George T. Smith
Encyclopedia
George Thornewell Smith was an American
Democratic Party politician
and jurist
from the state of Georgia
. The sixth Lieutenant Governor
, state legislator, Speaker of the State House of Representatives
, and longtime judge, he holds the distinction of being the only person in Georgia history to win contested elections in all three branches of State government - legislative, executive, and judicial.
, Smith attended Middle Georgia College
and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
. On August 26, 1940 he joined the United States Navy
, attaining the rank of lieutenant commander
and receiving the Naval Merit Unit citation. Following military service, Smith graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law
in 1948.
Upon graduation he practiced law
in Cairo, Georgia
(Grady County
). In addition to his private law practice, he served as County Attorney
, Solicitor
of the State Court of Grady County, Cairo City Attorney, and attorney for the Grady County Board of Education.
from Grady County in 1958. He served as a state representative until 1966, eventually rising to the position of its Speaker
(1963–1966).
Smith won the Democratic Party nomination for Lieutenant Governor in the 1966 election
. Because the Georgia Democratic Party dominated state politics at the time, winning the primary virtually assured victory in the general election. Smith served as the state's second-ranking executive officer under Governor Lester Maddox
from January 11, 1967 to January 12, 1971. Smith was defeated for re-election by Maddox in 1970, as Maddox was prohibited from seeking re-election to the office of Governor.
After leaving office, Smith returned to the legal world, initially in private practice in Marietta, Georgia
. He ran for Governor unsuccessfully in 1974. In 1976, he was elected to the Georgia Court of Appeals
for a six-year term. In 1980, he was elected as a justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. He served on the high court from 1981 until 1991. Despite his advanced age at the time his death he was serving on the Executive Committee of the Appellate Judges Conference.
Smith's portrait was unveiled in the rotunda of the State Capitol on May 12, 1980, in accordance with a Joint Resolution passed by the Georgia House and Senate
.
Smith was also District Governor of the Georgia Kiwanis
in 1960 and has served on the Board of Trustees of the National Arthritis Foundation and as chairman of its National Government Affairs Committee.
Smith was called "George T." to distinguish himself from a Georgia politician with a similar name, George L. Smith, who served as Speaker of the Georgia House during much of the 1960s and early 1970s.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
from the state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. The sixth Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
The Lieutenant Governor of Georgia is a constitutional officer of the state, elected to a 4-year term by popular vote. Unlike some states, the lieutenant governor is elected on a separate ticket from the state Governor....
, state legislator, Speaker of the State House of Representatives
Georgia House of Representatives
The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia.-Composition:...
, and longtime judge, he holds the distinction of being the only person in Georgia history to win contested elections in all three branches of State government - legislative, executive, and judicial.
Early years
Born in Mitchell County, GeorgiaMitchell County, Georgia
Mitchell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 21, 1857. As of 2000, the population was 23,932. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 24,139. The county seat is Camilla.-Geography:...
, Smith attended Middle Georgia College
Middle Georgia College
Middle Georgia College is a publicly supported, residential,charter unit of the University System of Georgia, in the city Cochran in the U.S. state of Georgia. Founded in 1884, the school is the oldest two-year college in the United States. It is currently being transformed into a 4 year college...
and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is a State College of the University System of Georgia. Located in Tifton, Georgia, ABAC offers baccalaureate and associate degrees...
. On August 26, 1940 he joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, attaining the rank of lieutenant commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
and receiving the Naval Merit Unit citation. Following military service, Smith graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law
University of Georgia School of Law
The University of Georgia School of Law is a graduate school of the University of Georgia. Founded in 1859 and located in Athens, Georgia, USA, Georgia Law was formerly known as the Lumpkin School of Law. The Law School is the second oldest of the University's schools and colleges. The University...
in 1948.
Upon graduation he practiced law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
in Cairo, Georgia
Cairo, Georgia
Cairo is a city in Grady County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,607. The city is the county seat of Grady County.-Syrup City:...
(Grady County
Grady County, Georgia
Grady County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 23,659. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 25,042. The county seat is Cairo.- History :...
). In addition to his private law practice, he served as County Attorney
County attorney
A county attorney in many areas of the United States is the chief legal officer for a county or local judicial district. It is usually an elected position...
, Solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
of the State Court of Grady County, Cairo City Attorney, and attorney for the Grady County Board of Education.
Political career
Smith's political career began when he was elected to the Georgia House of RepresentativesGeorgia House of Representatives
The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia.-Composition:...
from Grady County in 1958. He served as a state representative until 1966, eventually rising to the position of its Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
(1963–1966).
Smith won the Democratic Party nomination for Lieutenant Governor in the 1966 election
Georgia gubernatorial election, 1966
The Georgia gubernatorial election of 1966 was held on November 8. After an election that exposed divisions within the Georgia Democratic Party , segregationist Democrat Lester Maddox was elected Governor of Georgia by the Georgia General Assembly...
. Because the Georgia Democratic Party dominated state politics at the time, winning the primary virtually assured victory in the general election. Smith served as the state's second-ranking executive officer under Governor Lester Maddox
Lester Maddox
Lester Garfield Maddox was an American politician who was the 75th Governor of the U.S. state of Georgia from 1967 to 1971....
from January 11, 1967 to January 12, 1971. Smith was defeated for re-election by Maddox in 1970, as Maddox was prohibited from seeking re-election to the office of Governor.
After leaving office, Smith returned to the legal world, initially in private practice in Marietta, Georgia
Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
. He ran for Governor unsuccessfully in 1974. In 1976, he was elected to the Georgia Court of Appeals
Georgia Court of Appeals
The Georgia Court of Appeals is the intermediate-level appellate court for the U.S. state of Georgia.-Founding of the court:The genesis of the Court of Appeals began with a report by the State Bar of Georgia in 1895, suggesting that the Georgia State Legislature create a new intermediate appellate...
for a six-year term. In 1980, he was elected as a justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. He served on the high court from 1981 until 1991. Despite his advanced age at the time his death he was serving on the Executive Committee of the Appellate Judges Conference.
Smith's portrait was unveiled in the rotunda of the State Capitol on May 12, 1980, in accordance with a Joint Resolution passed by the Georgia House and Senate
Georgia Senate
The Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the Georgia General Assembly .-Composition:According to the state constitution of 1983, this body is to be composed of no more than 56 members elected for two-year terms. Current state law provides for 56 members...
.
Smith was also District Governor of the Georgia Kiwanis
Kiwanis
Kiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Current membership is 240,000 members in 7,700 clubs in 80 nations...
in 1960 and has served on the Board of Trustees of the National Arthritis Foundation and as chairman of its National Government Affairs Committee.
Smith was called "George T." to distinguish himself from a Georgia politician with a similar name, George L. Smith, who served as Speaker of the Georgia House during much of the 1960s and early 1970s.
External links
- Biography with photo
- Georgia State University Library
- "George T. Smith has grown accustomed to standing out in a crowd," The Advocate, University of Georgia School of LawUniversity of Georgia School of LawThe University of Georgia School of Law is a graduate school of the University of Georgia. Founded in 1859 and located in Athens, Georgia, USA, Georgia Law was formerly known as the Lumpkin School of Law. The Law School is the second oldest of the University's schools and colleges. The University...