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Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College will host the 2024 Outstanding Alumni Banquet during homecoming weekend on Friday, October 4, at 6pm in the Calcagno Family Ballroom.
As a high school junior, Bob Smith played quarterback for the Stillwater Pioneers and led them to their first state football championship. Two years later, a tryout at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Junior College landed him a scholarship. By year’s end he was the placekicker and backup fullback on the NEO 1969 JUCO National Championship football team.
In 1970, Kennie joined Bob at NEO where she became a member of the legendary Norse Stars. At that time, Bob was the sportswriter for NEO’s Norse Wind student newspaper and backed up JUCO All-American Quarterback, John Cherry, as the Golden Norsemen finished third in the nation.
After attending NEO in 1969 and 1970, Bob accepted a football scholarship at Drake University, and he and Kennie were married in 1971. Bob earned a Broadcast Journalism Degree while also working part time at WHO Television in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1973, Bob signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Released by the Chiefs and Bears, Bob was hired by NFL Films as a film director and cameraman. Over the next four decades he filmed 40 Super Bowls and earned 27 Emmy Awards. His last game NFL game was Super Bowl L, where he filmed Peyton Manning, and he retired in 2015.
Kennie was hired by NFL Films and then by company President Ed Sabol as a film librarian in 1976. From there, her career grew steadily, first as director of film research, then, director of field operations. In 2003, she became NFL Films first woman vice president as the vice president of project management.
During their 4 decades of service together, the Smith’s commitment and success helped NFL Films become the company they are today, a premier sports film company.
All alumni and friends of the college are invited to attend the banquet. Tickets are $35 and $15 (12 and under) or $280 for a table of eight. Purchase tickets at the door or online.
Sign-up link for the 2024 Outstanding Alumni Banquet: https://neo.edu/homecoming
For more information, contact alumni coordinator Eric Iverson at eiverson@neo.edu or 918-961-1771.
