Vern Riffe

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Vern Riffe
96th Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives
In office January 6, 1975 - January 2, 1995
Preceded by	A. G. Lancione
Succeeded by	Jo Ann Davidson
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 92nd district
In office January 3, 1967 – December 31, 1994
Preceded by	District established
Succeeded by	William L. Ogg
Personal details
Born	(1925-06-25)June 25, 1925 New Boston, Ohio
Died	July 31, 1997(1997-07-31) (aged 72) Columbus, Ohio
Political party	Democratic

Vernal G. Riffe Jr. (June 26, 1925 – July 31, 1997)^[1] was an American politician of the Democratic Party. Riffe served Ohio House of Representatives for 36 years and was the longest serving speaker of that institution, holding it for 20 years.

Life and political career

Riffe was a moderate Democrat, and a strong Speaker, even bringing Republican 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

Riffe was honored by several state agencies in Ohio. The Vernal Riffe Chair, a professorship in government at

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.

Riffe's wife, Thelma L Riffe, is also deceased (August 4, 2010). Both are buried at Memorial Burial Park in Wheelersburg, Ohio.

Buildings named after

The Vern Riffe Center for the Arts is located on the Campus of Shawnee State; the Vern Riffe School located in Portsmouth, Ohio, and

Autobiography

An autobiographical book, Whatever's Fair, co-written by Cliff Treyens, a former

External links

• Ohio Historical Society
• Shawnee State University
• Vern Riffe Center for the Arts
• Official Site of the Ohio Government