George S. Smith

Mayor George S. Smith
Mayor of Easton, Pennsylvania
In office 1960–1968
Preceded by	Orion H. Reeves
Succeeded by	Fred Ashton
Easton City Councilor
In office 1975–1986
Easton City Council President
In office 1978–1979
Personal details
Born	1907 Democratic Party
Spouse	Theresa (née Frace)
Children	George S. Smith Jr., Paul H. Smith, Stanley B. Smith, Marie Williams
Alma mater	Muhlenberg College University of Pennsylvania
Occupation	Physician
Military service
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1941–1945
Rank	Major

George Smith was an American politician who served as a Democratic mayor of Easton, Pennsylvania for two terms between 1960 and 1968. He also served on the Easton City Council from 1975 until his death in 1986 at the age of 79.^[1]

Early life

An Easton native, Smith was born to Bernard and Catherine (

Smith opened a medical practice in Easton in 1933. During World War II Smith served as a Major in the United States Army Medical Corps. He would operate his medical practice until his retirement in 1960 when he was elected mayor.^[1]

Mayor of Easton

First elected in 1960, mayor Smith was the last mayor of Easton under its weak mayor system. This meant that the office was mostly ceremonial, the mayor having no ability to vote in council meetings or participate in local government. He would go on to win re-election in 1964 and would decline to run for a third term despite there being no term limits for the office.^[1]

Easton City Council

Following his departure from the office of mayor, Smith served as director of the Bi-City Health Board for Allentown and Bethlehem from 1968 to 1974. He was elected as a city councilman in 1975. He would be re-elected in 1979 and 1983 and had plans to stand for election again in 1987. Described as "astute" and "honest", he headed the council's public works committee, was vice-chairman of the planning and development committee, and served as council president in 1978 and 1979. After a year in and out of hospital, Smith died in office in 1986 at the age of 79.^[1]

Legacy

Smith was well-liked by the other city councilors. Then-mayor

A Roman Catholic, Smith married Theresa (née Frace), who pre-deceased him in 1980. He had three sons, George S. Smith Jr., Paul H. Smith, and Stanley B. Smith, all of whom followed in his footsteps to become doctors, as well as a daughter, Marie Williams. He had two brothers, Arthur and James Smith, fourteen grandchildren, and one great-grandson.^[1]

References