- Neal Edward Smith
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Neal Smith Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Iowa's 4th and 5th districtIn office
January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1995Preceded by Paul Cunningham Succeeded by Greg Ganske Personal details Born March 23, 1920
Hedrick, IowaPolitical party Democratic Party Spouse(s) Beatrice Haven Neal Edward Smith (born March 23, 1920) was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Iowa from 1959 until 1995 — the longest-serving Iowan in the United States House of Representatives. He was born in his grandparents' home near Hedrick, Keokuk County, Iowa. He served in the United States Army Air Force during the Second World War as a bomber pilot. His plane was shot down and he received a Purple Heart, nine Battle stars, and the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters. He received his undergraduate training at the University of Missouri and Syracuse University and received a law degree from Drake University in 1950. He was elected to the House of Representatives in the Democratic landslide of 1958 and served in Congress from 1959 to 1995. He was defeated in the Republican landslide of 1994 by Greg Ganske.
Neal Smith married Beatrice Haven and had two kids, Doug and Sharon.
The Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge in Prairie City, Iowa is named after the former congressman. The Neal and Bea Smith Law Center at Drake University is named after the former congressman and his wife.
In 1996 Smith published his autobiography, Mr. Smith Went to Washington: From Eisenhower to Clinton.
External links
United States House of Representatives Preceded by
Paul CunninghamU.S. House of Representatives, 5th Iowa District
1959–1973Succeeded by
William J. ScherlePreceded by
John KylU.S. House of Representatives, 4th Iowa District
1973–1995Succeeded by
Greg GanskeMembers of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa 1st
2nd Leffler • L. Clark • J. P. Cook • Thorington • Davis • Vandever • Price • Smyth • W. Wolf • Cotton • Tufts • Price • Farwell • Murphy • Hayes • G. Curtis • Lane • Rumple • Wade • Dawson • Pepper • Vollmer • Hull • Letts • B. Jacobsen • W. Jacobsen • Talle • L. Wolf • Bromwell • Culver • Blouin • Tauke • Nussle • Leach • Loebsack3rd 4th 5th 6th A. Hubbard • Pomeroy • Orr • Loughridge • Sampson • Weaver • Cutts • J. C. Cook • Cutts • J. C. Cook • Weaver • Lacey • White • Lacey • D. Hamilton • Kendall • Kirkpatrick • Ramseyer • Dowell • Utterback • Dowell • Goodwin • Cunningham • Gilchrist • James Dolliver • Coad • Hoeven • Greigg • Mayne • Bedell • Grandy7th 8th 9th 10th 11th AL Terr Categories:- 1920 births
- Living people
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Iowa
- Recipients of the Purple Heart medal
- University of Missouri alumni
- Drake University alumni
- Iowa Democrats
- United States Army Air Forces officers
- United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
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