CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The legendary former University of North Carolina basketball coach, Dean Smith, who was well-loved and highly-respected by all who knew him, is making the news again for a final grand gesture.
The news of Smith's passing broke on the morning of Sunday, February 8, sending shockwaves throughout the collegiate and professional basketball communities. In the days and weeks following, hundreds-- if not thousands-- shared stories of a caring, genuine and selfless man, whom they admired greatly.
On Thursday, Twitter user @ChestPassDemps shared a photo of a check attached to a letter on a Charlotte-based CPA firm's letterhead; the check, which was written from Dean Smith's Trust, was reportedly for $200.
As a final gesture, Coach Smith willed his trust to send a $200 check to each of his former lettermen after his death-- in total, about 180 recipients, according to Tim Breedlove, of Charlotte-based CPA firm Miller, McNeish & Breedlove, PA.
The letter attached to the check included instructions from the Coach himself, directing the trustee of his trust to send each of his lettermen the $200 check with instructions to "enjoy a dinner out, compliments of Coach Dean Smith."
David Chadwick, the senior pastor at Forest Hill and UNC-Chapel Hill graduate where he played under Coach Smith as a member of the 1969 NCAA Final Four Basketball team, told NBC Charlotte his initial reaction to the news was ,"wow."
Chadwick's second response, "How typical of coach. There will never be another one like him."
PREVIOUS STORIES:
- Legend Dean Smith wasn't above his fans
- Jordan on Dean Smith: 'My mentor, my teacher, my second father'
- Duke, UNC teams gather at midcourt to honor Dean Smith
- Students, community remember Dean Smith
- UNC celebrates the life and legacy of Dean Smith in memorial
- Dean Smith: From acquaintance to Jordan's 'second father'
- You didn't have to know Dean Smith to love him
- Athletes, coaches, sportscasters remember Dean Smith
- Dean Smith remembered as 'basketball royalty' at UNC
- Dean Smith: 83 years of caring and giving, a legacy of selflessness
- A look back at Dean Smith's career
- Dean Smith left keepsakes for fans
- Michael Jordan statement on Dean Smith
- Honoring the life and legacy of Dean Smith
