Fred Smith is having a homecoming of sorts.

The state senator, who is running for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, is holding a barbecue at Raleigh's Broughton High School from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. tonight.

Smith graduated from the school in 1960 and grew up almost across the street.

According to his senior year yearbook, Smith was a football standout for the Broughton Capitols.

The yearbook's 11 pages of football lore note that he led a 22-13 victory over the Fayetteville Bulldogs with an intercepted pass at the 30-yard-line and kicked two extra points in a 26-0 blowout over Garner.

A 200-pound, crew-cut tackle, Smith was chosen to play for Raleigh in the prestigious Shrine Bowl against South Carolina and the East West Game his senior year. He was also chosen by N&O sports reporters for the all-state team.

He was also a member of the Monogram Club, a social club for boys who had lettered.