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Ralph K. Smith (born July 19, 1942) is an American politician and businessman. A Republican, Smith currently represents the 19th District in the Virginia Senate. ==Personal life== Smith was born and grew up in the Williamson Road area of Roanoke, VA.〔("Officials Dedicate Corridor Renewal Project" ), ''Roanoke Times''〕 Smith attended public schools in Roanoke City including William Fleming High School before graduating from Nashville Auto/Diesel College in 1961.〔("Ralph's Bio" ), ''Ralph Smith for Senate''〕 Smith went into business as a service station operator in 1966 and began Ralph Smith Inc.〔("Mr. Smith Goes to Roanoke City Hall" ), ''Roanoke Times''〕 The business quickly expanded into steel fabrication with a specialty for producing trailer hitches. Over the decades, Ralph Smith Inc. also sold bicycles, produced wood burning stoves, and was involved in a variety of manufacturing, retail, and real estate enterprises.〔 Smith significantly scaled back Ralph Smith Inc.’s ventures in recent years so he could devote his attention to his work in the State Senate.〔("Smith to challenge Bell for state Senate" ) ''Roanoke Times''〕 Smith is a member of First Baptist Church in Roanoke, a Roanoke post of the AmVets, the Williamson Road Lions Club, and the Williamson Road Area Business Association. Smith was previously on the boards of First Citizens Bank, VAS Explore Park, the Miss Virginia Pageant, and the Mill Mountain Advisory Committee.〔("Senator Ralph K. Smith Biography" ) Project Vote Smart〕 In 2009, Smith was elected chairman of Freedom Alliance’s Board of Directors.〔("Freedom Alliance" )〕 Freedom Alliance is a 501(c)3 educational and charitable foundation with a mission to honor and encourage military service.〔 Smith has lived in the Roanoke Valley his entire life with the exceptions of when he was being educated at Nashville Auto/Diesel College and during periods of his military service with the United States Coast Guard Reserve between 1964 and 1970. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Ralph K. Smith」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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