Drue Smith
The late Drue Smith was a Capitol Hill correspondent for a number of news outlets, both radio and print. She was also named the 133rd member of the General Assembly in a joint resolution. She did not have a vote or per diem but she had the ear of many prominent lawmakers for more than 30 years.
A native Chattanoogan, she wrote for both papers there before beginning her broadcast career. Later, she came to Nashville to serve as information liaison for Governor Frank Clement. She stayed on to cover the Tennessee General Assembly, becoming the first woman to chair the Capitol Hill Press Corps. In 2001, the Legislature named the Capitol Press Room for her.
She was named Woman of the Year by a number of organizations but she will probably be long remembered for de-sexing the bar at the Gerst Haus, lunch at the City Club and the men’s table at Satsuma.
She professed a deep and abiding love for politics and covered more than her share of campaigns and conventions.
