Vern Riffe
Encyclopedia
Vernal G. Riffe Jr. was an American politician of the Democratic party. Riffe served for many years in the Ohio House of Representatives
and was the longest serving speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives in the history of that institution, holding that office for 20 years.
members of the House under his sway by threatening to fund the campaigns of their Democratic opponents for re-election.
Riffe, who hailed from the impoverished Appalachian Region of southeastern Ohio
fought hard to bring money for development to his corner of the state. Riffe's efforts resulted in the creation of Shawnee State University
in Portsmouth
, sometimes referred to as "Vern Riffe U." He also brought funding to southern Ohio for the building of a major highway, Ohio 32, disparaged as the "Highway to Nowhere," which starts in the countryside near Athens, Ohio
, in the east and winds its way westward across Southern Ohio, finally ending in rural Clermont County
east of Cincinnati
. At the time of its construction it traversed no major population centers, stopping short of both Cincinnati and Athens. Today, it is referred to as the Appalachian Highway or the James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway.
Riffe has been honored by several state agencies in Ohio. The Vernal Riffe Chair, a professorship in government at Ohio State University
is named after him. Ohio State's Department of Biochemistry is housed in the Vernal G. Riffe Building. The Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts, located across High Street from the Ohio Statehouse
in Downtown Columbus, provides office space for the Governor of Ohio, members of the Ohio House of Representatives
and many state agencies. The Vern Riffe Center for the Arts in Portsmouth is located at Shawnee State University.
Riffe is buried at Memorial Burial Park in Wheelersburg, Ohio
.
Riffe's son, Vernal G. "Skip" Riffe III, is a county commissioner in Scioto County, Ohio
. His grandson, Vernal G. "Nick" Riffe IV, ran for Porter Township Trustee in 2009. He finished a distant third in a field of four.
Riffe's wife continues to reside in Scioto County. His daughter Cathy E. Skiver is a retired elementary school teacher. Verna Riffe Biemel, Riffe's second daughter currently serves with the American Cancer Society and Mary Beth Hewitt, Riffe's third daughter is a former teacher.
Riffe served as a member of the Ohio House for 36 years, from 1959 to 1995 and served as speaker from 1975 until 1994. Because of his power to raise funds, Riffe's departure from the political scene was a major financial blow to the Ohio Democratic Party
.
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....
and was the longest serving speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives in the history of that institution, holding that office for 20 years.
Life and political career
Riffe, a moderate Democrat, was an exceptionally strong Speaker, even bringing RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
members of the House under his sway by threatening to fund the campaigns of their Democratic opponents for re-election.
Riffe, who hailed from the impoverished Appalachian Region of southeastern 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...
fought hard to bring money for development to his corner of the state. Riffe's efforts resulted in the creation of Shawnee State University
Shawnee State University
Shawnee State University is a public university in southern Ohio. It is Ohio's newest state-supported university and lies on the north bank of the Ohio River in the city of Portsmouth in Scioto County.Shawnee State University was established in 1986...
in Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Ohio
Portsmouth is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Scioto County. The municipality is located on the northern banks of the Ohio River and east of the Scioto River in Southern Ohio. The population was 20,226 at the 2010 census.-Foundation:...
, sometimes referred to as "Vern Riffe U." He also brought funding to southern Ohio for the building of a major highway, Ohio 32, disparaged as the "Highway to Nowhere," which starts in the countryside near Athens, Ohio
Athens, Ohio
Athens is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Athens County, Ohio, United States. It is located along the Hocking River in the southeastern part of Ohio. A historic college town, Athens is home to Ohio University and is the principal city of the Athens, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area. ...
, in the east and winds its way westward across Southern Ohio, finally ending in rural Clermont County
Clermont County, Ohio
Clermont County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States, just east of Cincinnati. As of 2010, the population was 197,363. Its county seat is Batavia...
east of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. At the time of its construction it traversed no major population centers, stopping short of both Cincinnati and Athens. Today, it is referred to as the Appalachian Highway or the James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway.
Riffe has been honored by several state agencies in Ohio. The Vernal Riffe Chair, a professorship in government at 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...
is named after him. Ohio State's Department of Biochemistry is housed in the Vernal G. Riffe Building. The Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts, located across High Street from the Ohio Statehouse
Ohio Statehouse
The Ohio Statehouse, located in Columbus, Ohio, is the house of government for the state of Ohio. The Greek Revival building houses the Ohio General Assembly and the ceremonial offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Treasurer, and Auditor....
in Downtown Columbus, provides office space for the Governor of Ohio, members of 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....
and many state agencies. The Vern Riffe Center for the Arts in Portsmouth is located at Shawnee State University.
Riffe is buried at Memorial Burial Park in Wheelersburg, Ohio
Wheelersburg, Ohio
Wheelersburg is a census-designated place in Scioto County, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1820 and was originally known as Concord. It lies along the northern banks of the Ohio River in Southern Ohio. Wheelersburg is approximately 7 miles east of Portsmouth and 14 miles west of Ironton...
.
Riffe's son, Vernal G. "Skip" Riffe III, is a county commissioner in Scioto County, Ohio
Scioto County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 79,195 people, 30,871 households, and 21,362 families residing in the county. The population density was 129 people per square mile . There were 34,054 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile...
. His grandson, Vernal G. "Nick" Riffe IV, ran for Porter Township Trustee in 2009. He finished a distant third in a field of four.
Riffe's wife continues to reside in Scioto County. His daughter Cathy E. Skiver is a retired elementary school teacher. Verna Riffe Biemel, Riffe's second daughter currently serves with the American Cancer Society and Mary Beth Hewitt, Riffe's third daughter is a former teacher.
Riffe served as a member of the Ohio House for 36 years, from 1959 to 1995 and served as speaker from 1975 until 1994. Because of his power to raise funds, Riffe's departure from the political scene was a major financial blow to the Ohio Democratic Party
Ohio Democratic Party
The Ohio Democratic Party is the Ohio affiliate to the United States Democratic Party. Former Ohio House Minority Leader Chris Redfern is the Ohio Democratic Party chairman. Redfern was elected to office in December 2005...
.