Joseph Luther Smith, commonly known as Joe L. Smith (May 22, 1880 – August 23, 1962), was an American

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking ...

, and a member of the Democratic Party from

West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the B ...

. He was born in Marshes (now Glen Daniel, West Virginia) in Raleigh County, West Virginia, where he attended public and private schools. Smith was editor and owner of ''Raleigh Register'' in Beckley, West Virginia. In addition, he was engaged in the real estate and banking businesses. His political career began in 1904, when, at age of 24, he became mayor of Beckley, a post he held for 25 years until 1929. He also served in the State Senate (1909–1913). Smith was elected to the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

from West Virginia's 6th District in 1928, where he served eight two-year terms (March 4, 1929 – January 3, 1945). He rose to become chairman of the House Committee on Mines and Mining (Seventy-second through Seventy-eighth Congresses). He didn't seek a ninth term in 1944. Fellow Democrat E. H. Hedrick replaced him. After leaving politics, Smith resumed his banking career and resided in Beckley, where he died. He is interred in Sunset Memorial Park. His son Hulett C. Smith served as

Governor of West Virginia A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

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1880 births 1962 deaths Democratic Party West Virginia state senators Mayors of places in West Virginia Politicians from Beckley, West Virginia Editors of West Virginia newspapers Businesspeople from Beckley, West Virginia Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from West Virginia 20th-century American politicians 20th-century American businesspeople {{WestVirginia-stub