Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1942-07-30

Robert Thompson Secrest, Demo
cratic congressman from this thu
18th congressional district, for the
past 10 years, has resigned from
congress, effective within two
weeks, to accept a lieutenant com
mander's commission in the U. S
navy, position which will take
him into foreign war zones. He will
be called on to serve in an admins.
trative office on any battleship OF
airplane carrier to which he may
be assigned. Before entering active
service he will attend naval train
ing school. Mr.. ,Secrest has sub
mitted his resignation to Governor
Bricker, and it will become effec-
tive when he is notified to report
for duty.
In commenting on his resigna-
tion, Mr.. Secrest said: Il think the
country is in the most grave danger
and that / should contribute in a
direct way to it's defense. The 18th
district and Bob Secrest will not
exist unless the war is won. When
it is over I'll come back and start
where l left off,
Mr.. Secrest had twice before tried
to get into the service, first immed-
iatey after Pearl Harbor was at
tackled, and again just before he
filed his nomination papers for the
primary, but both time he was re-
jected
Mr.. Secrest has a brother in the
marines somewhere in the Pacific
ocean, and his wife has three broth
ers in the service. Congressman
Secrest is 38 years of age, and it is
stated that he is the youngest man
in the history of congress to have
served five consecutive terms. He
and former Governor George White
of Marietta are the only Democrats
elected to congress from the 18th
district, since the Civil war, and
Secrest was the only Democrat ever
to carry all counties in the district.
During the 10 years in congress,
Secrest has made his influence felt.
!
achievement was lifting the flood
taxes from the Muskingum Con-
servancy District, which saved resi-
dents $13,0OO,00O, and two months
ago he obtained an appropriation
to take care of three years re-
duction for the district He has
been on several committees in con-
gress and was chairman of the Ii
brary committee.
He was also member of other
committees including flood control,
mines and mining, roads and in
valid pensions. He was On joint
commissions to acquire a site and
additional buildings for the library
for congress, National Archives
Council, National Archives Trust
Board, Oliver Wendell Holmes
Devise Committee and Smithsonian
Gallery of Arts Commission.
Mr.. Secrest was born near Sen
ecaville, Jan. %, 1904. He gradu-
ated from Senecaville high school
in 1922, and for a time worked in
a coal mine with which to earn
money to attend college. He re-
ceived an A. B. degree from Mus
kingum college in 1926. While
there he was outstanding as a de-
batter. From 1926 to 1880, he was
superintendent of Senecaville high
school, and was superintendent of
schools at Murray City, from 1881
to 1882, and in 1890 he was elected
to the Ohio legislature from Noble
county. In 1892 he was first elect
ed to congress, defeating G.. Ellis
Moore, who had served for seven
terms. and has since been re-elect-
ed. His other opponents were Ken
meth C. Ray, of this county, now
state director of education; P. w.
Griffith of Marietta, and Atty G. A.
Young, of this place.
While in Washington, Mr.. Secrest
took law course in the night
school at Washington University,
graduating in 1941. While at the
university he taught public speak
ing.
~ Mr.. and Mrs. Secrest have three
children, Nancy Ann, Mary Jane
and Robert T. Secrest, jr.
Mr. Secrest was a candidate for
congress this year on the Demo-
cratic ticket, and unopposed at the
August primary. Since the ballots
are already printed his name can
not be withdrawn and he will de-
cline the nomination following the
primary. Soon after the Demo-
cratic central county chairmen and
secretaries Of the six counties in
the district-Guernsey, Muskingum,
Noble, Washington, Monroe and
Morgan will meet to choose can
didate to represent the party at the
coming election. Judson Young is
chairman of the Democratic execu-
tive committee Of this county, and
y v. A. Appleman. secretary.
Two Republicans are contending
for the nomination--R. w. Griffith
OF Marietta, and Walter r. Eagle
son of Cambridge. "a fl.A9gifd te.sa
Consrsssman 90 'Spcrest's private
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