Fred B. Smith

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Fred B. Smith (Frederick Brougher Smith) was an American politician from Mississippi who lived from May 14, 1892, to November 12, 1984. He served in both chambers of the Mississippi Legislature and was the President pro tempore of the Mississippi State Senate in 1922.

Smith was born on a plantation near Ripley, Mississippi, the son of Robert Bruce Smith Jr. and Fannie (Palmer) Smith. He came from a family with political ties and was a great-nephew of C. A. Brougher, a Mississippi Secretary of State. He attended Tippah County schools and Mississippi Heights Academy, graduating in 1908. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Millsaps College in 1912 and studied at the University of Mississippi for two years, serving as Editor-in-Chief of the university yearbook in 1914 and earning a Bachelor of Laws degree the same year.

In November 1915, Smith was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives, representing Tippah and Benton Counties for the 1916–1920 term. During that term, he served on several committees, including Drainage, Judiciary, Immigration & Labor, Railroads, and Insurance. In 1919, he was elected to the Mississippi State Senate for the 1920–1924 term, representing the 36th district. There he chaired the Corporations Committee and sat on the Constitution, Judiciary, Railroads & Franchises, and Humane & Benevolent Institutions committees. In 1922, he was elected President pro tempore of the Senate.

Beyond his legislative work, Smith founded the Bank of Ripley in 1925 and served as its president for a time, remaining on the board of directors until his death. He also led the Mississippi Economic Council as its president from 1956 to 1957. He received several honors, including the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Ole Miss in 1975 and the Lawyer-Citizen Award from the Mississippi State Bar Association in 1976.

Smith was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Ripley and a Freemason. He was married to Elizabeth, and they had one daughter, Onie Frances (Smith) Fortier. He passed away on November 12, 1984, at Tippah County Hospital in Ripley after a long illness. He was a Democrat who dedicated much of his life to public service in Mississippi.