Frank John Lausche, born on November 14, 1895, in Cleveland, Ohio, was an American Democratic politician who had a long and distinguished career in public service. He was the son of Slovenian immigrants Louis and Frances (Milavec) Lausche, and he grew up in Cleveland, attending St. Vitus Grade School and St. Francis Grade School before completing his high school education by correspondence.
His early life was marked by hardship when he had to drop out of school at the age of 16 to help support his family after his older brother died.
Despite these challenges, he pursued a career in baseball, playing as a third baseman for the amateur White Motor team, which won a national championship. He was later recruited by the Duluth White Sox in the Class D Northern League, but his career in baseball was short-lived due to his difficulty hitting curveballs.
Full Name | Frank Lausche |
Other Name | Frank John Lausche |
Gender | Male |
Profession | Former United States Senator |
Date of Birth | 14-November-1895 (94 years) |
Birth Location | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S |
Death Time | 21-April-1990 |
Death Location | Cleveland, Ohio, United States |
Frank Lausche then enlisted in the United States Army during World War I, where his high batting average earned him a promotion to second lieutenant and spared him from being sent to the front lines.
After the war, Frank Lausche graduated from John Marshall Law School and passed the bar in 1925. He worked at the firm of Locher, Green, and Woods, where he was encouraged to enter politics by Cyrus Locher.
He was appointed and then elected judge in Cleveland Municipal Court from 1932 to 1935, and he served in Common Pleas Court from 1936 to 1941, where he helped close down gambling houses in Newburgh Heights.
His political career continued to rise when he was elected Mayor of Cleveland in 1941, becoming the first mayor of Eastern European descent. During his tenure, he oversaw the city's takeover of the Cleveland Railway system and the organization of the Cleveland Transit System.
He also organized the Post War Planning Council to coordinate future planning in labor, health, transportation, and racial toleration. He served two terms as mayor before being elected Governor of Ohio in 1944 and again in 1948, serving until 1956.
In 1956, Frank Lausche was elected to the United States Senate, where he served two terms from 1957 to 1969. Known for his independence and integrity, he often operated outside the Democratic Party, refusing to campaign for other Democratic candidates. After retiring from the Senate, he remained in the Washington D.C. area practicing law until 1990 when he returned to Cleveland and moved into the Slovene Home for the Aged.
Frank Lausche married Jane O. Sheal in 1928, and they had no children. Jane passed away in 1981, and Lausche remained in Washington until his return to Cleveland. He passed away on April 21, 1990, at the age of 94, and was interred at Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland.
Frank Lausche was 94 years old
Frank Lausche was born on 14-November-1895
Frank Lausche was born in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S
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