We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dr. Smiley Elmore Jr. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Dr. Smiley, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: When have you felt most loved—and did you believe you deserved it?
I have felt the absolute most loved when I feel God working in me to impact the precious lives of my children, wife, fitness clients, & countless others that God uses me to speak into. I’m quite humbled by His never-ending love, & the fact that despite my weakness, He still uses me!
I often shake my head in awe as I see His love in operation in my wife. I am extremely thankful to her, & thank God for crossing our paths.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Smiley Elmore Jr, DCEd. (And, if you are wondering, YES, that IS my real name.😀)
I have a Ministry Doctorate Degree in Christian Education, & have been a Minister & a Fitness Coach for 35 years. The Lord’s blessed me to owner Smiley Champions Fitness, where my Team & I coaches the Family & the Athlete to Champion-status by stirring up in them passion for Jesus and passion for healthy living. I also serve as Assistant Chaplain for my local Sheriff’s Office.
I’ve appeared as a Guest on the American Gladiators, & traveled the world and the United States performing amazing feats of strength and preaching the Love of Jesus Christ.
With 4 incredible children, I someday will pass on to them my legacy of Love, Faith, Forgiveness, Commitment, and Sweat. My message is that “THERE IS ALWAYS TIME TO BECOME THE CHAMPION IN OUR LIFE THAT WE WERE CREATED TO BE!
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
There have been five relationships in my life that most shape how I see myself.
One, my father, the late, great Smiley Elmore, Sr. created his investment/insurance business in the 1970s. He serves as 1 of the pioneers in Black Entrepreneurship in Oklahoma. Smiley Elmore & Associates was awarded with the title as One of the oldest Black businesses in Oklahoma by the Oklahoma Black Caucus. I see myself as being capable of being successful in the face of adversity.
Two, my brother, Christopher Elmore, who has taken over our father’s business. He’s always told me I’m one of the best people he knows, & I humbly see myself as such.
Three, my mother, who was married to our father for over 40 years before he passed. She’s always taught my siblings & I to give God our all and He will see us through.
Four, my Tiara Crawford-Elmore, my wife, who embodies all of the above-mentioned lessons and caused me to believe in miracles again. She IS a miracle!
And, five, collectively, my children, Destiny, Smiley III, David, and Derrick-Chris; along with Keite, Timiyah, & Timothy. Through these 7 beautiful, young people, God has shown me unconditional love!
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have been two times that I almost gave up. The 1st was after my college football career, where I shared Big-8 Player of the Week Honors with Barry Sanders for my debut game my Junior year. I later that year tore my meniscus, and rehabbed my way back to “health” and back into the starting lineup. After that, I was never quite as fast or quick.
God humbled me as I approached many NFL teams,
with my Agent trying to get a tryout, but the Cleveland Browns was the only team that looked at me. However, with my rehabbed knee, I failed their tryout, and was drafted by Hall of Famer, Drew Pearson, then-coach of the Dallas Texans Arena Football League team.
I had gotten depressed and contemplated leaving this earth, but was encouraged by my Mom’s words that God had a better plan for me– a larger plan for my life that might not include the NFL.
I later almost gave up when I went through a divorce 4.5 years ago after being married for 30. But, instead of letting me wallow in my pity-party, the Lord brought the beautiful Tiara Crawford into my life.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Two things that those closest to me would say matter most to me are, one, to love and to live for Jesus Christ daily. And two, to get the masses into their greatest spiritual and physical shape to date.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Smiley Elmore Jr, was a man who believed in Jesus and in serving. He represented Jesus in the areas of spiritual & physical transformation, fitness, and business. He stood against quitting, mediocre living, and the mistreatment of others. He was a master at encouraging others and being a great husband and father were extremely important to him. He enjoyed teaching the life-changing Word of God and Exercise, along with writing and public speaking. He hopes to be remembered as a man who exercised faith and served others well, as a man who loved his wife as Christ loved the Church, immensely loved his children (natural & bonus); & as a man who, despite his mistakes, he purposefully loved, forgave, and relentlessly stirred up passion for Jesus and passion for healthy living in the hearts of Children, Teens, Adults, and Athletes.”
Contact Info:
- Website: Working on
- Instagram: Smiley Champions Fitness
- Linkedin: Smiley Elmore Jr
- Facebook: Smiley Wydell Elmore Jr / Smiley Champions Fitness
- Youtube: Smiley Champions Fitness
Image Credits
Tiara Crawford-Elmore
Mary Jackson
Nessa
