Robert T. Secrest

Bob Secrest
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 15th district
In office March 4, 1933 – August 3, 1942
Preceded by	C. Ellis Moore
Succeeded by	Percy W. Griffiths
In office January 3, 1949 – September 26, 1954
Preceded by	Percy W. Griffiths
Succeeded by	John E. Henderson
In office January 3, 1963 – December 30, 1966
Preceded by	Tom V. Moorehead
Succeeded by	Chalmers P. Wylie
Member of the Ohio Senate from the 20th district
In office January 3, 1969-December 31, 1976
Preceded by	Tom V. Moorehead
Succeeded by	Sam Speck
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
In office 1931-1932
Personal details
Born	(1904-01-22)January 22, 1904 Senecaville, Ohio
Died	May 15, 1994(1994-05-15) (aged 90) Cambridge, Ohio
Resting place	Senacaville Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Muskingum College Columbia University British School of Civil Affairs
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1942 - 1946
Rank	Commander
Battles/wars	World War II

Robert Thompson Secrest (January 22, 1904, near Senecaville, Ohio – May 15, 1994, in Cambridge, Ohio) was an American Democratic representative to the United States Congress from the state of Ohio. He served in Congress three separate times: 1933 to 1942, 1949 to 1954, and 1963 to 1966, resigning each time prior to the end of his term.

Biography

Robert Secrest was born at Senacaville, Guernsey County, Ohio, the eldest son of a miner, Robert Waits Secrest (1880-1929), and his wife Amelia née Thompson. Robert attended the State public schools. He subsequently graduated from Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio, 1926, Washington, D.C. College of Law, 1938, and Columbia University, New York City, 1943. He graduated from British School of Civil Affairs, Wimbledon, England, 1943.

Secrest was superintendent of the Murray City, Ohio, schools 1931–1932. He was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives 1931–1932. He was elected as a Democrat to the 73rd to 77th United States Congresses, and served March 4, 1933, to August 3, 1942, when he resigned to join the United States Navy. He was later promoted to Commander and served until February 28, 1946, in England, Africa, Italy and the Pacific.

Secrest ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1946, and acted as legal supervisor for the Library of Congress in 1946–1947. He was elected to the 81st through 83rd Congresses, and served January 3, 1949, to September 26, 1954, when he resigned to become a member of the Federal Trade Commission. He served on that commission 1954–1961, and was Director of Commerce, State of Ohio in 1962.

Secrest again was elected to the 88th and 89th Congresses, and served January 3, 1963, to December 30, 1966, when he again resigned after failing at re-election in 1966. He was a member of the Ohio State Senate, 1969–1973, and member of the National Council of the American Legion, 1978 to 1987. He died May 15, 1994, in Cambridge, Ohio. At the time of his death, he was the earliest-serving former congressman as well as the last one to have served during the Herbert Hoover administration.

External links

• United States Congress. "Robert T. Secrest (id: S000219)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Robert T. Secrest at Find a Grave