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   Preston Smith; The People's Governor is a production of KTXT-TV, Channel 5, a department of the division of the Office of the Provost  at Texas Tech University. 
   In August of 2003 former Texas Governor Preston Smith was interviewed in the KTXT-TV television studio by his friend, the legendary radio personality Misty. The Governor and Misty reminisced about his life and accomplishments. Soon after the program was taped Governor Smith passed away. Misty and the producers from KTXT-TV decided to create a tribute to the Governor by including comments from his friends and family.
   Preston Smith was born on March 8, 1912, in Williamson County, Texas.  He grew up one of 13 children of a poor tenant farmer.  He worked his way through high school in Lamesa, Texas and college at Texas Tech during the worst part of the Depression.       He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1934, settled in Lubbock and helped launch a chain of movie theaters.  Preston met his wife Ima in a Government class at Texas Tech University.  They were married on June 20, 1935, in Ralls, Texas.
   Although Preston Smith got the idea to run for governor when he was nine, his public career actually began during World War II and lasted for almost 30 years.  He was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1945 and to the Texas Senate in 1956.  He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1962 and served two terms as Governor from January 1969 to January 1973.
   Education was his passion.  Throughout his career, he authorized, sponsored, or signed into law many education bills.  Governor Smith is credited for establishing the Texas Tech University medical and law schools.  Due to him, four new state schools were created, as well as two medical schools, a dental school, and a nursing school.  He was responsible for helping to establish a permanent building fund for all state colleges, increase teacher salaries, expand vocational education, and create the Texas Education Code.Criminal justice was also a focus of Smith's terms, which saw the first comprehensive drug abuse program in Texas.  He also saw to the passage of the first minimum wage law in the state.
   Governor Smith's many accomplishments and acts of kindness will live on. He belonged to the people of Texas. He truly was "The People's Governor." 

Preston Smith



The People's Governor

Produced by
Armando Rodriguez 
& Doug Nelson?

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