Albert L. Smith, Jr.

Albert Lee Smith, Jr. (August 31, 1931 – August 12, 1997) was an Alabama politician who represented the 6th district in the United States House of Representatives during the 97th Congress (1981–1983).

Early life

Smith was born in 1931 in Birmingham, Alabama. He attended public schools in Jefferson County before attending Auburn University. He graduated from Auburn in 1954 and entered the United States Navy. He later worked as an insurance agent before entering political life. [ [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000514 SMITH, Albert Lee, Jr. - Biographical Information ] ]

Politics

Smith was elected as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1968, 1972, 1974 and 1984. In 1978, Smith was defeated in a bid for Congress. In 1980, he defeated 13-term Republican John Buchanan in the primary for the Birmingham-based 6th District. Buchanan was one of the more moderate Republicans in the House, and Smith was able to gain support from conservative activists, particularly Christian conservatives. Smith served only one term before being defeated by Democratic Jefferson County commissioner Ben Erdreich. To date, Smith is the last Republican congressman to be unseated by a Democrat in Alabama.

In 1984, Smith unsuccessfully ran for the United States Senate against incumbent Howell Heflin.

Later life

Smith remained active in a variety of conservative political causes until his death in 1997 at the age of 65. He is buried in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama.

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