A Man Called Smiley

Ivan J. "Smiley" Thorne was one Rhode Island's leading advocates and directors of youth sports in the 1920s and 1930s. He coached several sports and owned and operated Smiley Thorne Inc., a sporting goods store on Westminster Street in downtown Providence. He was named director of athletics at La Salle Academy in 1924 while coaching the baseball, basketball, football, track and cross country teams. Coach Smiley led La Salle to titles in cross country (1926) and Indoor track (1927). He was involved with the Providence YMCA, coaching the baseball and basketball programs. He started and coached the states first YMCA amateur hockey team in 1929. They played in the Rhode Island Amateur Hockey League at the R.I. Auditorium.

In the 1928 season "Smiley" donated a trophy, the "Smiley" Thorne Trophy, to the eventual champions in each Interscholastic League sport. If any team won three championships it would be awarded the cup in their permanent possession. The 1931 Cranston High "Flying Green Thunderbolt" hockey team turned the trick by defeating East Providence High and capturing their forth championship in six years to win the prize. In 1933 "Smiley", along with Providence Reds coach Billy Coutu, helped design a new cap for Reds players to wear. The cap was to provide as complete protection as possible against serious injuries such as the "Ace" Bailey incident that season. The Toronto Maple Leaf player's career came to an abrupt end when he was hit from behind by Eddie Shore of the Boston Bruins. He hit his head on the ice fracturing his skull at the Boston Garden. Smiley was also the past president of the Providence Twilight Baseball League from 1929-35.