Arthur Ryan Smith
| Arthur Ryan Smith | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Calgary South |
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In office 1957–1963 |
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| Preceded by | Carl Olof Nickle |
| Succeeded by | Harry Hays |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 16, 1919 Calgary, Alberta |
| Died | June 30, 2008 (aged 89) Calgary, Alberta |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Residence | Calgary, Alberta |
| Profession | Business Man |
| Religion | Anglican |
Captain Arthur "Art" Ryan Smith Jr. OC AOE DFC (May 16, 1919 – June 30, 2008) was an oilfield worker, fighter pilot, executive business man, magazine editor, he also worked in public relations as an advertising executive and was a Canadian politician on the municipal, provincial and federal levels of government.
Arthur Ryan Smith was born in Calgary, Alberta on May 16, 1919 to parents Arthur LeRoy Smith and Sara Isobel Ryan. Smith grew up in Calgary, and later in British Columbia. He got his first job as an oil field worker at the age of 16 in Turner Valley, Alberta and spent 4 years working in the oil patch.
At the outbreak of World War II Smith enlisted in the Canadian Forces. He became a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force and flew 34 combat missions on Lancaster bombers. He was awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for his military service. When Smith returned home from the war he went back to working in the oil patch. He worked his way up from Roughneck to Assistant of the President at the Anglo-American Oil Company. In 1952 he became editor for the publication Petroleum Exploration Digest.
Smith soon became interested in a political career and he ran for Calgary city council in 1953.
Smith began his political career by running for Calgary city council for the post of Alderman in 1953, He won his first term in office and served until 1955 when he decided to run for a seat in the provincial legislature.
Smith would return to City council after retiring from federal politics in 1963. He would run for the Alderman position in 1965 winning election and hold his seat until 1967.
Smith ran as a candidate in the Calgary provincial electoral district in the 1955 Alberta general election. He finished first in the vote counts winning on the first ballot transfer. He held his seat in the provincial legislature until he resigned in 1957 to run for federal politics.
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