Larkin I. Smith
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Larkin I. Smith (June 26, 1944 – August 13, 1989) was an American politician from Mississippi.
Smith was born in Poplarville, Mississippi. He served at various positions in the Pearl River County and then Harrison County police forces, eventually becoming sheriff of Pearl River County and subsequently Harrison County.
In 1988, Smith ran for the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican from Mississippi's 5th District in the southern portion of the state after eight-term incumbent Trent Lott gave up the seat to make a successful run for the Senate.
He defeated Democratic state senator Gene Taylor and took office on January 3, 1989. However, he died on August 13 in a plane crash in rural Perry County near Gulfport, Mississippi. He was succeeded by Taylor in a special election.
Smith's death was the second death in one week of a U.S. Represantive in a plane crash. Represenative Mickey Leland of Texas died in another plane crash in Ethiopia on August 7, 1989.
His widow, Sheila Smith, ran unsuccessfully against Taylor in 1990 for the seat.
| Preceded by Trent Lott |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi's 5th congressional district January 3, 1989 – August 13, 1989 |
Succeeded by Gene Taylor |
