Claude Smith (politician)

American politician from Arizona

Claude Smith

Member of the Arizona Senate
from the Pima County district
In office
January 1925 – December 1926
Preceded by| Pat Hayhurst
Harry A. Drachman
Succeeded by| William C. Joyner
Personal details
Born| (1891-05-26)May 26, 1891
Caddo, Oklahoma
Died| September 20, 1931(1931-09-20) (aged 40)
Tucson, Arizona
Nationality| American
Political party| Democratic
Profession| Politician

Claude Smith was an American politician from Arizona. He served a single term in the Arizona State Senate during the 7th Arizona State Legislature, holding one of the two seats from Pima County.[1] He was a veteran of World War I, and served as county attorney in Pima County.

## Biography

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Smith was born on March 26, 1891, in Caddo, Oklahoma.[2] After graduating from the public schools in Oklahoma, Smith attended Washington & Lee University, where he graduated with a LL.B. in law in 1913. After graduating from Washington & Lee, he did postgraduate work at Yale University, studying constitutional law under William Howard Taft. Following Yale, he returned to Oklahoma, passed the bar, and served as U. S. probate attorney. At the outbreak of the U. S. entrance into World War I, Smith enlisted in the U. S. Army as private. By the time of his discharge in 1919, he had risen to the rank of N. C. O. When he returned to Oklahoma after the war, he went back to the position of probate attorney. In 1920, he developed tuberculosis, and moved to Tucson, Arizona for his health. He recuperated for two years before returning to practice law.[3] Smith was very active in both The Elks and the American Legion, as well as the Disabled American Veterans, and the Masons.[2][3]

In 1924 he ran uncontested for one of two seats to the Arizona State Senate from Pima County in the Democrat's primary.[4] He and his fellow Democrat, T. W. Donnelly defeated their lone Republican opponent, John E. Van Buskirk, in the general election in November.[5] He did not run for re-election in 1926.[6] In November 1928, he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Louis R. Kempf as Pima County Attorney. Smith was selected over Fred Fickett.[2][7] In 1930 he did not run for re-election for the attorney position, instead choosing to run against Fickett, the incumbent, for Judge of the Superior Court. Fickett was re-elected.[3][8][9]

Smith died on September 20, 1931, from a hemorrhage in the Veteran's hospital in Tucson.[3]

## References

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1. ^ "Session laws, State of Arizona, 1925, Seventh Legislature, Regular Session". State of Arizona. p. ix. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
2. ^ a b c "Many To Honor Smith In Death". Arizona Daily Star. September 21, 1931. p. 2. Retrieved September 19, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
3. ^ a b c d "Claude Smith, Former County Attorney Dead". Arizona Daily Star. September 21, 1931. p. 1. Retrieved September 19, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
4. ^ "Three Offices Uncontested In Pima Primaries". The Arizona Republican. August 12, 1924. p. 3. Retrieved September 19, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
5. ^ "County Vote Elects Only 1 Republican". Arizona Daily Star. November 5, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved September 19, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ "Donnelly Wins Nomination As Pima Senator". The Tucson Citizen. September 9, 1926. p. 2. Retrieved September 19, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "Smith Given Attorneyship". Arizona Daily Star. November 28, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved September 19, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ "Polls Opening For Elections". Arizona Daily Star. November 4, 1930. p. 6. Retrieved September 19, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Republicans Lead Pima". The Arizona Republican. November 6, 1930. p. 4. Retrieved September 19, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.