Gordon Smith (politician)

Gordon Smith


United States Senator from Oregon
In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2009
Preceded by	Mark Hatfield
Succeeded by	Jeff Merkley
Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging
In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by	Larry Craig
Succeeded by	Herb Kohl
52nd President of the Oregon State Senate
In office 1995–1997
Governor	John Kitzhaber
Preceded by	Bill Bradbury
Succeeded by	Brady Adams
Member of the Oregon Senate from the 29th district
In office 1993–1997
Preceded by	Scott Duff
Succeeded by	David Nelson
Personal details
Born	Gordon Harold Smith (1952-05-25) May 25, 1952 (age 64) Pendleton, Oregon
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Sharon Smith
Residence	Pendleton, Oregon Bethesda, Maryland
Alma mater	Brigham Young University
Religion	The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon)

Gordon Harold Smith (born May 25, 1952) is an American politician, a former United States Senator and businessman from the state of Oregon. A Republican, he served two terms in the Senate. On September 18, 2009, he was appointed President of the National Association of Broadcasters.

Smith was born in Pendleton, Oregon, to Jessica (Udall) and Milan Dale Smith on May 25, 1952. Smith's family moved to Bethesda, Maryland during his childhood, when his father became an Assistant United States Secretary of Agriculture. He was involved with the Boy Scouts of America and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. After graduating from high school, Smith served for two years as a Mormon missionary to New Zealand. On March 31, 2012, Smith was called as an Area Seventy for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Smith then went to college at Brigham Young University, received his Juris Doctor from Southwestern University School of Law, and became an attorney in New Mexico and Arizona. He moved back to Oregon in the 1980s to become director of the family owned Smith Frozen Foods company in Weston, Oregon.