W. Reece Smith Jr. (1925–2013) was an American lawyer, legal scholar, and civic leader, known for his legal aid advocacy and leadership in the American Bar Association. He served as interim president of the University of South Florida (1976–77) and ABA president (1980–81.)
Born in Athens, Tennessee, he attended the University of South Carolina, playing quarterback for the Gamecocks and earning a B.S. in naval science (1946.) After serving as a U.S. Navy officer, he earned his LLB from the University of Florida College of Law (1949) and later studied international law at Christ Church-Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.
Smith built a distinguished private practice, joining Carlton Fields law firm in Tampa, Florida, where he became chair emeritus. A staunch advocate for legal aid, he worked to expand access to justice for underserved communities.
Michael I. Swygert’s A Consummate Lawyer: William Reece Smith, Jr. (2010) explores his life, career, and contributions to the legal profession.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by W. Reece Smith Jr.
We must remember that a right lost to one is lost to all.
—W. Reece Smith Jr.
Topics: Liberty
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