Euil Snitz Snider

Euil "Snitz" Snider was born December 9, 1905 in Adger, Alabama near Birmingham. He was a former Olympian, a successful football coach at Bessemer High School, and director of the Bessemer Technical Institute. Snider graduated from Oak Grove High School where he was a three sport star athlete. He lettered in football, basketball and track at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute in Auburn between 1924 and 1928. Snider set a national record in the 400-meter race at 48 seconds and qualified for the U. S. Olympic team for the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. In the Olympics, he failed to get through the second round heats. Snider was hired to coach the Dora High School football team in 1929, but stayed only one season. His team finished the season with a 6-3-1 record. While there he also coached baseball and basketball. All three of his teams won the county championship that season. He returned to coaching in 1933 at Bessemer High School and spent 31 years with the program between 1933 and 1963, compiling a record of 156-69-11 with state championships in 1933, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1961, 1962 and 1963. He coached five teams that finished the season undefeated. Snider served as an official starter for 25 Southeastern Conference track meets and 20 Florida Relays. He directed the physical education program at Howard College in 1942-43 and also coached the U. S. Navys B-12 football team. From 1965 to 1972 he was director of the Bessemer Technical Institute. Snider was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1975 and the Alabama High School Athletics Association Hall of Fame in 1991. Bessemers Snitz Snider Stadium was named in his honor in 1972. Coach Snider passed away in 1977.