The Emmett Smith Story 44 years old

Emmett Smith, a competitive runner and high school track coach at Cortez High School in Phoenix, Arizona, is left without a sense of balance after a brain tumor is removed. He is told that he will never run again, but undaunted, he sets and meets a goal of not only regaining the ability to run, but to run 20 consecutive miles before a year has elapsed. Wheelchair-bound Cindy Duncan's determination gets her admitted to Apollo High School in Glendale, Arizona after she demonstrates that she will not need special attention. Coach Smith (now at Apollo) challenges her to meet the goal of recovering from her injuries (from being hit by a car) to the extent of being able to walk to the podium at graduation to receive her diploma. He bets that she can do it, and will have to wheel himself in her wheelchair the entire three miles to Cortez H.S. if she succeeds.

Credits

The Emmett Smith Story Cast

Name Character
Michael LaGuardia as Emmett Smith
Burke Rhind as Mr. Duncan

The Emmett Smith Story Crew

Name Department
Chris Conkling as Screenplay. He was 30 (now 75) years old Writing
Reed Smoot as Director of Photography. He was 117 (79) years old when He died Camera
Michael Schroeder as Production Manager. He was 34 (now 79) years old Production
Roger Crandall as Grip. Camera
The Emmett Smith Story poster
The Emmett Smith Story (44 years)

  • Release day: Monday, December 31, 1979
  • Runtime: 23 minutes