Alfred W. Schmitt
April 27, 1932 — March 29, 2019
Alfred Wilhelm Schmitt, 86 of Columbus, Georgia died Friday, March 29, 2019 at Columbus Hospice House.
Mr. Schmitt was born April 27, 1932 in Wurzburg, Germany son of the late George Franz and Ernestine Cecilia Geis Schmitt. Mr. Schmitt worked as plant superintendent for TRW in Columbus and retired as Operations Manager for McGard industries.
He was a Life Member of the United States Judo Association and held the rank of 7th Degree Black Belt. He recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the USJA for over 60 years of support and dedication. He competed in judo internationally for Germany as part of the German Sports Federation from 1954 to 1956 until he immigrated to the United States, where he taught Judo at the University of Buffalo in Buffalo, New York. During his early years, he trained with notable Judo practitioners Tokio Hirano and Takahiko Ishikawa and Olympic team member and Bronze medalist, James Bregman. In later years he taught in a variety of civilian Judo clubs, and the United States military, including the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, U.S. Marines at Camp Lejeune and at The United States Military Academy at West Point.
Mr. Schmitt is survived by his wife, Renate E. Schmitt of Columbus, GA., daughters, Doris Soper of San Antonio, TX., Sylvia Schmitt of Columbus, GA., Claudia Ritch (Michael) of Columbus, GA., sons, Ralph Schmitt (Michele) of Asheville, NC., Christopher Schmitt (Martha) of Cataula, GA., 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
Mr. Schmitt was born April 27, 1932 in Wurzburg, Germany son of the late George Franz and Ernestine Cecilia Geis Schmitt. Mr. Schmitt worked as plant superintendent for TRW in Columbus and retired as Operations Manager for McGard industries.
He was a Life Member of the United States Judo Association and held the rank of 7th Degree Black Belt. He recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the USJA for over 60 years of support and dedication. He competed in judo internationally for Germany as part of the German Sports Federation from 1954 to 1956 until he immigrated to the United States, where he taught Judo at the University of Buffalo in Buffalo, New York. During his early years, he trained with notable Judo practitioners Tokio Hirano and Takahiko Ishikawa and Olympic team member and Bronze medalist, James Bregman. In later years he taught in a variety of civilian Judo clubs, and the United States military, including the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, U.S. Marines at Camp Lejeune and at The United States Military Academy at West Point.
Mr. Schmitt is survived by his wife, Renate E. Schmitt of Columbus, GA., daughters, Doris Soper of San Antonio, TX., Sylvia Schmitt of Columbus, GA., Claudia Ritch (Michael) of Columbus, GA., sons, Ralph Schmitt (Michele) of Asheville, NC., Christopher Schmitt (Martha) of Cataula, GA., 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
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