Jim L. Smithson

Who is Jim L. Smithson?

Jimmy Lee Smithson, known as Jim L. Smithson, is a conservative Republican former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives who is remembered for cosponsoring legislation in his state to allow generic substitution of prescription medications. A registered pharmacist from Marshall, the seat of Searcy County in northwestern Arkansas, Smithson served in the House from January 1, 1975, to December 31, 1984. He represented then District 43, created in 1970, which included his own Searcy, Marion, and a part of Baxter counties. Later the district was numbered 40 and then 39.

Smithson also cosponsored the bill to allow optometrists to use diagnostic drugs to dilate the pupils of patients' eyes. Ophthalmologists strongly objected, but the measure passed.

Smithson was born in Marshall to Jack Smithson and the former Ola Francis. In 1960, he graduated from Marshall High School. In 1971, he obtained his pharmacy degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. For a time in the early 1970s he had a pharmacy in Marshall. From 1981-2006, Smithson was a pharmacist at Jefferson Regional Hospital in Pine Bluff. Divorced from Beverly Smithson. He has two daughters, Kimberly Ragland of Marshall and Kristie Ragland of Conway, and four grandchildren.