Del Latta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Del Latta
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 5th district |
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| In office January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1989 |
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| Preceded by | Cliff Clevenger |
| Succeeded by | Paul Gillmor |
| Member of the Ohio State Senate | |
| In office 1953–1958 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Delbert Leroy Latta
March 5, 1920 Weston, Ohio, US |
| Died | May 12, 2016 (aged 96) Bowling Green, Ohio, US |
| Resting place | Union Cemetery, McComb, Ohio, US |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Rose Mary Kiene |
| Children | 2, including Bob |
| Residences | Bowling Green, Ohio, US |
| Alma mater | Findlay College Ohio Northern University |
Delbert Leroy Latta (born March 5, 1920 – died May 12, 2016) was an American lawyer and politician. He served for 15 terms as a U.S. Representative for Ohio's 5th district. This means he represented the people of that area in the U.S. government from 1959 to 1989.
As a member of the Republican Party, he was one of Ohio's longest-serving politicians. His son, Bob Latta, has held the same congressional seat since 2007, following in his father's footsteps.
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Delbert Latta's Early Life and Career
Delbert Latta was born in Weston, Ohio. He grew up and went to public schools in North Baltimore, Ohio, and graduated from McComb High School in 1938. He then went to Findlay College and Ohio Northern University, where he earned degrees in law and arts.
Before his political career, Latta served in the Ohio National Guard and the United States Army from 1938 to 1941. He also served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1942 and 1943. After his military service, he became a lawyer in 1944. He also taught at Ohio Northern University.
From 1953 to 1958, Del Latta was a member of the Ohio Senate, which is part of Ohio's state government. He served three terms there. In 1968, he was a delegate at the 1968 Republican National Convention, where the Republican Party chose its candidate for president.
Del Latta's Time in Congress
Delbert Latta was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1959. He served for 30 years, until 1989. During his time in Congress, he worked on important committees like the Agriculture Committee and the Rules Committee.
He was also chosen to be on the House Judiciary Committee during the Watergate scandal hearings. These hearings looked into whether President Richard Nixon should be removed from office. Latta was one of ten representatives who supported President Nixon at first, voting against the charges. However, when new evidence came out (known as the "smoking gun tape"), Latta changed his mind. He said that the new information showed they "certainly weren't given the truth" by the White House. He then decided he would vote to remove the president from office.
Latta also became the top Republican member on the House Budget Committee from 1975 until he retired in 1989.
In 1981, he helped create an important law called the Gramm-Latta Omnibus Reconciliation Bill. This law was a big part of President Ronald Reagan's economic plan. It included increasing money for the military and making some cuts in government spending. It also led to a major tax cut law called the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981.
Del Latta's Legacy
In 2003, the Post Office building in Bowling Green, Ohio, was named the Delbert L. Latta Post Office Building. This was done by a special law, Public Law 108-50, to honor his long service.
Personal Life
Delbert Latta was married to Rose Mary Kiene. They had two children, Rose Ellen and Robert. Robert, also known as Bob, now holds the same congressional seat that his father once did. Delbert and Rose Mary also had five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Death
Delbert Latta passed away in Bowling Green, Ohio, on May 12, 2016.
