Pete Abele
Encyclopedia
Homer E. "Pete" Abele was an American politician
of the Ohio
Republican party.
Abele graduated from Wellston High School
in his birthplace of Wellston
, Ohio in 1934. From 1935 to 1936, he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps
. After that, he played baseball with the Nashville Vols
of the Southern Association
. From 1938 to 1941, he lived in Lancaster, Ohio
and McArthur, Ohio
, working for the Anchor Hocking Glass Corp. and the Austin Powder Co.
In 1941, Abele joined the Ohio State Highway Patrol
and worked as a state trooper from 1941 to 1946, except for a stint in the Army Air Corps
from 1943 to 1946.
In 1948, he earned a degree in pre-law from Ohio University
(Athens, Ohio). In 1953, he received a law degree from Ohio State University
(Columbus, Ohio).
In 1949, while still a student in law school, Abele was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives
, where he served from 1949 to 1952. In 1952, Abele joined the unsuccessful presidential campaign of Robert Taft
.
From 1953 to 1957, Abele was a lobbyist for railroad interests. In 1956, he was appointed solicitor of the village of McArthur, Ohio. In 1952, Abele attended the Republican National Convention
. In 1956, he was a delegate to the convention. From 1954 to 1957, Abele was the chairman of the Vinton County, Ohio
, Republican Executive Committee.
In 1958, Abele was the Republican nominee for U.S. representative in the 10th district. He lost to incumbent Walter H. Moeller
. In 1962, Abele challenged Moeller again and unseated him; Abele began his service in 1963 (88th Congress). However, he served only one term. In 1964, Moeller won back his seat from Abele.
In 1966, Abele was elected to the office of judge of the Ohio Court of Appeals for the Fourth District. He was re-elected in 1972, 1978, and 1984. He retired at the end of his fourth term in 1991. During his tenure, he was presiding judge from 1977 to 1978 and from 1983 to 1984. In 1978, Abele was chief justice of the Ohio Court of Appeals. Abele also occasionally sat as a visiting judge on the Ohio Supreme Court.
Abele remained a member of the Ohio State Highway Patrol Auxiliary, maintaining the rank of major
. From 1967 to 1991, every graduating class of the State Highway Patrol Academy was administered its oath of office by Abele.
He died in Hamden
, Ohio at age 83 after suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
Abele's son Peter B. Abele is currently a judge on the Fourth District Appeals Court.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
of the Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
Republican party.
Abele graduated from Wellston High School
Wellston High School (Ohio)
Wellston High School is a public high school in Wellston, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Wellston City School District. The school's nickname is the Golden Rockets and the school's official colors are blue and gold.-Famous alumni:...
in his birthplace of Wellston
Wellston, Ohio
Wellston is a city in Jackson County, Ohio, United States, in the southeastern part of the state. Founded in 1873 as an iron and coal producing center, the city was named after founder Harvey Wells, a member of the Ohio Constitutional Convention. The city was incorporated in 1876. The population...
, Ohio in 1934. From 1935 to 1936, he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
. After that, he played baseball with the Nashville Vols
Nashville Vols
The Nashville Vols were a minor league baseball team based in Nashville, Tennessee from 1901 to 1963; the team was inactive in 1962. Known as the Nashville Baseball Club during their first seven seasons, they were officially named the Nashville Volunteers in 1908 for the state's nickname, The...
of the Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
. From 1938 to 1941, he lived in Lancaster, Ohio
Lancaster, Ohio
Lancaster is a city in Fairfield County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,780. It is located near the Hocking River, approximately southeast of Columbus, Ohio. It is the county seat of Fairfield County...
and McArthur, Ohio
McArthur, Ohio
McArthur is a village in Vinton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,888 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Vinton County.-Geography:McArthur is located at ....
, working for the Anchor Hocking Glass Corp. and the Austin Powder Co.
In 1941, Abele joined the Ohio State Highway Patrol
Ohio State Highway Patrol
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety and is the official highway patrol agency of Ohio. The several missions of the Patrol include providing roadway patrol, emergency response to all public lands, the investigation of crimes which occur on state...
and worked as a state trooper from 1941 to 1946, except for a stint in the Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
from 1943 to 1946.
In 1948, he earned a degree in pre-law from Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
(Athens, Ohio). In 1953, he received a law degree from Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
(Columbus, Ohio).
In 1949, while still a student in law school, Abele was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
, where he served from 1949 to 1952. In 1952, Abele joined the unsuccessful presidential campaign of Robert Taft
Robert Taft
Robert Alphonso Taft , of the Taft political family of Cincinnati, was a Republican United States Senator and a prominent conservative statesman...
.
From 1953 to 1957, Abele was a lobbyist for railroad interests. In 1956, he was appointed solicitor of the village of McArthur, Ohio. In 1952, Abele attended the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
. In 1956, he was a delegate to the convention. From 1954 to 1957, Abele was the chairman of the Vinton County, Ohio
Vinton County, Ohio
Vinton County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 13,435. , the least populous in the state. Its county seat is McArthur. The county is named for Samuel Finley Vinton, a 19th-century United States Congressman from...
, Republican Executive Committee.
In 1958, Abele was the Republican nominee for U.S. representative in the 10th district. He lost to incumbent Walter H. Moeller
Walter H. Moeller
Walter Henry Moeller was an American politician of the Democratic party who was born in New Palestine, Indiana. He entered a Lutheran seminary in 1935 and served as a pastor in the 1940s and after his retirement from politics....
. In 1962, Abele challenged Moeller again and unseated him; Abele began his service in 1963 (88th Congress). However, he served only one term. In 1964, Moeller won back his seat from Abele.
In 1966, Abele was elected to the office of judge of the Ohio Court of Appeals for the Fourth District. He was re-elected in 1972, 1978, and 1984. He retired at the end of his fourth term in 1991. During his tenure, he was presiding judge from 1977 to 1978 and from 1983 to 1984. In 1978, Abele was chief justice of the Ohio Court of Appeals. Abele also occasionally sat as a visiting judge on the Ohio Supreme Court.
Abele remained a member of the Ohio State Highway Patrol Auxiliary, maintaining the rank of major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
. From 1967 to 1991, every graduating class of the State Highway Patrol Academy was administered its oath of office by Abele.
He died in Hamden
Hamden, Ohio
Hamden is a village in Vinton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 871 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hamden is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land....
, Ohio at age 83 after suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
Abele's son Peter B. Abele is currently a judge on the Fourth District Appeals Court.
See also
- Election Results, U.S. Representative from Ohio, 10th District
- List of United States Representatives from Ohio