Jack Sensenbrenner
Encyclopedia
Maynard Edward "Jack" Sensenbrenner (September 18, 1902 – 1991) was an American
politician of the Democratic
party, who served as a populist
mayor of Columbus
, Ohio
.
The son of a jeweler, Sensenbrenner was born in Circleville, Ohio
, in the countryside directly southward of Columbus on the highway U.S. 23.
Sensenbrenner graduated from Circleville High School
and attended a Bible college
in Los Angeles
, wishing to follow his twin brother Marion into the ministry, but he did not complete the course. Sensenbrenner worked in a variety of jobs, including working in oil fields and for the advertising department of the Los Angeles Times
. During the Great Depression
, he worked as a Fuller Brush salesman in southern California. His move to the west coast was prompted by Mildred Sexauer. Jack was in love with Mildred and when her family moved out West to find work, Jack followed. Jack and Mildred were happily married for over fifty years, producing three children, Patricia (died at birth), Edward and Richard.
In 1934, he returned to Circleville and started working sales. Soon he moved to Columbus, settling on the West side where he became a partner in a religious bookstore.
In 1953, Sensenbrenner, then a stranger to politics (although he had been active in the Columbus community) surprised the Franklin County
Democratic Committee with a visit and announced his ambition to run for mayor of Columbus. The party was without any strong hopefuls—Columbus had not had a Democratic mayor since 1935— but they would not endorse Sensenbrenner. Only after a runoff within the party did Sensenbrenner secure the Democratic nomination. His upset win in 1954 was written up around the country. That success might have largely been due to Sensenbrenner's decision to campaign on local television, which was uncommon at the time.
Sensenbrenner was unseated temporarily from 1960 to 1963 by Republican W. Ralston Westlake
, but won back his seat. He served as Columbus's mayor from 1954 to 1960 and from 1964 to 1972. He laid the groundwork for the massive growth of Columbus in the late 20th century by requiring all neighborhoods that accepted city water service to be annexed into the city. His creed "God, Love and Country" helped to win Columbus the coveted "All America City Award" from the National Civic League
in 1958. Under his leadership Columbus grew by more than 100 square miles (259 km²).
Sensenbrenner was a popular political character in Columbus, known for throwing around terms like spizzerinctum, which, he said, was the quality that made "Columbus, the United States of America, the Boy Scouts of America ... absolutely dynamic." (He picked up the term from his high school football coach.) He habitually wore a straw skimmer hat and at the drop of a hat would perform an old-fashioned shuffle dance.
Sensenbrenner's wife, the former Mildred Harriet Sexauer, was the niece of a former mayor of Lancaster, Ohio
. They were married in 1927. His grandson, Richard Sensenbrenner(Edward's son), has served as a member of the Columbus city council.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician of the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
party, who served as a populist
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
mayor of Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, 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...
.
The son of a jeweler, Sensenbrenner was born in Circleville, Ohio
Circleville, Ohio
Circleville is a city in and the county seat of Pickaway County, Ohio, United States, along the Scioto River. The population was 13,485 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, in the countryside directly southward of Columbus on the highway U.S. 23.
Sensenbrenner graduated from Circleville High School
Circleville High School
Circleville High School is a public high school in Circleville, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Circleville City School District. Their nickname is the Tigers.-Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships:* Boys Golf – 1951, 1986...
and attended a Bible college
Bible college
Bible colleges are institutions of higher education that specialize in biblical studies. Curriculum is Bible-based and differs from that of liberal arts colleges or research universities. Bible colleges generally exclude the study of philosophy, unlike seminaries and theological colleges...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, wishing to follow his twin brother Marion into the ministry, but he did not complete the course. Sensenbrenner worked in a variety of jobs, including working in oil fields and for the advertising department of the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
. During the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, he worked as a Fuller Brush salesman in southern California. His move to the west coast was prompted by Mildred Sexauer. Jack was in love with Mildred and when her family moved out West to find work, Jack followed. Jack and Mildred were happily married for over fifty years, producing three children, Patricia (died at birth), Edward and Richard.
In 1934, he returned to Circleville and started working sales. Soon he moved to Columbus, settling on the West side where he became a partner in a religious bookstore.
In 1953, Sensenbrenner, then a stranger to politics (although he had been active in the Columbus community) surprised the Franklin County
Franklin County, Ohio
Franklin County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. In 2010 the population was 1,163,414, making it the second largest county in Ohio and the 34th largest county in population in the United States. Franklin County is also the largest in the eight-county Columbus, Ohio...
Democratic Committee with a visit and announced his ambition to run for mayor of Columbus. The party was without any strong hopefuls—Columbus had not had a Democratic mayor since 1935— but they would not endorse Sensenbrenner. Only after a runoff within the party did Sensenbrenner secure the Democratic nomination. His upset win in 1954 was written up around the country. That success might have largely been due to Sensenbrenner's decision to campaign on local television, which was uncommon at the time.
Sensenbrenner was unseated temporarily from 1960 to 1963 by Republican W. Ralston Westlake
Ralston Westlake
Ralston Westlake , served as the 47th Mayor of Columbus, Ohio from 1960-1963.He served in the US Army during World War II, was a member of the Lutheran Church, the Freemasons and the Shriners....
, but won back his seat. He served as Columbus's mayor from 1954 to 1960 and from 1964 to 1972. He laid the groundwork for the massive growth of Columbus in the late 20th century by requiring all neighborhoods that accepted city water service to be annexed into the city. His creed "God, Love and Country" helped to win Columbus the coveted "All America City Award" from the National Civic League
National Civic League
The National Civic League is an American non-profit organization that advocates for transparency, effectiveness, and openness in local government...
in 1958. Under his leadership Columbus grew by more than 100 square miles (259 km²).
Sensenbrenner was a popular political character in Columbus, known for throwing around terms like spizzerinctum, which, he said, was the quality that made "Columbus, the United States of America, the Boy Scouts of America ... absolutely dynamic." (He picked up the term from his high school football coach.) He habitually wore a straw skimmer hat and at the drop of a hat would perform an old-fashioned shuffle dance.
Sensenbrenner's wife, the former Mildred Harriet Sexauer, was the niece of a former mayor of 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...
. They were married in 1927. His grandson, Richard Sensenbrenner(Edward's son), has served as a member of the Columbus city council.