Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
Born August 10, 1955 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Smith attended and graduated from Punxsutawney Area High School and later earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Penn State University. After working for several years in the construction industry, he later took a job with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. In 1986 Smith was elected to succeed his father, Eugene "Snuffy" Smith, who had represented the 66th district since 1963.