Superintendent Rick Smith and Tyner Middle Academy Principal Mark Smith are seen in this file photo.Tyner Middle Academy Principal Mark Smith has died.
Chattanooga Violence Reduction Initiative Coordinator Paul Smith, a former colleague of Mark Smith's, said Mark Smith died after a heart attack early Sunday morning at age 53.
Mark Smith had been a very close friend of Paul Smith, who was a former principal at Howard School, where Mark Smith was his assistant principal.
"He was walking energy. He was in great shape which hurts more," Paul Smith said.
The two were also in the Public Education Foundation's Leadership Fellows program together in 2006, and then both appointed administrators at Howard School by former Hamilton County School Superintendent Jim Scales, Paul Smith said.
"So from 2007 to 2013 we were basically joined at the hip. Very close friends," Paul Smith said.
Read more in Monday's Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Updated at 9:16 p.m. to correct the time of death.