Biography

01/24/1920 - 05/14/1999

Sergeant Joseph Francis “Joe” Smith (D4) Philadelphia (Part) County 1971-1981

Early Life:

Sergeant Joseph Francis “Joe” Smith, born January 24, 1920, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; son of Archiebald T. and Anna Dugan Smith; Saint Anne's Parochial School, Philadelphia; Northeast Catholic High School, Philadelphia, 1939; Saint Joseph's College, Philadelphia, 1940-1942; sergeant, Purple Heart, United States Army, World War II, 1942-1945; accountant; administrative assistant, United States Congressman, 1965-1970; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1971-1981; elected, Republican, seated as a Democrat, Ninety-seventh Congress, 1981-1983; unsuccessful candidate  renomination, 1982; Democratic City chairman, Philadelphia, 1983-1986; resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; married, Regina Bukowski-Smith, daughter, Regina; died, May 14, 1999; Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; interment, Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Sergeant, Purple Heart, United States Army, 1942-1945; administrative assistant, United States Congressman, James Byrne, 1965-1970. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 4th district, Philadelphia (Part) County, 1971- resigned, July 21, 1981, after winning a special election, vacancy, United States United States House of Representatives; Chairman, Appropriations Committee.

Democratic City chairman, Philadelphia, 1983-1986; defeated, Edgar Campbell, who had been serving as the city party's Acting Chairman since David B. Glancy's resignation became effective March 10, 1983, for the post.

Continued Government Service/National Politics:

Elected, Republican, seated as a Democrat, United States House of Representatives, Ninety-seventh Congress, special election, vacancy, resignation, Raymond F. Lederer (ABSCAM, FBI sting operation), 1981-1983; ran as a Republican (with GOP leaders' blessings) won the seat on July 21, 1981. However, caucused with the Democrats, as he said he would, unsuccessful candidate for renomination, Ninety-eighth Congress, 1982.

Legacy:

United States Postal Service facility located, 1602 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia ("Kensington Station") renamed, Joseph F. Smith Post Office Building. 

H.R.4554: To redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1602 Frankford Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the "Joseph F. Smith Post Office Building". Sponsor: Representative Robert A. Borski. Introduced May 25, 2000; July 18, 2000, considered and passed House; October 6, 2000, considered and passed United States Senate.

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members S". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

"Public Law 106-339, 106th Congress" (PDF). www.govinfo.gov. Retrieved 5 February 2019.

Joseph Francis “Joe” Smith (1920-1999) - Find a Grave Memorial