Walden Remembers Freeman Smith
Robert Freeman Smith, a staple in Oregon politics and ranching for decades has died. Smith grew up in Burns, and attended Willamette University in Salem graduating with an agricultural degree. He worked as a rancher until he was first elected to the Oregon state House in 1960. He served as the state Speaker of the House in the 1969 and 1971 sessions. He left the state House in in 1972, returned to his ranch, where he remained until 1983 when he became Oregon’s 2nd congressional representative. Smith also served as chairman of the House Ag committee in the late 1990s.
All together Smith ran in 31 elections and won every single one.
"Chairman Robert ‘Bob’ Freeman Smith was a one-of-kind rancher, legislator and advocate for the eastern Oregon way of life," said current 2nd congressional representative Greg Walden. "He was also my friend and mentor whom I first met tagging along to the state Capitol with my father when Bob was Speaker of the Oregon House and I was about 13 years old. He was a towering figure then and will remain so through the many chapters of Oregon and American history he helped author. Mylene and I will keep Kaye and the whole Smith family in our thoughts and prayers as we celebrate a life well lived and a public servant proudly remembered."
Smith was 89 years old.
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