Harry P. Jeffrey
Encyclopedia
Harry Palmer Jeffrey was an attorney and member of the United States House of Representatives
from Ohio
.
, the son of a department store manager, Samuel Jeffrey and his wife Grace. Harry Jeffrey attended Dayton's Patterson Grade School and graduated from Steele High School. He was graduated from Ohio State University
at Columbus in 1924, and from the College of Law of the same university in 1926.
Harry P. Jeffrey was admitted to the bar in 1926 and commenced practice in Columbus, Ohio
. He moved back to Dayton in 1927 and continued the practice of law, joining the firm of Iddings & Iddings to form Iddings & Jeffrey. Jeffrey built on their practice providing legal services to entrepreneurs and business enterprises by expanding into litigation, personal injury and divorce
.
Jeffrey was a second lieutenant
in the United States Army Reserve
Corps from 1927 to 1930.
He became special assistant attorney general
of Ohio from 1933 to 1936. In the 1942 mid-term election, Harry P. Jeffrey was elected as a Republican
to the Seventy-eighth Congress from Ohio's 3rd congressional district
. As a member of the House Veterans Committee
, Harry Jeffrey was one of several authors of the G. I. Bill of Rights, which provided benefits to veterans returning from World War II
, including loans that enabled military veterans to get a college education. He was unsuccessful in his bid for reelection in 1944.
After his congressional service, Harry P. Jeffrey resumed the practice of law in Dayton until his retirement in the 1980s. He argued a case before the United States Supreme Court and became a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers
. Jeffrey was president of the Dayton Bar Association from 1954 to 1955.
Governor James A. Rhodes appointed Harry P. Jeffrey to the Advisory Committee of the Wright State Campus of Miami and Ohio State Universities in 1965. When that campus became a full fledged university, Harry Jeffrey was a trustee
of Wright State University
from 1967 to 1977. In 1976, he served as chair of the WSU Board of Trustees and retired from the Board in September 1977. He also served on the University Foundation Board of Directors for many years as secretary and then from 1981–83 as president. A scholarship
in his memory was established at Wright State.
He was a founding member of Fairmont Presbyterian Church in Kettering, Ohio
. Harry P. Jeffrey died at Dayton Hospice at the age of 95. He is interred with his wife Susan (1912-1986) at Woodland Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio
.
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...
from 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...
.
Biography
Harry P. Jeffrey was born in Dayton, OhioDayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, the son of a department store manager, Samuel Jeffrey and his wife Grace. Harry Jeffrey attended Dayton's Patterson Grade School and graduated from Steele High School. He was graduated from Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
at Columbus in 1924, and from the College of Law of the same university in 1926.
Harry P. Jeffrey was admitted to the bar in 1926 and commenced practice in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. He moved back to Dayton in 1927 and continued the practice of law, joining the firm of Iddings & Iddings to form Iddings & Jeffrey. Jeffrey built on their practice providing legal services to entrepreneurs and business enterprises by expanding into litigation, personal injury and divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
.
Jeffrey was a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the United States Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
Corps from 1927 to 1930.
He became special assistant attorney general
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
of Ohio from 1933 to 1936. In the 1942 mid-term election, Harry P. Jeffrey was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Seventy-eighth Congress from Ohio's 3rd congressional district
Ohio's 3rd congressional district
Ohio's 3rd congressional district includes most of the city of Dayton and its surrounding suburbs and exurbs. It is currently represented by Representative Mike Turner.-List of representatives:-Selected election results:...
. As a member of the House Veterans Committee
United States House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
The standing Committee on Veterans' Affairs in the United States House of Representatives oversees agencies, reviews current legislation, and recommends new bills or amendments concerning veterans. Jurisdiction includes retiring and disability pensions, life insurance, education , vocational...
, Harry Jeffrey was one of several authors of the G. I. Bill of Rights, which provided benefits to veterans returning from World War II
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...
, including loans that enabled military veterans to get a college education. He was unsuccessful in his bid for reelection in 1944.
After his congressional service, Harry P. Jeffrey resumed the practice of law in Dayton until his retirement in the 1980s. He argued a case before the United States Supreme Court and became a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers
American College of Trial Lawyers
The American College of Trial Lawyers is a professional association of trial lawyers from the United States and Canada. Founded in 1950, the College is dedicated to maintaining and improving the standards of trial practice, the administration of justice and the ethics of the profession...
. Jeffrey was president of the Dayton Bar Association from 1954 to 1955.
Governor James A. Rhodes appointed Harry P. Jeffrey to the Advisory Committee of the Wright State Campus of Miami and Ohio State Universities in 1965. When that campus became a full fledged university, Harry Jeffrey was a trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
of 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,...
from 1967 to 1977. In 1976, he served as chair of the WSU Board of Trustees and retired from the Board in September 1977. He also served on the University Foundation Board of Directors for many years as secretary and then from 1981–83 as president. A scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
in his memory was established at Wright State.
He was a founding member of Fairmont Presbyterian Church in Kettering, Ohio
Kettering, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 57,502 people, 25,657 households, and 15,727 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,077.4 people per square mile . There were 26,936 housing units at an average density of 1,441.6 per square mile...
. Harry P. Jeffrey died at Dayton Hospice at the age of 95. He is interred with his wife Susan (1912-1986) at Woodland Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio
Woodland Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio
Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum , located at 118 Woodland Avenue, Dayton, Ohio, is one of the oldest "garden" cemeteries in the United States....
.
Sources
- "Longtime Lawyer Jeffrey Dies." Dayton Daily NewsDayton Daily NewsThe Dayton Daily News is a daily newspaper published in Dayton, Ohio. It is owned by Cox Enterprises. In the 2010 Associated Press Society of Ohio newspaper competition that takes place every year, DaytonDailyNews.com was named "the best large-newspaper web site in Ohio".-History:On August 15,...
, January 5, 1997, Page 2B. - “Harry P. Jeffrey -- Ohio Congressman”, The Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, January 10, 1997, Page B7.