Ralph Smith is a life-long resident of Charles City where he practiced law
Smith was born and raised in Charles City, graduated from Charles City Community High School in 1969, completed a bachelor’s degree in history from Carlton College, Northfield, Minnesota, in 1973, and graduated from the University of Iowa Law School in 1976. He then returned to practice law in his family’s firm until retirement last month.
Governor Smith joined the Charles City Rotary Club in 1976 and served as its president in 1978 and 2015. He says he was motivated to become a District Governor after his experience as a Rotary group study exchange team leader to Poland in 2008.
The governor believes Rotary’s strength and focus remains in the local club that serves the needs of its community. “While we can share in the pride of polio eradication made possible through our financial contributions, this cannot substitute for the satisfaction of the day-to-day and face-to-face involvement with our local residents. Accordingly, my focus in this year will be on “participation” in the Rotary experience at the club level,” the governor notes.