Wint Smith
Wint Smith (October 7, 1892 - April 27, 1976) was a U.S. Representative from Kansas.
Born in Mankato, Kansas, Smith attended the public schools and was graduated from the Mankato High School. During the First World War served in the United States Army as a combat Infantry officer from May 11, 1917, to September 4, 1919, with twenty-four months' service overseas. He was in the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, A.B., 1920. He was in the Yale University Law School, LL.B., 1922. He was admitted to the bar in 1923 and commenced practice in Kansas City, Kansas, was admitted to practice in all Federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court in 1934. He served as assistant attorney general 1931-1940. Attorney for Kansas Highway Commission 1932-1940.
In 1933, the Kansas Legislature authorized the Highway Commission to hire 10 Motor Vehicle Inspectors, increasing this number to 26 by November of 1933. The legislation authorizing these inspectors charged them with the duty to patrol state highways as much as possible. In 1935, Governor Alfred Landon issued orders to the inspectors to "curb banditry" as far as the law would premit. With Landon's support, and statewide police jurisdiction, the inspectors' was on crime began.
Wint Smith, as chief of the legal department of the Highway Commission, served as director of the Motor Vehicle Inspectors until the formation of the Kansas Highway Patrol in 1937.
During the Second World War served as lieutenant colonel and commanding officer of the 635th Tank Destroyer Battalion from May 1941 to December 1945, with twenty-two months' service overseas. He retired as brigadier general. He resumed the practice of law.
Smith was elected as a Republican to the Eightieth and to the six succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1947-January 3, 1961). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1960 to the Eighty-seventh Congress. He returned to his home in Mankato and engaged in farming and ranching. He died in Wichita, Kansas, April 27, 1976. He was interred in Mount Hope Cemetery, Mankato, Kansas.
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This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
