Dean Smith was a very successful and well-known coach of the University of North Carolina basketball team. During his career, he coached many successful teams and players including Michael Jordan.
Coach Smith is now also remembered for leaving a token of appreciation to former players. During his lifetime he established a trust. Amongst other things, his trust directed that, following his death, the trustees of his trust should send $200 to each of the players who played for him with the message to “enjoy a dinner out compliments of Coach Dean Smith.” Coach Smith died in 2015 and soon after that many former players received a letter in the mail which said:
“Each player was important and special to Coach Smith and when he prepared his estate plan, Coach (Smith) wanted to reach out to each of his lettermen. Accordingly, Coach directed that following his passing, each letterman be sent a two hundred dollar ($200.00) check with the message ‘enjoy dinner out compliments of Coach Dean Smith.’ Enclosed is a check in the amount of two hundred dollars ($200.00) with the notation ‘Dinner out.’
“Please enjoy your dinner out.”
Coach Smith’s gesture is a nice reminder of some of the more unusual things you can do with trusts, including providing happy surprises and fond memories
