Ralph Regula facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ralph Regula
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 16th district |
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| In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Frank Bow |
| Succeeded by | John Boccieri |
| Member of the Ohio Senate from the 29th district |
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| In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1973 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Richard Reichel |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ralph Straus Regula
December 3, 1924 Beach City, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | July 19, 2017 (aged 92) Bethlehem Township, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mary Rogusky |
| Education | University of Mount Union (BA) William McKinley School of Law (LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1944–1946 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Ralph Straus Regula (born December 3, 1924 – died July 19, 2017) was an important American politician from Ohio. He was a member of the Republican Party. Regula served in different government roles, including the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio State Senate. He also represented Ohio's 16th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for many years, from 1973 to 2009. He was known for his long service in Congress.
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Early Life and Military Service
Ralph Regula was born in Beach City, Ohio, on December 3, 1924. He served in the United States Navy during World War II. After the war, he went to Mount Union College using a special program for veterans called the GI Bill.
While at Mount Union, he met Mary Rogusky, who later became his wife. After graduating in 1948, he worked as a schoolteacher. At the same time, he studied law at the William McKinley College of Law in Canton.
Ralph Regula's Political Journey
Regula began his political career by being elected to the Ohio Board of Education. He served there from 1960 to 1964. After that, he was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1964. He served one term before winning a seat in the State Senate.
In 1972, the Congressman for Ohio's 16th district, Frank T. Bow, was nominated to be an ambassador. This opened the way for Regula to run for the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Regula won and served 18 terms in Congress.
Supporting Education and Health
In Congress, Ralph Regula was a key member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee. This group decides how to spend a large part of the government's money on things like labor, health, human services, and education. Regula, who used to be a teacher, worked hard to improve reading skills and teacher training.
He also helped increase funding for Pell Grants. These grants help students from lower and middle-income families pay for college. Regula also helped get millions of dollars for research to fight serious diseases like cancer and heart disease.
Focus on Energy and Environment
Regula was a leader in Congress who supported new ways to create energy. He was an early supporter of fuel cell technology. He helped direct federal money to Ohio, which became a leader in fuel cell research.
He also used his position to help establish and protect parks and trails in his home district. He helped secure $200 million for the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area, which is now the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. In 2003, a trail in Stark County was renamed the "Congressman Ralph Regula Towpath Trail" to honor his support.
Protecting Historical Sites
Ralph Regula's wife, Mary, played a big role in creating the First Ladies National Historic Site. This site helps people learn about the wives of U.S. presidents. Mary raised money to start the museum's collection. Ralph then helped by getting $1.2 million in federal funds to develop the site further.
Mount McKinley Naming Dispute
Starting in 1975, Regula worked to prevent the renaming of Mount McKinley in Alaska. This mountain was named after President William McKinley. Regula wanted to keep the name because McKinley's hometown, Canton, Ohio, was in Regula's congressional district. The mountain's name was eventually changed to Denali in 2015.
Retirement from Congress
Ralph Regula retired from the House of Representatives in January 2009. He was succeeded by John Boccieri. After retiring, Regula became an advisor on federal budget matters in Washington, D.C.
See also
- List of United States representatives from Ohio
