Governor of Ohio, Judge. Holds the distinction of being the only person to head all three branches of the Ohio Government, he was the Governor, Speaker of the State House of Representatives, and Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court. Born in Marietta, Ohio, he graduated from Marietta College in 1938, and from the Ohio State University Law School in 1942. As a Republican, he became a member of the Ohio legislature from 1939 until 1950 and was the Speaker of the House in 1947. Although exempt from military service because of his position, he served in the United States Army during World War II in Europe, from 1943 to 1946, with General George S. Patton's 3rd Corps. He became Ohio's Attorney General from 1951 to 1957 and was responsible for drafting a narcotics control bill in 1955. Elected as Ohio's 59th Governor in 1956, he served from 1957 to 1959. As Governor, O'Neill helped establish the interstate highway system. He also supported the unpopular "right to vote" amendment to the Ohio Constitution concerning the abolishment of labor unions, and lost an attempt at reelection that resulted in a landslide vote. The following year, he became an associate justice of the Ohio Supreme Court and served from 1960 to 1970. He became the court's Chief Justice in 1970 and served in that capacity until his death in 1978. In 1974, he was named as the Most Outstanding Appellate Judge by the Trial Lawyers of America and received the National Criminal Justice Award in 1975.
Governor of Ohio, Judge. Holds the distinction of being the only person to head all three branches of the Ohio Government, he was the Governor, Speaker of the State House of Representatives, and Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court. Born in Marietta, Ohio, he graduated from Marietta College in 1938, and from the Ohio State University Law School in 1942. As a Republican, he became a member of the Ohio legislature from 1939 until 1950 and was the Speaker of the House in 1947. Although exempt from military service because of his position, he served in the United States Army during World War II in Europe, from 1943 to 1946, with General George S. Patton's 3rd Corps. He became Ohio's Attorney General from 1951 to 1957 and was responsible for drafting a narcotics control bill in 1955. Elected as Ohio's 59th Governor in 1956, he served from 1957 to 1959. As Governor, O'Neill helped establish the interstate highway system. He also supported the unpopular "right to vote" amendment to the Ohio Constitution concerning the abolishment of labor unions, and lost an attempt at reelection that resulted in a landslide vote. The following year, he became an associate justice of the Ohio Supreme Court and served from 1960 to 1970. He became the court's Chief Justice in 1970 and served in that capacity until his death in 1978. In 1974, he was named as the Most Outstanding Appellate Judge by the Trial Lawyers of America and received the National Criminal Justice Award in 1975.
Bio by: K Guy
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