James Vernon Smith

James Vernon Smith
Administrator of the Farmers Home Administration
In office 1969–1973
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 6th district
In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1969
Preceded by	Jed Johnson, Jr.
Succeeded by	John Newbold Camp
Personal details
Born	July 23, 1926 (1926-07-23) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Died	June 23, 1973 (1973-06-24) (aged 46) Grady County, Oklahoma
Citizenship	United States
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Mary Belle Couch Smith
Children	3
Alma mater	Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts
Profession	Congressman

James Vernon Smith (July 23, 1926 – June 23, 1973) was an American politician and a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma.

Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Smith was the son of Fred O. and Josephine Meder Smith, and was educated in Tuttle public schools and attended Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts at Chickasha, Oklahoma. He married Mary Belle Couch, and the couple had three children, Jay, Sarah, and Lee Ann.^[1]

Smith engaged in farming and cattle raising, and served as member of the board of regents of Oklahoma Four-Year Colleges.

Elected as a Republican to the 90th Congress, Smith served from January 3, 1967 to January 3, 1969.^[2] Smith voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1968.^[3] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1968. After a 1967 redistricting plan forced him into running against either fellow Republican Happy Camp or Democrat Tom Steed, he chose to take on Steed, a conservative Democrat from Shawnee who had nearly been defeated in 1966. Smith was defeated by a 54% to 46% tally despite the fact that Nixon won a plurality in the newly drawn district.

Nominated by President Nixon to be Administrator of Farmers Home Administration and confirmed by the Senate on March 16, 1969, Smith served until his resignation in 1973.^[4]

Smith died in a wheat field fire at his farm, near Chickasha, Grady County, Oklahoma, on June 23, 1973 (age 46 years, 335 days). He is interred at Fairlawn Cemetery, Chickasha, Oklahoma.^[5]

• United States Congress. "James Vernon Smith (id: S000560)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• James Vernon Smith at Find a Grave