Clay Smothers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clay Smothers
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| Texas State Representative for former District 33-G (Dallas County) |
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| In office January 1977 – January 1981 |
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| Preceded by | Richard S. Geiger |
| Succeeded by | Steven D. Wolens |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 1, 1935 Malakoff, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | June 11, 2004 (aged 69) |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican (before 1972, 1979–2004) Democratic (1972–1979) |
| Spouse | Barbara Smothers |
| Alma mater | Prairie View A&M University |
| Occupation | Educator Radio personality |
Claiborne Washington "Clay" Smothers (April 1, 1935 – June 11, 2004) was an American politician and a person who shared his opinions on radio. He was a member of the Texas House of Representatives, which is like the state's law-making group. He represented a part of Dallas County from 1977 to 1981.
Clay Smothers started as a Democrat. Later, he changed to the Republican party in 1979. This was during the time when Bill Clements became the first Republican governor of Texas since a period called Reconstruction. Before this, Smothers had actually been a Republican in 1970. He tried to win a seat in the Texas House but lost.
Early Life and Education
Clay Smothers was born in Malakoff, a town in East Texas. He was the fourth of five children. His parents, James and Alice Smothers, ran a special school there. It was called the St. Paul Industrial Training School. This school was unique because it was the only African-American orphanage and school in Texas that did not use money from the government. Many young people who didn't have homes lived and learned there over the years. This school is still open today.
Smothers went to Prairie View A&M University, a historically black university in Texas. After college, he and his wife, Barbara, lived in Chicago, Illinois, for several years. In Chicago, he worked as a teacher. He also helped law enforcement with youth gangs. He was part of a special group for young people set up by Mayor Richard J. Daley.
In 1964, Clay and Barbara moved back to Texas. He first helped at the St. Paul orphanage. Later, in the late 1960s, he moved to Dallas. There, he owned a grocery store. He also became a news editor for a Dallas radio station, KNOK-AM. He had to leave this job when he decided to run for office. Smothers also wrote articles for newspapers. These articles often talked about American values. He also wrote against groups he called "extremist."
His Time in Politics
National Politics
In 1972, Clay Smothers became known on a national level. He was a delegate for Governor George Wallace at the Democratic National Convention. Wallace was a well-known politician at the time. Smothers even nominated himself to be vice president. He wanted to run with the main candidate, George McGovern. He didn't expect to win, but he still got support from 74 delegates. This was more than twice the support received by Governor Jimmy Carter of Georgia. Carter later became president in 1976.
Smothers told the Democrats at the convention that Wallace had many supporters. He felt Wallace's ideas needed to be heard. Smothers did not support McGovern or Richard M. Nixon in that election. Instead, he supported the American Independent Party. This party's candidates were John G. Schmitz and Thomas J. Anderson.
State Politics
Clay Smothers was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1976. This was the first of his two terms. In 1977, a newspaper called the Austin American-Statesman reported that his fellow lawmakers named him "Freshman of the Year." This was a big honor for new members. However, in the same year, Texas Monthly magazine put him on its "Ten Worst List" of legislators.
During his second term, Smothers worked on the House Elections Committee. He also served as vice chairman of the House Liquor Regulation Committee. In 1977, he suggested changing the state's constitution. He wanted to make the terms for House members longer, from two years to four years. This idea did not pass.
In 1979, Smothers spoke against a bill to make Juneteenth a Texas state holiday. Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in Texas. Smothers called the idea a "fraudulent holiday."
In 1978, Smothers received the American Patriots Medal. This award came from the Freedoms Foundation. He was chosen from many people by a group of judges. Famous people like the western singer Gene Autry had won this award before him.
Smothers supported Jonas Savimbi in the Angolan Civil War in the 1970s. He said that the forces from Communist Cuba were doing bad things. These forces were fighting against Savimbi's group.
In 1980, Smothers ran for the United States House of Representatives. He ran as a Republican with Ronald Reagan. But he lost the election.
Later Years
After his time in the legislature, Clay Smothers went back to managing the St. Paul Industrial Training School in Malakoff. In 1982, he was briefly held after an argument near Malakoff. He told officers he had just had surgery at the Mayo Clinic.
Clay Smothers passed away in 2004 when he was 69 years old. He was buried in Dallas, Texas. He had children, including Clay, II, who passed away in 2013. Another child, Kinney Lee Fields, ran for a political office in Dallas County in 2016.
