Smith, Robert Bob Freeman

Robert Freeman “Bob” Smith was born in Portland, Oregon on June 16, 1931. Smith grew up in Burns, Oregon where he attended public schools. He attended Willamette University, graduating in 1953 with a B.A. in Economics.

Smith is a life-long rancher and legislator, first serving in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1960 to 1972 as the representative of Oregon’s 2nd District. He was Speaker of the House for the 1969 and 1971 sessions. During his time in the state legislator, Smith also served as Oregon's representative on the President's Public Land Review Commission (1965-1969).

In 1982 Smith, a Republican, won election to represent Oregon’s 2nd District in the United State House of Representatives, replacing Denny Smith who had won election to represent Oregon’s new 5th District. Bob Smith served in Congress for twelve years, choosing not to run in the 1994 election. Following a brief retirement, Smith was called back to replace Wes Cooley who had been asked to step down in 1996. During his final term in Congress, Smith served as chair of the Committee on Agriculture. He retired in 1999.

Smith worked on a wide range of legislative initiatives during his time in Congress. Highlights include the creation of an amendment to the Drought Relief Act in 1988, co-sponsoring a rural health care law and negotiating a $105 million wheat sale to Turkey. Smith received many awards and certificates recognizing his work for the people of Eastern Oregon. Among these is the Cooperator of the Year Award from the Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association in 1999. The Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association presents the Cooperator of the Year award each year to elected officials who have demonstrated their support of electric cooperatives.

Smith and his wife, Kaye Tomlinson Smith have three children - Tiffany Smith McNaught, Christopher Smith and Matthew Smith. Since retiring from Congress, the Smiths live in eastern Oregon.

From the guide to the The Robert "Bob" Freeman Smith papers, 1983-1994, (Willamette University University Archives and Special Collection)