to participate in New Mexico’s 2016 antelope season, granted a special handicapped permit that will allow him to hunt from his truck.
“Warner’s got the best outlook anybody in his situation could have,” his friend, Steve Hopkins, said. “He doesn’t want your pity.”
Hopkins, an electrician who graduated from Palo Verde High School in the mid-1970s, met Smith through the local chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Although Hopkins didn’t know Smith when the former San Manuel High School Miner became a first-team All-Pac-10 guard on Arizona’s 1994 Desert Swarm team, they have become the best of teammates.
Hopkins has spent the last few months planning a Warner Smith Weekend. In attempt to raise at least $100,000 for Smith’s future healthcare costs, Hopkins arranged a benefit golf tournament June 24 at Starr Pass Golf Club. Already, 170 of Smith’s friends have registered. A day later, June 25, Hopkins will hold a fundraising dinner, auction, raffle and “Warner Smith Roast” at the JW Marriott Starr Pass.
The goal is to have 400 attendees; by Friday, about 250 had registered.
Smith’s Desert Swarm coach, Dick Tomey, will be the emcee. His old San Manuel coach, Mike Brown, will speak. Support has been widespread. Former UA teammate Chris Lopez is involved in financial planning. Ex-Wildcats Heath Bray, Mani Ott, Doug Pfaff, Rich Ellerson and LaMonte Hunley, among others, have helped.
“If the day comes that Warner won’t be able to work, I want him to be prepared,” said Hopkins. “On Friday, we received a single donation of $5,000. The support is incredible. Warner has a lot of friends.”
Here’s how to register for the golf outing or the dinner: contact Hopkins via email callemin@comcast.net, or phone him at 312-1258. A “Go Fund Me” account has been established at gofundme.com/2m59mcgs
