Ralph Tyler Smith (October 6, 1915 – August 13, 1972) was an American lawyer and politician from Illinois, who served as a United States Senator from Illinois between 1969 until 1970. A member of the
Republican Party, Smith previously served in the
Illinois state house from 1955 through 1969, including two years as
Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1967 to 1969, prior to his appointment to the senate by governor
Richard Ogilvie
Richard Buell Ogilvie (February 22, 1923 – May 10, 1988) was the List of Governors of Illinois, 35th governor of Illinois and served from 1969 to 1973. A wounded combat veteran of World War II, he became known as the American Mafia, mafia-fi ...
. He lost re-election to
Adlai Stevenson III in the
1970 special election.
Early life and education
Ralph Tyler Smith was born in
Granite City, Illinois
Granite City is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States, within the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. The population was 27,549 at the 2020 census, making it the third-largest city in the Metro East and Southern Illinois regions, ...
on October 6, 1915. Smith graduated from
Illinois College
Illinois College is a private liberal arts college in Jacksonville, Illinois. It is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church (USA). It was the second college founded in Illinois, but the first to grant a degree ( ...
in 1937 and from
Washington University School of Law
Washington University in St. Louis School of Law (WashULaw) is the law school of Washington University in St. Louis, a private university in St. Louis, Missouri. WashULaw has consistently ranked among the top law schools in the country; it is c ...
in 1940. He began the practice of law that same year. He worked as an attorney for
C. & I.M. Railway Company in
Springfield, Illinois.
Military career
Shortly after the start of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, Smith enlisted in the
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve (USNR), known as the United States Naval Reserve from 1915 to 2005, is the Reserve Component (RC) of the United States Navy. Members of the Navy Reserve, called Reservists, are categorized as being in either the Se ...
, and commissioned an
Ensign
An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...
. He served as an instructor in the Naval Midshipman School at
Notre Dame University
The University of Notre Dame du Lac, known simply as Notre Dame ( ) or ND, is a private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, outside the city of South Bend. French priest Edward Sorin founded the school in 1842. The main campu ...
. He was then transferred to the
USS PC-1182, a
PC-461-class submarine chaser, which escorted convoys. He then went to
Guam
Guam (; ch, Guåhan ) is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States (reckoned from the geographic cent ...
to take command of the
USS PGM-28, a
PGM-9-class motor gunboat in 1945. After a period of
minesweeping
Minesweeping is the practice of the removal of explosive naval mines, usually by a specially designed ship called a minesweeper using various measures to either capture or detonate the mines, but sometimes also with an aircraft made for that ...
in
Okinawa
is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi).
Naha is the capital and largest city ...
, Smith was released into inactive duty as a
Lieutenant
A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations.
The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...
.
Political career
Illinois general assembly
After his active navy service, he moved to
Alton, Illinois
Alton ( ) is a city on the Mississippi River in Madison County, Illinois, Madison County, Illinois, United States, about north of St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri. The population was 25,676 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. It is a p ...
and resumed the practice of law. In 1954, he was elected to the
Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of Illinois. He was re-elected for seven succeeding terms between 1954 and 1968, before becoming majority whip in 1963, and later speaker in 1967.
United States Senate
Upon the death of
Everett Dirksen
Everett McKinley Dirksen (January 4, 1896 – September 7, 1969) was an American politician. A Republican, he represented Illinois in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. As Senate Minority Leader from 1959 u ...
,
Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
Richard B. Ogilvie
Richard Buell Ogilvie (February 22, 1923 – May 10, 1988) was the 35th governor of Illinois and served from 1969 to 1973. A wounded combat veteran of World War II, he became known as the mafia-fighting sheriff of Cook County, Illinois, in t ...
appointed Smith to fill the vacancy in the
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...
. He served from September 17, 1969 to November 16, 1970. He ran for re-election in the
1970 special election, but was defeated by
Adlai E. Stevenson III, the son of former Illinois governor
Adlai Stevenson II
Adlai Ewing Stevenson II (; February 5, 1900 – July 14, 1965) was an American politician and diplomat who was twice the Democratic nominee for President of the United States. He was the grandson of Adlai Stevenson I, the 23rd vice president o ...
. When Smith ran against Stevenson, the Utah College Republicans sent a then unknown nineteen-year-old student,
Karl Rove, to work on Smith's campaign.
Later life and death
Following his defeat in 1970, he returned to practicing law. He died on August 13, 1972, in
Alton
Alton may refer to:
People
*Alton (given name)
*Alton (surname)
Places Australia
*Alton National Park, Queensland
* Alton, Queensland, a town in the Shire of Balonne
Canada
* Alton, Ontario
*Alton, Nova Scotia
New Zealand
* Alton, New Zealand, ...
. He is buried at
Sunset Hill Cemetery, in
Glen Carbon,
Madison County,
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...
. His plot is located at the Mausoleum Chapel, Corridor 4, Crypt A, Grave 104.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Ralph
1915 births
1972 deaths
20th-century American lawyers
20th-century American politicians
Illinois College alumni
Illinois lawyers
Military personnel from Illinois
People from Alton, Illinois
People from Granite City, Illinois
Republican Party United States senators from Illinois
Speakers of the Illinois House of Representatives
Republican Party members of the Illinois House of Representatives
United States Navy officers
Washington University School of Law alumni