<page_title> List of Governors of Texas </page_title> <section_title> Governors of Texas </section_title> <table> <cell> 40 <col_header> # </col_header> </cell> <cell> Preston Smith March 8, 1912 – October 18, 2003 (Aged 91) <col_header> Governor </col_header> </cell> <cell> January 21, 1969 – January 16, 1973 <col_header> Term in office </col_header> </cell> <cell> 35th Lieutenant Governor of Texas (1963-1969) <col_header> Prior office </col_header> </cell> </table>
Preston Earnest Smith (March 7, 1912 – October 18, 2003) was the 40th Governor of Texas from 1969 to 1973, who previously served as the lieutenant governor from 1963 to 1969.