Ralph Regula | |
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| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromOhio's16th district | |
| In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Bow |
| Succeeded by | John Boccieri |
| Member of theOhio Senate from the29th district | |
| In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1973 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Richard Reichel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ralph Straus Regula (1924-12-03)December 3, 1924 Beach City, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | July 19, 2017(2017-07-19) (aged 92) Bethlehem Township, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mary Rogusky |
| Education | University of Mount Union (BA) William McKinley School of Law (LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1944–1946 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Regula speaks on FY1991 appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State Recorded June 20, 1990 | |
Ralph Straus Regula (December 3, 1924 – July 19, 2017) was an American politician fromOhio. A member of theRepublican Party, he served in theOhio House of Representatives, theOhio State Senate and theUnited States House of Representatives. He representedOhio's 16th congressional district for 18 terms from 1973 to 2009. In the110th Congress (2007–2009), he was the second longest serving Republican member of the House of Representatives (afterBill Young of Florida).
Regula was born inBeach City, Ohio on December 3, 1924. He served in theUnited States Navy duringWorld War II. After his service, he attendedMount Union College using hisGI Bill. He met his wife, the former Mary Rogusky, while at Mount Union. After graduating in 1948, he became a schoolteacher while studying at the William McKinley College of Law in Canton.[1] He was anEpiscopalian.[2]
He was elected to theOhio Board of Education and served on that body from 1960 to 1964. He was elected to theOhio House of Representatives in 1964 and served one term before winning a seat in theState Senate.[3]
In 1972, PresidentRichard Nixon nominated longtime 16th district CongressmanFrank T. Bow as theUnited States Ambassador to Panama, which opened the door for Regula to run for the seat.[4] Regula went on to win 18 terms in Congress.
Regula was ranking minority member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee for Labor, Health, Human Services and Education funding in the 110th Congress. The subcommittee's budget, the largest discretionary domestic account, was over $140 billion. Regula, a former teacher and principal, was a Congressional leader in pushing for alternative solutions in improving reading skills, developing teacher training and increasingPell Grant funding so that poorer and middle class students can obtain two and four year degrees. He increased by millions of dollars the amount of federal money committed to research in fighting cancer, heart disease and birth defects.[5] Regula was a member of the moderateRepublican Main Street Partnership and supported stem cell research.
Regula was also a Congressional leader in alternative energy sources. He was an early champion of fuel cell technology and he has directed federal funding back to his home state, Ohio, which is recognized as a national leader in fuel cell research and development.
Beginning in 1975, Regulablocked the renaming of Mount McKinley inAlaska, named for PresidentWilliam McKinley, toDenali. This was, in part, becauseCanton, McKinley's long-time hometown and resting place, fell within the boundaries of Regula's congressional district.[6] The name was eventually changed in 2015. Regula described the change as a "political stunt" by President Obama and called it "ridiculous" while also calling the President "a dictator."[7]
With his seat on the appropriations committee, he was able to use federal funds to establish and protect parks and trails in his district. He earmarked $200 million for the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area, now theCuyahoga Valley National Park.[8] In 2003, theStark County Park District voted to rename the 25 miles of theOhio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail within Stark County the "Congressman Ralph Regula Towpath Trail". It was announced at the dedication of a 150-foot-long tunnel section of the trail paid by a federal grant Regula arranged. "You really did catch me by surprise," Regula said. The park district honored Regula for his continued support in Congress for the Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway.[9][10]
His wife Mary helped create theFirst Ladies National Historic Site. After she initially raised funds to seed the museum's collection, Ralph appropriated $1.2 million to pushed development further.[11]
Regula retired from the House of Representatives when his term ended in January 2009. He was succeeded byJohn Boccieri, aDemocrat from theOhio General Assembly. After retiring from Congress, Regulajoined Dawson & Associates inWashington, D.C. as an advisor on federal budget and permitting matters.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromOhio's 16th congressional district 1973–2009 | Succeeded by |
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| People | |
