Forrest Smith (D)

Overview

At a Glance

• Early proponent of retail sales tax (before becoming Governor)
• Passed House Bill 185 increasing gasoline tax by four cents a gallon to pay for expansion of state highway system

Personal History

Forrest Smith was born on a farm in Ray County, Missouri, and grew up in Richmond, the county seat. He attended public schools in the area and the Woodson Institute in Richmond before furthering his education at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. After graduating from college, he served as the principal of the Richmond grammar school for four years.

On October 12, 1915, he married Mildred Williams, who was also from Richmond. Together, they raised two daughters: Forrestine and Mary Josephine.

After his time as governor, Smith continued to live in Jefferson City, Missouri. He eventually passed away in Gulfport, Mississippi, and was buried at Sunny Slope Cemetery in Richmond, Missouri.

Political History

Smith began his political career in 1910 when he served as the deputy assessor for Ray County, Missouri for four years. In 1914, he was elected county clerk by the voters and was subsequently reelected in 1918, during which he served as president of the Missouri County Clerks' Association. Smith gained statewide recognition in 1925 when he became a member of the bipartisan State Tax Commission, a position he held for seven years.

As a Democrat, Smith first ran for state auditor in 1928 during a Republican landslide, but he was unsuccessful. However, he won the position in 1932, 1936, 1940, and 1944, becoming the first Missourian to be elected to a state office for four consecutive terms. Throughout his sixteen years as state auditor, Smith became a national authority on tax issues and held leadership positions in several organizations. He was an original organizer and served as president of the National Association of Tax Administrators, as well as president of the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers, and Treasurers.

In 1948, Smith ran for governor of Missouri, promising to improve the state's highway system, increase education funding, and enhance health and medical services. He won the election against Murray E. Thompson by a significant margin; however, his victory was overshadowed by accusations regarding his connections to organized labor and city political bosses. A report by U.S. Senator Estes Kefauver's subcommittee, which investigated organized crime in Missouri, stated that the state narrowly escaped being influenced by organized crime, particularly following the murder of Kansas City politician Charles Binaggio shortly after the election. Allegations suggested that Binaggio had secured substantial funds for Smith's campaign from a Chicago syndicate, but no conclusive evidence linked Smith to organized crime, and the allegations were ultimately dismissed.

One of the most significant pieces of legislation during Smith's governorship was House Bill 185, which proposed a four-cent increase in the gasoline tax to finance a state highway program. The goal of the program was to ensure that every farm home in Missouri would be within two miles of an all-weather road. Although he faced strong opposition from Missouri's auto clubs and trucking organizations, Smith argued that improving the highway system would benefit farmers, support school consolidation efforts, and provide rural residents with better access to medical care through regional hospitals. In 1951, the gasoline tax was raised from two to three cents per gallon, and in 1952, the State Highway Commission announced a 10-year plan to improve the state's road mileage from 19,675 to 32,000, with projected costs of more than $5.5 million.

During his time in office, Smith also advocated for extending social security benefits to all state employees and supported the establishment of a four-year state-supported medical school in Missouri.

Historical Signficance

Forrest Smith had a political career that spanned nearly half a century, culminating in his election as the governor of Missouri. He became known as an authority on taxation, a strong advocate for improved highway systems, and a proponent of increased funding for education.

As of today, Missouri ranks as the 21st largest state by size and the 18th largest by population; however, it stands 6th in the nation for the total miles of roads. Smith successfully advocated for the passage of House Bill 185 by pointing out that, at the time, Missouri had one of the lowest gasoline taxes in the country. Currently, Missouri maintains one of the lowest fuel taxes in the nation, which is set at 17.3 cents per gallon.