Preston Earnest Smith (March 8, 1912 – October 18, 2003) was an American entrepreneur and politician who served as the 40th governor of Texas from 1969 to 1973. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the lieutenant governor from 1963 to 1969.
Smith was born into a tenant farming family of 13 children in Corn Hill, a town in Williamson County, Texas, that has since been absorbed into nearby Jarrell.[2][3][4] The family later moved to Lamesa, Texas, where Smith graduated in 1928 from Lamesa High School. In 1934, he graduated from Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) in Lubbock with a bachelor's degree in business administration.[3] Staying in Lubbock, he founded a movie theater business and invested in real estate.[3][5]
Smith's inauguration on January 21, 1969, had what was called "the flavor of the South Plains". The Texas Tech University marching band led the parade just behind the marshal and the color guard. A mounted masked Red Raider rode with the band. Governor and Mrs. Smith, both Tech graduates, followed in an open convertible. Other Smith family members rode in the parade, followed by the new lieutenant governor, Ben Barnes. The band of Lamesa High School, Smith's alma mater, was the first among the high school groups. Before the oath taking, the first to be televised in Texas history, Smith had been feted with a $25-per-place victory dinner in the Austin Municipal Auditorium, now the Long Center for the Performing Arts.[7][8]
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Referencesedit
^ ab"Preston Smith". Legislative Reference Library of Texas. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
^Stiles, Matt (October 18, 2003). . The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on February 20, 2005. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
^ abcRobison, Clay (October 18, 2003). . Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on October 20, 2003. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
^"New Corn Hill, Texas". Texas Escapes. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
^Slaughter, George. "Smith, Preston Earnest (1912–2003)". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
^Charles Ashman, Connally: The Adventures of Big Bad John, New York: William Morrow Company, 1974, p. 22.
^"1969: Smith's inaugural celebration to have flavor of South Plains". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. January 27, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
^"Texas midterm voter turnout highest since 1970".
^William H. Brackney, Historical Dictionary of the Baptists. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. April 13, 2009. p. 455. ISBN9780810862821. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
^"Robyn Followwill-Line, "Grady Hazlewood"". Amarillo Globe News, May 19, 2000. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
^"Randall George Pendleton obituary". cemetery.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
Kinch, Sam Jr.; Procter, Ben (1972). Texas Under a Cloud: Story of the Texas Stock Fraud Scandal. Jenkins.
External linksedit
Programs for people, by Preston Smith, published 1973, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.
preston, smith, governor, preston, earnest, smith, march, 1912, october, 2003, american, entrepreneur, politician, served, 40th, governor, texas, from, 1969, 1973, member, democratic, party, previously, served, lieutenant, governor, from, 1963, 1969, preston, . Preston Earnest Smith March 8 1912 October 18 2003 was an American entrepreneur and politician who served as the 40th governor of Texas from 1969 to 1973 A member of the Democratic Party he previously served as the lieutenant governor from 1963 to 1969 Preston Smith40th Governor of TexasIn office January 21 1969 January 16 1973LieutenantBen BarnesPreceded byJohn ConnallySucceeded byDolph Briscoe35th Lieutenant Governor of TexasIn office January 15 1963 January 21 1969GovernorJohn ConnallyPreceded byBen RamseySucceeded byBen BarnesMember of the Texas Senatefrom the 28th districtIn office January 8 1957 January 8 1963 1 Preceded byKilmer B CorbinSucceeded byH J Doc BlanchardMember of theTexas House of Representativesfrom the 119th districtIn office January 9 1945 January 9 1951 1 Preceded byHop HasleySucceeded byWaggoner CarrPersonal detailsBornPreston Earnest Smith 1912 03 08 March 8 1912Corn Hill now Jarrell Texas U S DiedOctober 18 2003 2003 10 18 aged 91 Lubbock Texas U S Resting placeTexas State Cemetery Austin Texas Political partyDemocraticSpouseIma Mae Smith m 1935 died 1998 wbr Children2Alma materTexas Tech University BBA ProfessionEntrepreneur politician Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 Later life and attempted political comeback 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editSmith was born into a tenant farming family of 13 children in Corn Hill a town in Williamson County Texas that has since been absorbed into nearby Jarrell 2 3 4 The family later moved to Lamesa Texas where Smith graduated in 1928 from Lamesa High School In 1934 he graduated from Texas Technological College now Texas Tech University in Lubbock with a bachelor s degree in business administration 3 Staying in Lubbock he founded a movie theater business and invested in real estate 3 5 Political career edit nbsp Smith second from left with state House Speaker Gus Mutscher former President Lyndon B Johnson and Lieutenant Governor Ben Barnes in Brenham August 1970 Smith was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1944 and then to the Texas State Senate in 1956 6 Smith s inauguration on January 21 1969 had what was called the flavor of the South Plains The Texas Tech University marching band led the parade just behind the marshal and the color guard A mounted masked Red Raider rode with the band Governor and Mrs Smith both Tech graduates followed in an open convertible Other Smith family members rode in the parade followed by the new lieutenant governor Ben Barnes The band of Lamesa High School Smith s alma mater was the first among the high school groups Before the oath taking the first to be televised in Texas history Smith had been feted with a 25 per place victory dinner in the Austin Municipal Auditorium now the Long Center for the Performing Arts 7 8 In 1971 and 1972 Smith was embroiled in the Sharpstown scandal stock fraud scheme which eventually led to his downfall Smith lost his third term bid for the governorship of Texas to Dolph Briscoe of Uvalde in the Democratic primary in 1972 9 10 11 Later life and attempted political comeback editThis section is empty You can help by adding to it September 2023 References edit a b Preston Smith Legislative Reference Library of Texas Retrieved November 20 2023 Stiles Matt October 18 2003 Former Gov Preston Smith dies The Dallas Morning News Archived from the original on February 20 2005 Retrieved September 5 2020 a b c Robison Clay October 18 2003 Ex Gov Preston Smith proud Texan dies at 91 Houston Chronicle Archived from the original on October 20 2003 Retrieved September 5 2020 New Corn Hill Texas Texas Escapes Retrieved September 5 2020 Slaughter George Smith Preston Earnest 1912 2003 Texas State Historical Association Retrieved September 5 2020 Charles Ashman Connally The Adventures of Big Bad John New York William Morrow Company 1974 p 22 1969 Smith s inaugural celebration to have flavor of South Plains Lubbock Avalanche Journal January 27 2017 Retrieved April 3 2017 Texas midterm voter turnout highest since 1970 William H Brackney Historical Dictionary of the Baptists Lanham Maryland Scarecrow Press April 13 2009 p 455 ISBN 9780810862821 Retrieved September 30 2013 Robyn Followwill Line Grady Hazlewood Amarillo Globe News May 19 2000 Retrieved April 17 2010 Randall George Pendleton obituary cemetery state tx us Retrieved December 17 2010 Kinch Sam Jr Procter Ben 1972 Texas Under a Cloud Story of the Texas Stock Fraud Scandal Jenkins External links editPrograms for people by Preston Smith published 1973 hosted by the Portal to Texas History http www lubbockonline com stories 020508 obi 243811655 shtml Papers 1930 1975 and undated in the Southwest Collection Special Collections Library at Texas Tech UniversityParty political officesPreceded byJohn Connally Democratic nominee for Governor of Texas1968 1970 Succeeded byDolph BriscoeTexas House of RepresentativesPreceded byHop Halsey Member of the Texas House of Representativesfrom District 119 Lubbock 1945 1951 Succeeded byWaggoner CarrTexas SenatePreceded byKilmer B Corbin Texas State Senatorfrom District 28 Lubbock 1957 1963 Succeeded byH J Doc BlanchardPolitical officesPreceded byBen Ramsey Lieutenant Governor of TexasJanuary 15 1963 January 21 1969 Succeeded byBen BarnesPreceded byJohn Connally Governor of TexasJanuary 21 1969 January 16 1973 Succeeded byDolph Briscoe Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Preston Smith governor amp oldid 1186123830, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
