Frazier Reams
Encyclopedia
Henry Frazier Reams Sr., generally known as Frazier Reams, (15 January 1897 - 15 September 1971) was an American
politician of the United States Democratic Party from Toledo, Ohio
. Reams served as a U.S. Congressman from Ohio from 1951 to 1955.
Reams was born in Franklin, Tennessee
in 1897. His father was a Methodist minister. Reams served in the United States Army
(1918-1919), with the 58th Field Artillery, during World War I
, from 1918-1919. He was discharged at the rank of lieutenant. After the war, Reams finished his degree at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, earning a bachelor's degree in 1919. In 1922, he received a law degree from Vanderbilt University
.
In 1920, Reams was licensed to practice law in Tennessee. In 1922, he moved to Toledo, Ohio
, where his brother Glenn was a medical resident at the Toledo Hospital
. Reams was admitted to the bar and practiced law with the firm Tracy, Chapman & Welles. He practiced as a lawyer while participating in Democratic politics, serving as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
in 1928, 1932, 1936, 1940, 1944, 1948, and 1956.
From 1933 to 1937, Reams served as prosecutor of Lucas County, Ohio
. During this time, Reams led a campaign to clean up Toledo and rid the city of the many gangsters and bootleggers that resided and did business there. Reams was most well known for leading the prosecution of Thomas "Yonnie" Licavoli
, A member of the Licavoli Crime Family
, who controlled bootlegging and illegal gambling operations in Detroit, Michigan
and Toledo. Licavoli was sentenced to life in prison and served a 37-year sentence at Ohio Penitentiary
starting in 1935. Gov. Martin L. Davey
appointed Reams to investigate easy prison conditions and Reams's investigation of the luxuries that Licavoli was benefitting from at the Ohio Penitentiary resulted in the dismissal of the warden.
In 1935, Reams got into a public dispute with Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge Roy R. Stuart. A grand jury convened by County Prosecutor Reams had issued indictments of two brothers of Toledo Mayor Addison Q. Thacher, a Republican, on charges related to welfare payments and bank closings. Judge Stuart ordered the dismissal of the grand jury and Reams filed an "affidavit of prejudice," which prevented Stuart from hearing any criminal matter until the accusation of prejudice could be heard.
In 1936, Reams sought the Democratic nomination for the office of Ohio Attorney General
, but he lost to Herbert S. Duffy.
In 1937, Reams formed the law firm Reams, Bretherton & Neipp. His partners were Thomas a. Bretherton and Morton Neipp, both of whom had worked for him in the prosecutor's office. From 1939 to 1945 he served on the Toledo Port Commission
. From 1942 to 1944, he was collector of internal revenue.
In 1944, Reams sought the Democratic nomination for Governor of Ohio, but he placed fourth in the contest that was won by Frank Lausche. Once Lausche won the governorship, he appointed Reams to the office of state director of public welfare, where Reams served from 1945 to 1946.
In 1950, Reams was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as an independent, beginning his service in the 82nd Congress. He served in the House
From 1951 to 1955, representing the ninth congressional district of Ohio
, being re-elected in 1952. However, in 1954, Reams was unsuccessful in his bid for a third term in Congress, losing his seat to a fellow Democrat, Thomas Ludlow Ashley.
In 1951, Reams served as a delegate to the Council of Europe
. In 1953 and 1954, he was a delegate to the Interparliamentary Union Conference.
From 1937 to 1960, Reams served on the board of the Community Broadcasting Co. (the operator of WTOL and WCWA radio and WTOL
TV), which he had founded in 1928. In 1955, Reams was one of the founding directors of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority
. From 1948 to 1957, he was a trustee of Bowling Green State University
. From 1965 until his death, he was chairman of the board of Reams Broadcasting Corp.
After his retirement, Reams moved to San Mateo, California
. He died in Oakland, California
in 1971 and was buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio.
Reams' son, Frazier Reams Jr.
, was the Democratic nominee for Ohio governor in 1966.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician of the United States Democratic Party from Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
. Reams served as a U.S. Congressman from Ohio from 1951 to 1955.
Reams was born in Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin is a city within and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 62,487 as of the 2010 census Franklin is located approximately south of downtown Nashville.-History:...
in 1897. His father was a Methodist minister. Reams served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(1918-1919), with the 58th Field Artillery, during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, from 1918-1919. He was discharged at the rank of lieutenant. After the war, Reams finished his degree at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, earning a bachelor's degree in 1919. In 1922, he received a law degree from Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
.
In 1920, Reams was licensed to practice law in Tennessee. In 1922, he moved to Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, where his brother Glenn was a medical resident at the Toledo Hospital
The Toledo Hospital
The Toledo Hospital is a public hospital in Toledo, Ohio that is part of the ProMedica Health System. This level I trauma center is the biggest acute care location in the area, with at least 4,000 health care professionals, 1,100 of which being specialty and primary care physicians, caring for...
. Reams was admitted to the bar and practiced law with the firm Tracy, Chapman & Welles. He practiced as a lawyer while participating in Democratic politics, serving as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1928, 1932, 1936, 1940, 1944, 1948, and 1956.
From 1933 to 1937, Reams served as prosecutor of Lucas County, Ohio
Lucas County, Ohio
----...
. During this time, Reams led a campaign to clean up Toledo and rid the city of the many gangsters and bootleggers that resided and did business there. Reams was most well known for leading the prosecution of Thomas "Yonnie" Licavoli
Thomas Licavoli
Thomas "Yonnie" Licavoli was a gangster and bootlegger during Prohibition. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Yonnie, along with brother Peter Joseph Licavoli and cousin James Licavoli, worked with Jewish gangsters to take over illegal gambling in St. Louis. He was a member of the Licavoli Crime Family...
, A member of the Licavoli Crime Family
Licavoli Crime Family
The Licavoli Mob was an Italian American mob that was based in Detroit and St. Louis. The mob was formed by the brothers Thomas "Yonnie" Licavoli and Peter "Pete" Licavoli.- Background :...
, who controlled bootlegging and illegal gambling operations in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and Toledo. Licavoli was sentenced to life in prison and served a 37-year sentence at Ohio Penitentiary
Ohio Penitentiary
The Ohio Penitentiary, also known as the Ohio State Penitentiary, or less formally, the Ohio Pen or State Pen, was a prison operated from 1834-1983 in downtown Columbus, Ohio, in what is now known as the Arena District. The prison housed 5,235 prisoners at its peak in 1955...
starting in 1935. Gov. Martin L. Davey
Martin L. Davey
Martin Luther Davey was a Democratic politician from Ohio. He was the 53rd Governor of Ohio.-Childhood:Davey was born in Kent, Ohio in 1884. His father was John Davey, better known as the tree doctor and founder of the Davey Tree Expert Company. His mother was Bertha Reeves, the daughter of a...
appointed Reams to investigate easy prison conditions and Reams's investigation of the luxuries that Licavoli was benefitting from at the Ohio Penitentiary resulted in the dismissal of the warden.
In 1935, Reams got into a public dispute with Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge Roy R. Stuart. A grand jury convened by County Prosecutor Reams had issued indictments of two brothers of Toledo Mayor Addison Q. Thacher, a Republican, on charges related to welfare payments and bank closings. Judge Stuart ordered the dismissal of the grand jury and Reams filed an "affidavit of prejudice," which prevented Stuart from hearing any criminal matter until the accusation of prejudice could be heard.
In 1936, Reams sought the Democratic nomination for the office of Ohio Attorney General
Ohio Attorney General
The Ohio Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Ohio in the United States. The office is filled by general election, held every four years. The Ohio Attorney General is Mike DeWine.-History:...
, but he lost to Herbert S. Duffy.
In 1937, Reams formed the law firm Reams, Bretherton & Neipp. His partners were Thomas a. Bretherton and Morton Neipp, both of whom had worked for him in the prosecutor's office. From 1939 to 1945 he served on the Toledo Port Commission
Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority
The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority is a port authority financing and/or operating air, rail, trucking, and port facilities, as well as supporting and funding economic development activities in Lucas County, located in northwest Ohio and bordering on southeast Michigan.-Mission:The Port...
. From 1942 to 1944, he was collector of internal revenue.
In 1944, Reams sought the Democratic nomination for Governor of Ohio, but he placed fourth in the contest that was won by Frank Lausche. Once Lausche won the governorship, he appointed Reams to the office of state director of public welfare, where Reams served from 1945 to 1946.
In 1950, Reams was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as an independent, beginning his service in the 82nd Congress. He served in the House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
From 1951 to 1955, representing the ninth congressional district of 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...
, being re-elected in 1952. However, in 1954, Reams was unsuccessful in his bid for a third term in Congress, losing his seat to a fellow Democrat, Thomas Ludlow Ashley.
In 1951, Reams served as a delegate to the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
. In 1953 and 1954, he was a delegate to the Interparliamentary Union Conference.
From 1937 to 1960, Reams served on the board of the Community Broadcasting Co. (the operator of WTOL and WCWA radio and WTOL
WTOL
WTOL is the CBS- affiliated television station licensed in Toledo, Ohio. The station broadcasts on channel 11 and can be seen quite clearly throughout Northwest Ohio, Southeast Michigan , and southwest Ontario...
TV), which he had founded in 1928. In 1955, Reams was one of the founding directors of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority
Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority
The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority is a port authority financing and/or operating air, rail, trucking, and port facilities, as well as supporting and funding economic development activities in Lucas County, located in northwest Ohio and bordering on southeast Michigan.-Mission:The Port...
. From 1948 to 1957, he was a trustee of Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
. From 1965 until his death, he was chairman of the board of Reams Broadcasting Corp.
After his retirement, Reams moved to San Mateo, California
San Mateo, California
San Mateo is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a population of approximately 100,000 , it is one of the larger suburbs on the San Francisco Peninsula, located between Burlingame to the north, Foster City to the east, Belmont to the south,...
. He died in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
in 1971 and was buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio.
Reams' son, Frazier Reams Jr.
Frazier Reams Jr.
Henry Frazier Reams Jr., generally known as Frazier Reams Jr. was an American politician in Ohio. He was the son of U.S. Rep. Frazier Reams Sr.. In 1966, Reams was nominated by the Democratic party for the office of Governor of Ohio. He lost to the incumbent, Jim Rhodes.See also:*Election Results,...
, was the Democratic nominee for Ohio governor in 1966.
See also
- Election Results, U.S. Representative from Ohio, 9th District
- Election Results, Ohio Governor (Democratic Primaries)