Griffin Smith (July 13, 1885 – April 29, 1955)"Memorials", 9 Arkansas Law Review 352-53 (1954-1955). was chief justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court from 1937 until his death in 1955.''The Arkansas Lawyer'' (1972), Vol. 6, p. 89.

Early life, education, and career

Born in the small town of Laurel Hill in Smith County, Tennessee, Smith attended a public school for one year, but was primarily taught at home by his parents, who were well-educated. Smith began working in his teens, and while employed at the Tennessee state textbook depository in

Cookeville Cookeville is the county seat and largest city of Putnam County, Tennessee, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, its population was reported to be 34,842. It is recognized as one of the country's micropolitan areas, or smaller ...

at the age of 17, contracted

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...

, which required two years to recover. Smith moved to Arkansas in 1911. Smith entered the newspaper business, becoming "editor, part owner, and eventually full owner of the ''Paragould Daily Press'' and weekly ''Paragould Soliphone''".Arkansas Courts
A Self-Guided Tour of Justice Building Portraits
(2016), p. 19. During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, Smith "reported from France to those papers, the ''Arkansas Gazette'', the ''Memphis Commercial Appeal'', and the ''United Press''". Smith remained in the newspaper business for ten years before he "decided to pursue a career in law". Smith received his law degree from

Cumberland University Cumberland University is a private university in Lebanon, Tennessee. It was founded in 1842. The campus's current historic buildings were constructed between 1892 and 1896. History 1842-1861 The university was founded by the Cumberland ...

."Griffin Smith, Cumberland Graduate, Dies in Arkansas", ''Nashville Banner'' (April 29, 1955), p. 2. He then "opened a law practice in

Marianna, Arkansas Marianna is a town in and the county seat of Lee County, Arkansas, Lee County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census it had a population of 4,115, but by 2018 the population had dropped to an estimated 3,477. Lo ...

, in 1926".

Political and legal career

In 1932, Smith "handled the publicity" for the successful gubernatorial campaign of

Junius Marion Futrell Junius Marion Futrell (August 14, 1870 – June 20, 1955) was an American attorney who served as the 30th governor of Arkansas from 1933 to 1937, and the acting governor for a short period in 1913. Early life Futrell was born in Jones ...

, after which Governor Futrell appointed Smith Comptroller of Arkansas."Futrell Fires Griffin Smith; Others May Go", ''The Blytheville Courier News'' (September 5, 1936), p. 1. In 1935, Smith was one of four men, including three government officials, involved in an altercation that broke out following a week of "squabbling over audit matters"."Griffin Smith Assault Hearing Is Postponed", ''Hope Star'' (June 18, 1935), p. 1. Smith and his chief deputy accountant J. Bryan Sims both suffered injuries requiring medical attention,"Fight Climaxes Audit Hearing", ''Hope Star'' (June 11, 1935), p. 1. and resulting in assault and battery charges being brought against all four men involved. In September 1936, Governor Futrell fired Smith, who refused to voluntarily resign from the office. Futrell stated at the time that the firing was motivated in part by his sense that "some people seemed to think the state would topple into ruin except for Griffin Smith". These events did not dim Griffin's political career, as he was elected Chief Justice of the state supreme court later in 1936, remaining in that office until his death. As a justice, Smith "was a strict constructionist and believed laws were passed to be enforced without fear of favor, hewing to the line and letting the chips fall where they would".

Personal life and death

Smith died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...

at the age of 69, collapsing while speaking at the First Christian Church of

El Dorado, Arkansas El Dorado, founded by Matthew Rainey, is a city in, and the county seat of, Union County, on the southern border of Arkansas, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 18,884. El Dorado is headquarters of the Ark ...

, and dying at Warner Brown Hospital hours later. A number of reports noted that Smith died the week after the death of his predecessor in office, Cecil E. Johnson.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Griffin 1885 births 1955 deaths Justices of the Arkansas Supreme Court Cumberland School of Law alumni People from Smith County, Tennessee