Bob Smith | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair of theHouse Agriculture Committee | |
| In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Pat Roberts |
| Succeeded by | Larry Combest |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromOregon's2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Wes Cooley |
| Succeeded by | Greg Walden |
| In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Denny Smith |
| Succeeded by | Wes Cooley |
| Member of theOregon Senate from the 30th district | |
| In office 1973–1981 | |
| Succeeded by | Gene Timms |
| 52ndSpeaker of theOregon House of Representatives | |
| In office 1969–1973 | |
| Preceded by | F. F. Montgomery |
| Succeeded by | Richard O. Eymann |
| Member of theOregon House of Representatives from the 26th district | |
| In office 1961–1973 | |
| Preceded by | Clinton P. Haight, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Denny Jones |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1931-06-16)June 16, 1931 Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Died | September 21, 2020(2020-09-21) (aged 89) Medford, Oregon, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Willamette University (BS) |
Robert Freeman "Bob" Smith (June 16, 1931 – September 21, 2020) was an American politician fromOregon. A member of theRepublican Party, he served as a member of theUnited States House of Representatives from 1983 to 1995 and again from 1997 to 1999.
Smith was born inPortland, Oregon, and grew up inBurns, Oregon. His father, Benjamin F. Smith, was a doctor.[1] He attendedWillamette University inSalem, Oregon, graduating in 1953 with a bachelor's degree in agriculture. He worked as a rancher until his election to theOregon House of Representatives in 1960.[2]
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Smith served in the state House from 1961 to 1973, serving asSpeaker of the Oregon House of Representatives for the 1969 and 1971 sessions.[3] He was in theOregon State Senate from 1973 to 1981 and served as minority leader from 1978 to 1982.[4] Between 1965 and 1969, Smith was the president of the Oregon Public Land Commission.[2]
Smith was elected to Congress fromOregon's 2nd congressional district in 1982. The district's incumbent, freshman RepublicanDenny Smith (no relation), opted to run in the newly created5th district after it absorbed much of the western portion of the old 2nd, including Denny Smith's home inSalem. Smith served in Congress until 1995. After a brief retirement, he returned to Congress in 1997.[2]Wes Cooley, the Republican who had succeeded Smith in the House, had been caught in several lies about his military service and Smith was persuaded to come out of retirement.[5] Upon his return, he was elected chairman of theUnited States House Committee on Agriculture, but only served one term before retiring for good.[2]
On February 19, 1966, Smith married Kaye Elizabeth Tomlinson in Salem.[1] Her father was the clerk ofMarion County, Oregon.[6] The wedding was attended byF. F. Montgomery, the Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives, among others.[1] By January 1971, Smith and his wife had two sons and a daughter.[6]
On February 8, 2016, Smithstruck and killed a pedestrian while driving inMedford, Oregon. The pedestrian was in the crosswalk when Smith hit him with his car, and he later died at the scene. Smith did not flee the scene, was cooperative with investigators, and was determined to not be under the influence of intoxicants at the time of the wreck. No charges or citations were filed against him regarding the wreck.[7]
Smith died on September 21, 2020, inMedford, Oregon at the age of 89.[8]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromOregon's 2nd congressional district 1983–1995 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromOregon's 2nd congressional district 1997–1999 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Pat Roberts Kansas | Chairman of theHouse Agriculture Committee 1997–1999 | Succeeded by Larry Combest Texas |
| Territorial (1849–1859) |
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| At-large seats (1859–1893) |
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| Districts (1893–present) |
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| 6th district | |||||
