C. S. Smith

C. S. Smith (May 6, 1894 – March 30, 1971) served three turbulent years as mayor of Compton, California until he was recalled from office in 1936.

Biography

C(lifton) S(tanwood) Smith was born in Washington, Ohio on May 6, 1894, the son of Frank C. Smith and Mary Stanwood. He was raised in San Antonio, where his father worked as a cattleman. The family relocated to Los Angeles in the 1910s and the younger Smith worked as a salesman and later ran a grocery store. Smith eventually settled in the Los Angeles working class suburb of Compton in the 1920s.

C. S. Smith was elected mayor of Compton in 1933. As mayor, a feud developed between him and Compton Chief of Police E. A. West. It reached a climax in April 1936, when Smith slammed his fist into West's jaw during a city council meeting. This led to a well publicized trial. Smith and four Compton City Councilmen were successfully recalled from office in a September special election, sending the city into political turmoil.

After his political defeat, Smith remained in Compton until his death on March 30, 1971.