James Vernon Smith

James Vernon Smith (July 23, 1926 – June 23, 1973) was an American politician and a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma.

James Vernon Smith
Administrator of the Farmers Home Administration
In office
1969–1973
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 6th district
In office
January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1969
Preceded byJed Johnson, Jr.
Succeeded byJohn Newbold Camp
Personal details
BornJuly 23, 1926 (1926-07-23)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
DiedJune 23, 1973 (1973-06-24) (aged 46)
Grady County, Oklahoma
CitizenshipUnited States
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Mary Belle Couch Smith
Children3
Alma materOklahoma College of Liberal Arts
ProfessionCongressman

Biography

Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Smith was the son of Fred O. and Josephine Meder Smith, and was educated in Tuttle public schools and attended Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts at Chickasha, Oklahoma. He married Mary Belle Couch, and the couple had three children, Jay, Sarah, and Lee Ann.[1]

Career

Smith engaged in farming and cattle raising, and served as member of the board of regents of Oklahoma Four-Year Colleges.

Elected as a Republican to the 90th Congress, Smith served from January 3, 1967 to January 3, 1969.[2] Smith voted against of the Civil Rights Act of 1968.[3] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1968. After a 1967 redistricting plan forced him into running against either fellow Republican Happy Camp or Democrat Tom Steed, he chose to take on Steed, a conservative Democrat from Shawnee. He was defeated by a 54% to 46% tally despite the fact that Nixon won a plurality in the newly drawn district.

Nominated by President Nixon to be Administrator of Farmers Home Administration and confirmed by the Senate on March 16, 1969, Smith served until his resignation in 1973.[4]

Death

Smith died in a wheat field fire at his farm, near Chickasha, Grady County, Oklahoma, on June 23, 1973 (age 46 years, 335 days). He is interred at Fairlawn Cemetery, Chickasha, Oklahoma.[5]

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References
  1. Hanneman, Carolyn G. "Smith, James Vernon," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, 2009. Accessed March 20, 2015.
  2. "James Vernon Smith". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  3. "TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES FOR INTERFERENCE WITH CIVIL RIGHTS. INTERFERENCE WITH A PERSON ENGAGED IN ONE OF THE 8 ACTIVITIES PROTECTED UNDER THIS BILL MUST BE RACIALLY MOTIVATED TO INCUR THE BILL'S PENALTIES".
  4. "James Vernon Smith". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  5. "James Vernon Smith". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 10 June 2013.


U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Jed Johnson, Jr.		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 6th congressional district
1967–1969		 Succeeded by
John N. Camp
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