In a 1977 Atlanta Newspaper interview, Smith said that he originally intended to enroll his Academy of Richmond County principal, George P. Butler, but instead changed the last name to Burdell, the maiden name of his best friend's mother.
In a 1977 Atlanta Newspaper interview, Smith said that he originally intended to enroll his ARC (Academy of Richmond County-Augusta, Georgia) high school principal, George P. Butler. He decided against it and changed the last name to Burdell, the maiden name of his best friend's mother.