The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1954-07-01
Fire Prevention Bureau Div Ohio State Fire Marshal

ldlSl dppOIIllSA dS PEliElpd1 Oi
Senecaville schools and then as
superintendent of schools in
Murray City.
Elected In 1890
In 1928, Bob ran for represen-
tative to the state general as
sembly and was defeated, but
was elected in 1880. After one
term as a state Representative,
he defeated c. Ellis Moore OF
Cambridge, incumbent congress
man from this district.
Secrest's election as congress
man marked the first time the
18th district, primarily Republi-
can in politics, had Democratic
representative in Washington
since George White of Marietta,
was in Congress.
In 1912, he resigned as a con-
gresham and went into the
navy. He saw service in Europe
and the Pacific, where he served
on the staff of Admiral NimitZ,
and held the rank of commander
when he came back to civilian
life, following the war.
He is the first congressman in
history to resign twice; his first
resignation was to enter military
service and the second time TO
serve with the FTC.
His first attempt to re-enter
political life after the war was
not successful, when he was de-
feated by P. w. Griffiths OF Mari
eta for congressman. In l948,
he defeated Griffiths by l0,28l
votes, and in 1850, his majority
vote over Holland Gary of Zanes-
vile, was 1875.
The Democrat broke all vote
getting records in 1852 in this
Republican district when he
defeated Griffiths again by
$4,000 votes.
soy anu RCBASt
There are none of his follow
ers in this district who heard of
Bob's appointment, whose feel
ings were not of both JOY and
regret. His work in public life
is the most outstanding Of any
known man from Noble county.
He has constantly been a friend
of the working man and has
always supported legislature that
would sincerely benefit the
farmer, the factory worker and
the small business man.
1t is seriously believed that
his stern opposition to the inn
porting of cheap pottery, etc.
from foreign countries, which
would impair home pottery busi-
ness, played no small part in the
appointment by the president
last week.
His views on the coal import
ing question were also in the
opposition squad He realized
what loss of days means to the
coal miner Of his district.
| A District Legend
To a point, Bob SecreSt has
become almost a legend of the
seven n-county district, and specu-
lators have reported that the
only way to replace the Demo-
crat was to offer him a job 'he
couldn't afford to turn down"
An aide to Sen. John w. Brick
er revealed to the press that two
things were accomplished by
Secrest's appointment of last
week:
l. An outstanding Democrat
will fill a Democratic ETC ap-
pointment, and 2. A heavy Demo-
cratic vote-getter will be remov-
ed from contention in frequent
ly Republican southeastern Ohio
district
The aide made it clear that
Bricker and David Brumhart of
Sandusky, also Republican, had
had hand in Secrest's appoint
ment."
Mrs. Secrest is the former Vir-
ginia Bowden of Senecaville.
Mrs. William Larrick of Cali
fornia and Miss Nancy Secrest of
Washington, d, c., are their
daughters. The Secrests have one
son, Robert, Jr., student at
Muskingum college, and a one
year-old grandson, Tommy Lar
| rick of California.