Sam Smith Subject Files

Sam Smith was born on July 21, 1922 in Gibsland, Louisiana, the son of a Baptist minister. In 1942, he was drafted and stationed in Seattle, prior to serving in the South Pacific theater during World War II. After his tour of duty, Smith returned to Seattle to attend college. He earned a bachelor's degree in social science from Seattle University and a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Washington; he also did graduate work in economics and political science at the University of Washington.

Smith went to work for the Boeing Company in 1952 where he was employed for nearly 17 years. He was elected to the Washington State Legislature in 1958, representing the 37th District for five consecutive terms. The high point of his legislative career was the State's passage of the Open Housing Act in 1967.

Smith ran for and was elected to the Seattle City Council in 1968; he was the first African-American to serve on the City Council. During his 24 years on the Council, Smith chaired the Public Safety Committee (1968-1973, 1978-1981), Housing and Human Services Committee (1982-1985), Labor Committee (1988-1989), and the Utilities Committee (1990-1991). He served as Council President in 1974-1977 and 1986-1989.

During Smith's years on the City Council, he championed causes such as local open housing; youth employment; juvenile crime prevention; and racial, religious, and economic equity. The outspoken Smith was less concerned with consensus than the construction of a legislative majority. He was often heard to remark of the nine-member City Council, "Five votes is policy."

Sam Smith was defeated for reelection in 1991 by Sherry Harris. Following a long battle with illness, he died in November of 1995.