Fresno Unified names Edison High gyms after beloved coach and trustee
Fresno Unified decided to name the two gyms at Edison High School after a beloved former trustee and a legendary coach.
Over the last few years, Edison High School has upgraded its original gym and expanded the building for a second gym. Since the second gym opened in 2022, students and community members have been referring to them as East Gym and West Gym. Both facilities feature basketball and volleyball courts, and are equipped with locker rooms, snack bars, and other amenities, with capacities of 2,200 and 2,300 people, respectively, according to the district’s website.
At last week’s meeting, the school board approved two petitions to name the West gym after Former Trustee Lindsay “Cal” Johnson, and to name the East gym in honor of Edison High’s legendary coach, Cecil Smith.
A graduate of Edison High School, Johnson served on the Fresno Unified school board for 12 years. During his tenure, Johnson oversaw the construction of a middle school, Rutherford B. Gaston Middle School, in the Edison region.
“Naming the gym in his honor would not only celebrate his decades of service but also stand as a lasting reminder,” the petition wrote.
Smith taught multiple subjects and coached five sports at Edison High for 34 years before retiring in 1997, according to the district’s document. After retiring, Smith continued to substitute teach classes for many years and attended class reunions at the age of 90. He earned his iconic nickname “The Chief” from students.
Hundreds of students, parents, and community members participated in the year-long petition process and signed the letter to call for the district to name the gyms in honor of the two educators. Johnson, along with family members and supporters of the two educators, showed up at the board meeting last week to celebrate the passage of the petitions.
“I did not know as a youth all that he has done, all that he did for the community,” said Brandon Brown, a family member of Johnson, who now owns a company School Yard Rap. “As I started to explore what my education, or see my career path would be, I wanted to be like him, I wanted to be a man that gives back, that serves, that leaves an impact.”
Johnson brought three of his great-grandchildren to the board meeting.
“I don’t have any prepared words. I’m just overcome by the support from this Fresno Unified school board,” he said. “I’m a champion for the school district.”
Smith did not attend the meeting as advised by his doctor, but his daughter said that Smith is deeply thankful to the school district, and he will always be a member of the Edison Tigers.
“He was really touched, because a lot of people do not get the acknowledgement or honor while they’re still here, and my dad’s going to be 91 this year,” Shonda Smith said. “If I were to ask people to stand up for how many people were taught, or their sisters, brothers, kids taught by my dad, or locked out of his class if they were too late, it would be plenty of people standing up, and he had over 50 years of support and love for Edison High.”
This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 11:00 AM.
