Harry Meshel
Encyclopedia
Harry Meshel is a former American Democrat politician who served as the president of the Ohio State Senate and chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party
. Meshel is noted for his legislative efforts on behalf of the disabled, economic development, and solid and hazardous waste disposal.
to Meshel. He graduated from East High School in 1941.
Meshel served in the Naval Construction Battalion, or SeeBees, during the Second World War
from 1943 to 1946. He was awarded two Bronze Battle Stars
for the battle of Leyte Gulf
in 1944. He earned a bachelor's degree in business from Youngstown College
in 1949. As an undergraduate, he was Student Council president and vice president of the senior class. Meshel received a master's degree in urban land economics from Columbia University
in 1950. That same year he became a limited instructor at Youngstown College, while also working in investment, real estate, and insurance.
He married the former Judy Lazich on July 25, 1948. They have two children, Barry and Melanie.
director in 1969. Meshel entered electoral politics in 1970, when he ran for a seat in the Ohio State Senate. In 1971, he was elected to the 33rd District of the Ohio Senate, and he was re-elected five times. Meshel became the Senate's majority whip and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
In 1980, Meshel ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives
but lost to Republican incumbent Lyle Williams
. That same year, the Democrats lost the majority in the state Senate and Meshel replaced Oliver Ocasek
, who had been president of the Ohio Senate, as the party's leader in the senate. Meshel served as minority leader from 1981 to 1982.
During his five terms in the Ohio Senate, Meshel was credited with helping to secure almost $150 million in capital improvements for Youngstown State University. In addition, he secured more than $160 million in grants and loans from the Ohio Department of Development for economic development projects. Meshel also worked to create the Northeastern Universities College of Medicine, the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Ohio University
, the Wright State University
School of Professional psychology, and other programs.
Since 1994, Meshel has also been a supervisor for the International Boxing Council
.
In 1993, Meshel resigned from the Ohio Senate to become chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party
, a position he held until 1995. In May 2007, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland
named Meshel to a nine-year term as a trustee of Youngstown State University. He also works as a lobbyist.
He was honored for spearheading the creation of the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor, which celebrated its 15th anniversary in September 2007.
Ohio Democratic Party
The Ohio Democratic Party is the Ohio affiliate to the United States Democratic Party. Former Ohio House Minority Leader Chris Redfern is the Ohio Democratic Party chairman. Redfern was elected to office in December 2005...
. Meshel is noted for his legislative efforts on behalf of the disabled, economic development, and solid and hazardous waste disposal.
Early years
He was born on June 14, 1924, to Greek-American parents, Rubena (Markakis) and Angelo Michelakis (sometimes spelled Mechilakis), whose surname was AmericanizedAmericanization
Americanization is the influence of the United States on the popular culture, technology, business practices, or political techniques of other countries. The term has been used since at least 1907. Inside the U.S...
to Meshel. He graduated from East High School in 1941.
Meshel served in the Naval Construction Battalion, or SeeBees, during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
from 1943 to 1946. He was awarded two Bronze Battle Stars
Service star
A service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a United States military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medals, service...
for the battle of Leyte Gulf
Leyte Gulf
Leyte Gulf is a body of water immediately east of the island of Leyte in the Philippines, adjoining the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean, at . The Gulf is bounded on the north by the island of Samar, which is separated from Leyte on the west by the narrow San Juanico Strait, and on the south by...
in 1944. He earned a bachelor's degree in business from Youngstown College
Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University, founded in 1908, is an urban research university located in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. As of fall 2010, there were 15,194 students and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. It is recognized as being one of the premier schools in the country, comparable to Ivy League...
in 1949. As an undergraduate, he was Student Council president and vice president of the senior class. Meshel received a master's degree in urban land economics from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1950. That same year he became a limited instructor at Youngstown College, while also working in investment, real estate, and insurance.
He married the former Judy Lazich on July 25, 1948. They have two children, Barry and Melanie.
Political career
In the 1960s, Meshel waged two unsuccessful campaigns for Mahoning County commissioner. He became an administrative assistant to Youngstown Mayor Anthony Flask in 1964, and served as urban renewalUrban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
director in 1969. Meshel entered electoral politics in 1970, when he ran for a seat in the Ohio State Senate. In 1971, he was elected to the 33rd District of the Ohio Senate, and he was re-elected five times. Meshel became the Senate's majority whip and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
In 1980, Meshel ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
but lost to Republican incumbent Lyle Williams
Lyle Williams
Lyle Williams was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.Born in Philippi, he attended the public schools of North Bloomfield, Ohio. He served in the United States Army Reserve from 1960 to 1968, and then worked as a barber...
. That same year, the Democrats lost the majority in the state Senate and Meshel replaced Oliver Ocasek
Oliver Ocasek
Oliver Robert Ocasek was an American politician of the Democratic party who served as President of the Ohio State Senate from 1979–1981 and serving as Senator from Summit County and the Twenty Seventh District from 1959 until 1986.A former high school principal, he won election over the incumbent...
, who had been president of the Ohio Senate, as the party's leader in the senate. Meshel served as minority leader from 1981 to 1982.
During his five terms in the Ohio Senate, Meshel was credited with helping to secure almost $150 million in capital improvements for Youngstown State University. In addition, he secured more than $160 million in grants and loans from the Ohio Department of Development for economic development projects. Meshel also worked to create the Northeastern Universities College of Medicine, the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
, the Wright State University
Wright State University
Wright State University is a comprehensive public university with strong doctoral, research, and undergraduate programs, rated among the 260 Best National Universities listed in the annual "America's Best Colleges" rankings by U.S. News and World Report. Wright State is located in Fairborn, Ohio,...
School of Professional psychology, and other programs.
Boxing
Meshel helped create the Ohio Boxing Commission, which eventually morphed into the Ohio Athletic Commission.Since 1994, Meshel has also been a supervisor for the International Boxing Council
International Boxing Council
The International Boxing Council is a boxing organization. The IBC titles are often the beginning for professional boxers who progress to high prestigious titles....
.
Later years
In 1986, YSU named its new technology center as "Meshel Hall" in his honor, as he helped secure funding for the project. In 1994, he received the YSU Distinguished Alumni Award.In 1993, Meshel resigned from the Ohio Senate to become chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party
Ohio Democratic Party
The Ohio Democratic Party is the Ohio affiliate to the United States Democratic Party. Former Ohio House Minority Leader Chris Redfern is the Ohio Democratic Party chairman. Redfern was elected to office in December 2005...
, a position he held until 1995. In May 2007, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland
Ted Strickland
Theodore "Ted" Strickland was the 68th Governor of Ohio, serving from 2007 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the United States House of Representatives, representing ....
named Meshel to a nine-year term as a trustee of Youngstown State University. He also works as a lobbyist.
He was honored for spearheading the creation of the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor, which celebrated its 15th anniversary in September 2007.
See also
- Election Results, U.S. Representative from Ohio, 19th District