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Ralph Tyler Smith

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Ralph Tyler Smith (October 6, 1915 – August 13, 1972) was born in Granite City, Illinois. Smith was a Republican politician from Illinois and served in the Illinois state house from 1955 through 1969, including two years as the Speaker of the House from 1967 to 1969. Upon the death of Everett Dirksen, Smith was appointed to fill his vacancy in the United States Senate. He served from September 17, 1969 to November 3, 1970. He ran for retention in the 1970 special election, but was defeated by Adlai E. Stevenson III.

Smith attended Illinois College (ΦΑ) and graduated in 1937. He attended law school at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and was admitted to the bar in 1940. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Naval Reserve and was called to active duty in July, 1942. Smith was commissioned as an ensign in October of that year and served until January, 1946. He returned to Alton, Illinois and resumed his fledgling law practice. In 1954, he was elected to the Illinois General Assembly.

When Smith ran for reelection against Stevenson, the Utah College Republicans sent a then unknown nineteen-year old student, Karl Rove, to work on Smith's campaign.

Smith died in Alton and is buried at Sunset Hill cemetery.

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