Aubrey H. Smith (died December 25, 1979) was a dentist and state legislator in Illinois.

He graduated from Fisk University before going to Northwestern University dental school.[1]

Smith moved to East St. Louis, Illinois in 1926 where he lived for 50 years and worked as a dentist until he moved to Arkansas a few months before his death.[2]

He was the first Democrat to be elected to serve in the Illinois General Assembly from East St. Louis.[1] He beat incumbent Frank Holten who had served for 18 years.[3] He served just a single term from 1935-1937.[1] He did not run for a second term because he rejected the idea of accepting campaign contributions and being a professional politician.[2]

He died December 25, 1979 aged 79 at his home in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.[2][4] His first wife Aldena Windham Davis Smith died previously but he was survived by his second wife A. H. Smith.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c Williams, Erma Brooks (February 18, 2008). Political Empowerment of Illinois' African-American State Lawmakers from 1877 to 2005. University Press of America. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-7618-4018-3 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b c "Dr. Aubrey H. Smith Funeral". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 31 December 1979. p. 5. Retrieved 18 February 2024.  
  3. ^ "39.6 percent of city population voters Tuesday". Belleville Daily Advocate. 10 November 1934. p. 1. Retrieved 18 February 2024.  
  4. ^ a b "Obituary for Aubrey H Smith". The Belleville News-Democrat. 30 December 1979. p. 8. Retrieved 18 February 2024.