George Smathers
| George Smathers | |
|---|---|
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United States Senator from Florida |
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In office January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1969 |
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| Preceded by | Claude Pepper |
| Succeeded by | Edward J. Gurney |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 4th district |
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In office January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1951 |
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| Preceded by | Pat Cannon |
| Succeeded by | William C. Lantaff |
| Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Small Business | |
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In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1969 |
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| Preceded by | John J. Sparkman |
| Succeeded by | Alan Bible |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Armistead Smathers November 14, 1913 Atlantic City, New Jersey |
| Died | January 20, 2007 (aged 93) Indian Creek, Florida |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | (1) Rosemary Townley (div.) (1914-2002) (2) Carolyn Hyder |
| Children | John Smathers Bruce Smathers |
| Alma mater | University of Florida |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
George Armistead Smathers (November 14, 1913 – January 20, 2007) was an American lawyer and politician who represented the state of Florida in the United States Senate for eighteen years, from 1951 until 1969, as a member of the Democratic Party.
Smathers was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the son of Lura Frances (Jones) and Benjamin Franklin Smathers. His uncle, William H. Smathers, was a U.S. senator representing New Jersey. His family moved to Miami, Florida in 1919, where he attended Miami High School. He then attended the University of Florida, where he earned his bachelor's degree and law degree. At Florida, he was president of his fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon (Florida Upsilon chapter), captain of the Gators basketball team, president of the student body, and a member of Florida Blue Key; he was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. After completing his LL.B. in 1938, Smathers returned to Miami, where he served as Assistant United States Attorney from 1940 to 1942. During World War II, he served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps.
Smathers was a childhood friend of Philip Graham, a fellow Floridian. Graham would later become the publisher of The Washington Post.
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