Former Oregon Congressman Bob Smith Fatally Injured a Pedestrian

By Nigel Jaquiss

Former second district U.S. Rep. Bob Smith (R-Ore.) struck and killed a pedestrian while driving yesterday in Medford, according to the Mail Tribune.

Here's what the paper reported:

Smith may no longer be a household name in Oregon, but in his prime the former Burns rancher was one of the state's most powerful politicians.

He served as speaker of the Oregon House in the 1969 and 1971 sessions. He won election to Congress in 1982 and served through 1995. When his successor, former U.S. Rep. Wes Cooley (R-Ore.), resigned after admitting he'd falsified his military history, Smith returned to Congress for the 1997 session, chairing the House Agriculture Committee.

Smith retired from Congress in 1999 and was replaced by U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.).

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