George S. Myers (judge)
Encyclopedia
George S. Myers was a Democratic lawyer from Cleveland, Ohio
, in the United States
, who served in all three branches of the Ohio
state government. He served two terms in the Ohio House of Representatives
, two terms as Ohio Secretary of State
, and finished his life as a judge on the Ohio Supreme Court.
to Albert and Hanna Neucome Myers. He was educated in public schools, and began teaching at age 16. He taught for six years, and entered the College of Wooster in 1903. He began legal studies at Western Reserve Franklin Thomas Backus School of Law
in 1907, graduated in 1910, and was admitted to the bar
in Ohio that year.
From 1910 to 1932, Myers practiced law in Cleveland, Ohio
. For three years, he was dance-hall inspector in Cleveland. In 1916 and 1918 he was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives
from Cuyahoga County
. After leaving the House in 1921, he returned to private practice in Cleveland.
Myers failed in a bid for Ohio's 20th congressional district
in 1922. He also lost election in 1928 for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
. In 1930, he entered the Democratic primary for the United States Senate
, but again lost. November, 1932 he was elected to Ohio Secretary of State
, seated January 9, 1933, and was re-elected in 1934.
Myers was encouraged to run for Ohio Governor in 1936, but instead ran for a full six year term on the Ohio Supreme Court. He won, and was the first candidate for the Supreme Court to win more than one million votes. He was seated January 1, 1937, and served the rest of his life.
Myers worked a full day at the court May 9, 1940, went home, had a heart attack, and died. He was a Lutheran, but had his funeral at Trinity Episcopal Church (Columbus, Ohio). He was buried at Trinity Cemetery in Rising Sun.
Myers married Louise Birch of Lexington, Kentucky
in 1915, and they had two children. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias
.
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, who served in all three branches of the Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
state government. He served two terms in the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
, two terms as Ohio Secretary of State
Ohio Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is responsible for overseeing elections in the State of Ohio. The Secretary of State also is responsible for registering business entities and granting them the authority to do business within the state, registering secured transactions, and granting access to public...
, and finished his life as a judge on the Ohio Supreme Court.
Biography
George S. Myers was born in 1881 in Rising Sun, Sandusky County, OhioSandusky County, Ohio
Sandusky County is a county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 60,944. Its county seat is Fremont and it is named for a native word meaning "water" ....
to Albert and Hanna Neucome Myers. He was educated in public schools, and began teaching at age 16. He taught for six years, and entered the College of Wooster in 1903. He began legal studies at Western Reserve Franklin Thomas Backus School of Law
Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Case Western Reserve University Franklin Thomas Backus School of Law is the law school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. It opened in 1892, making it one of the oldest law schools in the country. It was one of the first schools accredited by the American Bar Association and was...
in 1907, graduated in 1910, and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in Ohio that year.
From 1910 to 1932, Myers practiced law in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. For three years, he was dance-hall inspector in Cleveland. In 1916 and 1918 he was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
from Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Cuyahoga County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. It is the most populous county in Ohio; as of the 2010 census, the population was 1,280,122. Its county seat is Cleveland. Cuyahoga County is part of Greater Cleveland, a metropolitan area, and Northeast Ohio, a...
. After leaving the House in 1921, he returned to private practice in Cleveland.
Myers failed in a bid for Ohio's 20th congressional district
Ohio's 20th congressional district
The 20th Congressional district of Ohio was created after the 1840 census. It was eliminated in the redistricting following the 1990 census, and redistricted and renumbered as the 10th district.-List of representatives:-Election results:...
in 1922. He also lost election in 1928 for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
The position of lieutenant governor of Ohio was established in 1852. The lieutenant governor becomes governor if the governor resigns, dies in office or is removed by impeachment. Before 1852, the president of the Ohio State Senate would serve as acting governor if a vacancy in the governorship...
. In 1930, he entered the Democratic primary for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, but again lost. November, 1932 he was elected to Ohio Secretary of State
Ohio Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is responsible for overseeing elections in the State of Ohio. The Secretary of State also is responsible for registering business entities and granting them the authority to do business within the state, registering secured transactions, and granting access to public...
, seated January 9, 1933, and was re-elected in 1934.
Myers was encouraged to run for Ohio Governor in 1936, but instead ran for a full six year term on the Ohio Supreme Court. He won, and was the first candidate for the Supreme Court to win more than one million votes. He was seated January 1, 1937, and served the rest of his life.
Myers worked a full day at the court May 9, 1940, went home, had a heart attack, and died. He was a Lutheran, but had his funeral at Trinity Episcopal Church (Columbus, Ohio). He was buried at Trinity Cemetery in Rising Sun.
Myers married Louise Birch of Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
in 1915, and they had two children. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias
Knights of Pythias
The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society founded at Washington, DC, on 19 February 1864.The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. It was founded by Justus H. Rathbone, who had been...
.