Michael Soclin

**Michael Ale Soclin** (January 4, 1939 - November 16, 1983) was an American businessman, politician, and lawyer. He started his business, Soclin Incorporated when he was 18. That year, he became good friends with Thomas Konju. In 1963, he completed Konju's Tower and married Lillian Moore. His business considered to be successful throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

In 1974, he bought a farm in Ashland, Ohio, where his son, Michael, Jr. was born in 1976. In 1979, Soclin officialy moved to Ohio, and joined the state's Republican Party. In 1982, he began planning to run in the 1986 Ohio Senate Election, and he officially launched his campaign in September of 1983. However, while making a speech in Columbus, Ohio on November 15, a man named Devon Rilen shot him 3 times, once in the jaw, another in the ear, and the final shot in the ribs. Soclin was rushed to the hospital and died on 1:21 A.M. the next day.

## Biography

### Early Life (1939 - 1957)

Michael Ale Soclin was born on January 4, 1939 in New York City, New York. His parents were Jewish Immigrants from Jerusalem named Rafael and Julia Soclin. They immigrated to America in fear of the rising Nazi Germany in 1937. His father enlisted to fight in World War II in 1943 and was killed on D-Day in 1944. Soclin skipped 3 grades, 3rd, 7th, and 9th. Therefore, he graduated high school in 1954. Soclin got a job at Stanley Johnson's Sales Office.

### Business Career (1957 - 1982)

In June of 1957, Soclin met a new employee at Johnson's Office named Thomas J. Konju. Konju and Soclin became friends and Soclin told Konju of his ambitions in creating a business. After the Duel in New York City, where the sales office was destroyed, Soclin launched Soclin Incoprorated (a construction company) and began working on a tower for his friend Konju. At that time he also began dating Lillian Moore. In 1963, Soclin completed the tower and married Moore.

Soclin's business was successful and he became a millionare in 1978. He also started a branch in Ohio in the year 1981. He donated a lot of his money in 1982, and lost his millionare status. It was during this year, that he began planning to run in the 1986 U.S. Senate Election in Ohio.

### Political Career and Death (1982 - 1983)

Soclin officially launched his campaign on September 20, 1983. His campaign manager was Martin J. Alexander. His first endorsement was recived on September 24, 1983, from his friend Thomas Konju. On November 15, 1983, he travelled to Columbus, Ohio to make a speech. There he stated his policies and expressed his support for president Ronald Reagan. However, an insane man named Devon Rilen angry at all Republicans, shot Soclin in the jaw and then in the chest. Soclin collapsed and security guards ran at Rilen. Rilen shot one of them, Jason Maxen in the stomach and the other, Mark Stephens in the head. Maxen survived but Stephens didn't and died on November 17, 1983. Rilen then shot Soclin one more time in the ear before dropping his gun and running off. Rilen was later found and arrested on November 19th.

Soclin was rushed to the hospital. He was in critical condition and later succumbed to his wounds at 1:21 AM the next day.

## Tributes

Soclin's death was made public around 12:00 PM. Soclin's friend, Thomas Konju said "Michael was a great friend and it's sad to see him go. Rest in Peace." Soclin's campaign manager, Martin Alexander said "My heart goes out to the Soclin Family. Michael was a good man. I hope for the recoveries of the brave guards Jason Maxen and Mark Stephens."

President Ronald Reagan, Soclin's Primary Opponent Tom Kindness, and the current Ohio Senator, John Glenn offered their condolences to the Soclin Family.

## Personal Life

Soclin was a member of the Republican Party. He campaigned for Gerald Ford in 1976 and Ronald Reagan in 1980. He married Lillian Moore on April 8, 1963.

He had one son named Michael Soclin, Jr. (born 1976). He was an Orthodox Jew and he had his Bar Mitzvah in 1955.