Dick Celeste facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dick Celeste
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Cropped portion of 1982 Celeste in '82 campaign poster
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| United States Ambassador to India | |
| In office November 28, 1997 – April 25, 2001 |
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| President | Bill Clinton George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Frank G. Wisner |
| Succeeded by | Robert Blackwill |
| 64th Governor of Ohio | |
| In office January 10, 1983 – January 14, 1991 |
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| Lieutenant | Myrl Shoemaker (Vacant 1985–1987) Paul Leonard |
| Preceded by | Jim Rhodes |
| Succeeded by | George Voinovich |
| Director of the Peace Corps | |
| In office April 27, 1979 – January 20, 1981 |
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| President | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Carolyn R. Payton |
| Succeeded by | Loret Ruppe |
| 55th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio | |
| In office January 13, 1975 – January 8, 1979 |
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| Governor | Jim Rhodes |
| Preceded by | John Brown |
| Succeeded by | George Voinovich |
| Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 5th district |
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| In office January 3, 1971 – December 31, 1974 |
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| Preceded by | Mark C. Schinnerer |
| Succeeded by | Francine Panehal |
| 12th President of Colorado College | |
| In office 2002 – July 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Kathryn Mohrman |
| Succeeded by | Jill Tiefenthaler |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Richard Frank Celeste
November 11, 1937 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
Dagmar Braun
(m. 1962; div. 1995)Jacqueline Lundquist
(m. 1995) |
| Children | 7 |
| Education | Yale University (BA) Exeter College, Oxford |
Richard Frank Celeste (born November 11, 1937), known as Dick Celeste, is an American politician, diplomat, and university leader from Ohio. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He served as the 64th governor of Ohio from 1983 to 1991. He was the last Democrat to win re-election as Ohio Governor.
Contents
Early Life and Political Beginnings
Celeste was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up in Lakewood, Ohio. His father, Frank Palm Celeste, was born in Italy. Dick Celeste graduated from Lakewood High School in 1955. In 1959, he graduated with high honors from Yale University. He was also a member of a special academic honor society called Phi Beta Kappa.
Studying Abroad and Early Work
After Yale, Celeste received a Rhodes Scholarship. This allowed him to study at Exeter College, Oxford at Oxford University in England. While there, he met Dagmar Ingrid Braun, whom he married in Austria in 1962. After returning to the United States, Celeste worked for the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps is a program where Americans volunteer to help people in other countries.
Entering Ohio Politics
In 1970, Celeste was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives. This is a group of lawmakers who create laws for the state of Ohio. His district included parts of Cleveland and Lakewood, where his father had once been mayor. In 1974, he was elected the 55th lieutenant governor of Ohio. At that time, the lieutenant governor was elected separately from the governor. This meant they could be from different political parties. Celeste served under Republican Governor Jim Rhodes. In 1978, Celeste ran for governor but lost to Governor Rhodes.
Leading the Peace Corps
From 1979 to 1981, President Jimmy Carter appointed Celeste to be the Director of the Peace Corps. In this role, he was in charge of Peace Corps programs in 53 different countries around the world.
Serving as Governor of Ohio
In 1982, Dick Celeste ran for governor again and won. He defeated the Republican candidate, Clarence J. "Bud" Brown Jr. In 1986, he was re-elected, defeating former governor James Rhodes. Celeste served as governor of Ohio from 1983 to 1991. In 1988, he was the Chairman of the Midwestern Governors Association.
Key Achievements as Governor
As governor, Celeste worked to improve many areas in Ohio. He increased support for human services, which help people with mental health and addiction recovery. He also increased funding for education and services for children. Before he became governor, Ohio was not spending as much as other states on these programs.
Celeste also made history by hiring more women and African Americans for important government jobs than all previous governors combined. He also allowed state employee unions to negotiate their wages and benefits. Near the end of his time as governor, he changed the sentences of some prisoners from death to life in prison. This included some women who had been convicted of crimes after experiencing abuse.
Life at the Governor's Residence
During his time as governor, the Governor's Residence became a lively place. It hosted art exhibits, music concerts, and special gatherings. There were also Christmas and Hanukkah parties for children from the neighborhood. The gardens at the Residence were also improved.
After Being Governor
After leaving the governor's office, Celeste started a consulting firm called Celeste & Sabety Ltd. in Columbus, Ohio. In 1993, he helped with the Democratic Party's healthcare campaign.
Ambassador to India
From 1997 to 2001, President Bill Clinton appointed him as the United States Ambassador to India. This meant he represented the U.S. government in India.
Continuing Public Service
Celeste has continued to be involved in public service. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, which is a group that studies foreign policy. He also co-chairs the Homeland Security Project for The Century Foundation. This project focuses on keeping the country safe. He is also on the board of directors for Battelle for Kids, a group that helps improve education for students by supporting teachers. In 2020, Celeste and another former governor, Bob Taft, were asked to lead a group to help expand COVID-19 testing in Ohio during the pandemic.
President of Colorado College
In 2002, Celeste became the 12th President of Colorado College. This is a private college in Colorado.
Achievements at Colorado College
During his time as president, Celeste helped raise $200 million for the college. This money was used for things like improving buildings and providing scholarships for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. He also helped add 20 new teaching positions and increased the number of students who applied to the college. He oversaw major renovations of campus buildings and the construction of a new arts center.
Celeste was known for bringing the college and the local community closer together. He retired as President of Colorado College in July 2011.
Personal Life
Dick Celeste had six children with his first wife, Dagmar. They divorced in 1995. He is now married to Jacqueline Lundquist, and they have one child named Sam. Celeste has 13 grandchildren. His brother, Ted Celeste, also served in the Ohio House of Representatives.
In 2022, Celeste published his autobiography, a book about his life, called In the Heart of it All: An Unvarnished Account of My Life in Public Service.
Legacy and Honors
Several places have been named in honor of Dick Celeste:
- The Celeste Center at the Ohio Expo Center and State Fair in Columbus, Ohio.
- The Richard F. Celeste Laboratory of Chemistry at The Ohio State University.
- The Richard F. Celeste Theater at the Cornerstone Arts Center of Colorado College.
See also
- Ohio gubernatorial elections
