Ralph Tyler Smith


Ralph Tyler Smith was a Republican politician from Illinois and served in the Illinois state house from 1955 through 1969, including two years as Speaker from 1967 to 1969.

Early years

Smith was born in Granite City, Illinois. Smith attended Illinois College and graduated in 1937. While at Illinois college he was a member of the Phi Alpha Literary Society. He attended law school at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and was admitted to the bar in 1940.

Career

Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Naval Reserve and was called to active duty in July 1942. Smith was commissioned as an ensign in October of that year and served until January 1946. He returned to Alton, Illinois and resumed his fledgling law practice. In 1954, he was elected to the Illinois General Assembly.
Upon the death of Everett Dirksen, Governor Richard B. Ogilvie appointed Smith to fill his vacancy in the United States Senate. He served from September 17, 1969 to November 16, 1970. He ran for retention in the 1970 special election, but was defeated by Adlai E. Stevenson III. 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.

Death

Smith died in Alton and is buried at Sunset Hill Cemetery.