On every major holiday, George Smith would pull out his phone and start texting.

In addition to family and friends, the umpire and basketball official would bang out personalized messages for almost every coach in his contacts list. After 30 years of calling games, there’s no telling how many texts Smith sent or how long it took, and the effort never went unnoticed by the recipients.

“Some people send those out as a group text,” Warren Central boys basketball coach Bruce Robinson said. “He would always send them individually.”

The texts are just one of many things Robinson and his fellow coaches and athletes will miss from now on. Smith, whose soft smile, easy demeanor and signature call of “Striiieeeeek!” endeared himself to several generations of high school athletes, coaches and fans in Mississippi, has died.

Smith passed away Saturday, after collapsing while working a basketball showcase game at Vicksburg High School. He was 67.

Warren County’s coaches remembered Smith as a beloved official who earned respect by being fair and never losing his cool.

“He was one of those guys that could cross those lines between officials, coaches and players,” Robinson said. “You’re talking about a guy who’s touched so many lives and been a positive influence not just officiating, but in the community.”

Smith was born in Florence, but had lived in Vicksburg since 1974. He began umpiring baseball in 1987 and soon became one of the best in the state. He was selected as the Mississippi High School Activities Association’s softball Official of the Year in 1999-2000, and its baseball Official of the Year in 2001-02.

Smith also served as an MHSAA basketball and football official and umpired Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball games during his long career.

In addition to his on-field duties, Smith was often put into a supervisory role among Mississippi’s high school officials. He helped assign them to games and was occasionally a mediator between coaches and officials when feuds started brewing between them.

“He always got us umpires when we needed them, and if we had a problem with somebody you could call George and he would take care of it,” Warren Central baseball coach Conner Douglas said.

Smith’s ability was only one of the things that made him a favorite, however. He was always firm but fair on the field, and a mentor to those around him. He helped teach the craft to a host of young umpires, and the game to players whenever he could.

“It’s going to be a great loss for the community, not just in sports. He was like a mentor to young officials coming in,” said Smith’s longtime friend and fellow umpire James Judge. “I couldn’t even estimate the number of umpires he mentored. He’s been there for so many years.”

Vicksburg High baseball coach Derrick DeWald said he always appreciated Smith’s patience and calm during games. While heated arguments between umpires and coaches are woven into the fabric of the sport, DeWald said Smith never let things escalate beyond a mild disagreement.

“Very rarely did Mr. George get upset,” DeWald said. “He was working one of our games and we had a double play taken away from us. George made the call that our guy missed the tag. I came out yelling, but he never got upset. He let me have my 10 seconds of frustration and then it was done.”

Warren County’s coaches said Smith was able to defuse arguments by the way he treated people off the field as well as on it. The holiday texts were accompanied by occasional phone calls and friendly visits that had nothing to do with sports. By going the extra mile, Douglas said Smith built relationships that went well beyond the normal businesslike atmosphere of a game.

“It was never about, ‘Look at me,’” DeWald said. “It was about the game and the kids, and that’s why he was respected among his peers.”

Respected and loved.

Douglas had Smith’s family on hand to throw out the first pitch before Tuesday’s game against Clinton. The family was also presented with a wooden cross filled with baseballs as a tribute to Smith.

“He was a genial person. He was always checking in on us, me, my family, Warren Central. He never met a stranger and always cared about everybody. He loved baseball, loved basketball, and was always here supporting us and our guys,” Douglas said. “He’s special to us. He’s special to me. He’s been one of my good friends since I moved here to Vicksburg.”