Smith Helped Break the Color Barrier in Sports in the South

Dean Smith has coached some of the greatest athletes in the history ofthe game. Fayetteville State basketball coach Rick Duckett was the firstAfrican-American graduate assistant at UNC.

Smith played and recruited Scott from 1968-1970. He was one of the firstAfrican-American players in the Southeast.

"Dean was very much involved in these issues that some might regardas controversial," said Rev. Robert Seymour, Smith's former pastor.

Seymour and Smith were both members of an interracial congregation atBinkley Memorial Baptist Church.

Before the Civil Rights Acts African-Americans were not allowed toeat at The Pines restaurant. After the law changed it was one of the firstplaces that Seymour came with his good friend Smith.

"Dean Smith was the obvious one to go with a black person to that restaurant to make sure that they would comply with the law," said Seymour.