E.L. "Moose" Godwin, a native of Selma, Alabama, was a graduate of A.G. Parrish High School, the University of Southern Mississippi, and Georgia State University.

Godwins overall record as a head coach at Millry High School in Washington County, Flomaton High School, and Smiths Station was for football, 175-82-2; baseball, 113-52; and basketball, 172-62.

Godwin would accept the head coaching position at Millry High School in 1960 and remain there for eight seasons before moving over to Flomaton for a single year. He seemed to find a home at Smiths Station where he coached from 1969 through the 1974 season.

He returned in 1981 and picked up where he left off by producing winning football teams. Godwin stay at Smiths Station as the head coach until his retirement following the 1990 season.

Godwins football coaching record at Smiths Station was 123-48-1. Two of his last three Panther teams reached the state final before falling short of a state championship.

The Godwin led Panthers lost to Oxford in hard fought 21-14 battle for the title at the conclusion of the 1988 season. A return trip to the championship game the following year saw the Panthers once again fall short to Oxford 37-35.

Godwin was named state Coach of the Year three times and coached in the Alabama All-Star game in Tuscaloosa. He served as principal at Wacoochee Junior High School for six years between the two coaching stints at Smiths Station. Godwin was inducted into the AHSAA Hall of Fame in 2003.