Nate Smith was recovering from an appendectomy when his younger brother, 19-year-old Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Zachary D. “Zach” Smith of Hornell died in combat in Afghanistan on Jan. 24, 2010.
A group of friends and a cousin were visiting the then 22-year-old in his hospital room.
"We were reminiscing, still taking everything in," he said. "After the news sank in, the stories started flowing. The first thing that came to mind was a golf tournament. We are here telling these stories and asking, 'How can we keep them going?'
“Zach’s favorite sport was golf. What better way to remember Zach than to do a golf tournament?”
Just six months later, the first Zachary D. Smith Memorial Golf Tournament was held at Twin Hickory Golf Club and the first Zachary D. Smith Memorial Scholarship was presented to a Hornell High School Class of 2010 graduate.
2024 Zach Smith Memorial Golf Tournament wraps up 15-year run
By any measure, the Zachary D. Smith Memorial Golf Tournament, continually held at Twin Hickory, has been a success. It has raised thousands of dollars for scholarships while growing the legacy of the 2008 Hornell High School graduate.
Following the conclusion of the 2024 event on June 22, the Smith family announced the 15th tournament would be the last one. Other fundraisers are under consideration, and scholarships will continue.
“Fifteen years is a very long time to keep a memorial golf tournament going," said Kim Smith, Zach and Nate's mom. "People have said, 'Please don’t quit this. It’s such a well-run golf tournament.'"
Nate Smith said interest has never wavered, with many participants returning each year. At least 13 people have played in every tourney.
“What’s unique about it is, it’s genuine. I know it was a successful event from the simple fact that so many people came to the tournament to remember Zach," he said. "Golf was the afterthought. Everyone came for the right reasons. People traveled and made it a point to come every year no matter how difficult life for them may have been.”
Zachary Smith Scholarship awards reach more than $71,000
More than $71,500 has been distributed from the scholarship proceeds, with no end in sight.
“We’re still going to fund this until the money runs out, which is a long time from now," Kim Smith said.
Scholarship winners are announced at the Hornell High School commencement ceremonies every year and include a one-time $500 award recognizing a senior athlete and a $4,000 award, available for both college-bound graduates and seniors entering the military.
For the latter scholarship, applicants write an essay on what "Semper Fidelis" − the Marine motto − means to them. Submissions are judged by members of the Smith family, who don't know the names of the essay writers. Other family members are very involved as Zach was also survived by his sister, Grace, his dad, Chris, and Zach's wife, Anne.
Reading the essay submissions is an emotional experience for Kim Smith.
"I literally cry when I read some of them. Sometimes, I’ll go back and reread them and think, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ You learn a lot," Smith said.
Zach Smith played football and was on the golf team at Hornell High School.
The $500 athletic award doesn't necessarily go to the applicant who jumped the farthest, sunk the most baskets or hit the most homers. The scholarship recognizes the applicant's teamwork, leadership, perseverance and dedication while donning a Red Raider uniform.
“It’s the athlete who has your back. A team player," Kim Smith said. “Zach was the pusher. He was a lineman. He was good in golf. He was the one that you wanted on your team."
Graduation photos:Hornell City School District celebrates 2024 commencement
Tournament legacy: 'They loved Zach, they loved the idea of what he gave'
Hundreds of new tournament t-shirts were produced for the event each year. This year's shirts were white, with an emblem of Zach Smith in blue, and sponsor names on the back in navy blue.
“There’s always a gold star on the left sleeve because we’re a Gold Star family for losing Zach on the battlefield," Kim Smith said.
Golfers and volunteers receive t-shirts and extras are sold for scholarship money. Orders come from overseas and from numerous U.S. states, Kim Smith said.
“Nate’s whole purpose was to get Zach’s name out there so people could ask questions, and they could learn about Zach’s story," she said. “My heart is happy knowing what Nate set out to do, and he accomplished it a million times over. The Hornell community is amazing.”
Nate Smith believes many people feel connected to his brother, which helped drive the success of the tournament.
"The biggest reason that people come to this event was love. They loved Zach, (or) they loved the idea of what he gave if they didn’t know who he was," Nate Smith said. "They loved who he was when he was alive, they loved the relationship they had with him. A lot of people can relate to him."
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