Governor of West Virginia. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 27th governor of the state of West Virginia from 1965 to 1969. The son of former US Congressman Joseph L. Smith, he attended Beckley College and Wharton School of Finance and Administration of the University of Pennsylvania (where he majored in Economics), prior to his service with the US Navy during World War II (elevated to lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserve). Upon his return home, he worked for his family's radio station in addition to the insurance industry and served with the state of West Virginia's Aeronautics Agency for twelve years, prior to initiating his association with politics, serving as chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee from 1956 to 1961. He served as the first commissioner of the West Virginia Department of Commerce from 1961 to 1963. During his governorship, new mining laws went into effect, efforts were made to focus on ways for better air quality and water pollution prevention and the state's death penalty was abolished. After his political career, Smith returned to the insurance industry.
Governor of West Virginia. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 27th governor of the state of West Virginia from 1965 to 1969. The son of former US Congressman Joseph L. Smith, he attended Beckley College and Wharton School of Finance and Administration of the University of Pennsylvania (where he majored in Economics), prior to his service with the US Navy during World War II (elevated to lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserve). Upon his return home, he worked for his family's radio station in addition to the insurance industry and served with the state of West Virginia's Aeronautics Agency for twelve years, prior to initiating his association with politics, serving as chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee from 1956 to 1961. He served as the first commissioner of the West Virginia Department of Commerce from 1961 to 1963. During his governorship, new mining laws went into effect, efforts were made to focus on ways for better air quality and water pollution prevention and the state's death penalty was abolished. After his political career, Smith returned to the insurance industry.
Bio by: C.S.
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