Harry Meshel
824810
218040084
2008-06-08T21:59:18Z
Bearcat
24902
{{Infobox Person
| name = Harry Meshel
| image = Replace this image male.svg
| image_size = 200px
| birth_date = 1924
| birth_place = [[Youngstown, Ohio]]
| death_date =
| occupation = Political leader
}}
'''Harry Meshel''' (born 1924 in [[Youngstown, Ohio]]) is a former [[United States of America|American]] politician who served as a [[United States Democratic Party|Democrat]] in the [[Ohio State Senate]]. Meshel is noted for his legislative efforts on behalf of the disabled, economic development, and solid and hazardous waste disposal.<ref name="vindy-07-14-93"/>
== Early years ==
He was born into a [[Greek-American]] family<ref name="hellenic">{{cite web | url = http://www.helleniccomserve.com/hellenicprojectfundraiser.html | title = Hellenic Project | publisher = Helleniccomserve.com | accessdate = 2007-11-14}}</ref> and worked in a steel mill in his youth. Following naval service during the [[World War II|Second World War]], Meshel earned a bachelor's degree in business from [[Youngstown State University|Youngstown College]] and a master's degree in urban land economics from [[Columbia University]]. In 1950, he became a limited instructor at Youngstown College, while also working in investment, real estate, and insurance.<ref name="vindy-07-14-93">
{{cite news
| first = Mark
| last = Niquette
| title = Dinner fetes Harry Meshel: Meshel's Senate career was marked by his work on behalf of the handicapped, economic development and YSU, colleagues say
| work = The Vindicator
| date = [[July 14]], [[1993]]
}}</ref>
== Political career ==
In the 1960s, Meshel waged two unsuccessful campaigns for Mahoning County commissioner.<ref name="vindy-07-14-93"/> He became an administrative assistant to Youngstown Mayor Anthony Flask in 1964, and served as [[urban renewal]] director in 1969.<ref name="vindy-07-14-93"/> 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.<ref name="vindy-07-14-93"/> Meshel became the Senate's majority whip and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.<ref name="vindy-07-14-93"/>
In 1980, Meshel ran for a seat in the [[United States House of Representatives]] but lost to [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] incumbent [[Lyle Williams]].<ref name="vindy-07-14-93"/> That same year, the Democrats lost the majority in the state Senate and Meshel replaced [[Oliver Ocasek]], who had been [[List of Presidents of the Ohio Senate|president of the Ohio Senate]], as the party's leader in the senate. Meshel served as minority leader from 1981 to 1982.<ref name="vindy-07-14-93"/>
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.<ref name="vindy-07-14-93"/> In addition, he secured more than $160 million in grants and loans from the Ohio Department of Development for economic development projects.<ref name="vindy-07-14-93"/> Meshel also worked to create the Northeastern Universities College of Medicine, the College of [[Osteopathic medicine in the United States|Osteopathic Medicine]] at [[Ohio University]], the [[Wright State University]] School of Professional psychology, and other programs.<ref name="vindy-07-14-93"/>
== Later years ==
In 1993, Meshel resigned from the Ohio Senate<ref name="vindy-07-14-93"/> to become chairman of the [[Ohio Democratic Party]], a position he held until 1995. Meshel currently works as a lobbyist and also serves as a trustee of Youngstown State University. He was recently honored for spearheading the creation of the [[Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor]], which celebrated its 15th anniversary in September 2007.<ref name="vindy-09-28-07">
{{cite news
| first = Don
| last = Shilling
| title = Museum celebrates 15th anniversary
| work = The Vindicator
| page = A-1
| date = [[September 28]], [[2007]]
}}</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== See also ==
* [[Election Results, U.S. Representative from Ohio, 19th District]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meshel, Harry}}
[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:Ohio State Senators]]
[[Category:Greek-Americans]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Youngstown, Ohio]]