Former USC Tackle Ernie Smith, 75, Dies

Ernie Smith, 75, a former USC All-American tackle, died Thursday of leukemia at the Norris Cancer Institute of the USC medical center.

Smith was a member of Howard Jones’ Thundering Herd teams in the early 1930s. He was an All-American on the undefeated national championship team of 1932.

He later played for the Green Bay Packers and then had a successful life insurance business.

Smith was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1970.

He was a longtime resident of Altadena. Smith is survived by his wife, Ruth, two sons, Ernie Jr. and Brad, and a daughter, Vicki. He had eight grandchildren.

Memorial services for Smith will be held Monday morning at the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Pasadena.