Samuel L. Devine
Encyclopedia
Samuel Leeper Devine was an American politician of the Republican party who served in the United States House of Representatives
as Representative of the 12th congressional district of Ohio
from 3 January 1959 until 3 January 1981; he left office after being defeated by Democrat Bob Shamansky
(who would lose the seat after a single (two-year) term to Republican John Kasich
).
, on 21 December 1915. His family moved to Columbus, Ohio
, in 1920. He attended public schools in the Columbus area. Devine attended Colgate University
in 1933 and 1934; and then the Ohio State University
from 1934 to 1937. After being graduated from the Ohio State University, Devine went to law school at the University of Notre Dame
, and received an LL.B.
and J.D.
in 1940. He was admitted to the bar
in 1940 and began private legal practice in Columbus, but in 1940 was appointed a special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
. He resigned from the Bureau in October 1945 and resumed private practice in Columbus.
Devine embarked on a political career in 1950, and was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives
, in which he served from 1951 to 1955. Thereïn, Devine was chairman of the Ohio Un-American Activities Committee, a joint committee of the Ohio House and the Senate
, and modelled on the federal House Un-American Activities Committee
. This committee was given extensive powers of interrogation. It declared in 1952 that approximately 1,300 Ohioans were members of the Communist Party
. At Devine's urging, the state legislature overrode a gubernatorial veto of a bill to impose prison terms and fines on Communists.
Devine served as Prosecuting Attorney for Franklin County, Ohio
, from 1955 until 1958, when he was elected to the United States Congress
.
Devine was also a college football official for 27 years.
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...
as Representative of the 12th congressional district of Ohio
Ohio's 12th congressional district
Ohio's 12th congressional district is currently represented by Republican Representative Patrick J. Tiberi. This district includes the heavily African-American part of Ohio's capital city, Columbus, Ohio along with its northern suburbs, including Westerville, Ohio.Historically it has been a safe...
from 3 January 1959 until 3 January 1981; he left office after being defeated by Democrat Bob Shamansky
Bob Shamansky
Robert Norton Shamansky was an American Democratic politician and attorney from the state of Ohio. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives for a single term from 1981 until 1983.-Early Life:...
(who would lose the seat after a single (two-year) term to Republican John Kasich
John Kasich
John Richard Kasich is the 69th and current Governor of Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1983 to 2001...
).
Biography
Devine was born in South Bend, IndianaSouth Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
, on 21 December 1915. His family moved to Columbus, Ohio
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...
, in 1920. He attended public schools in the Columbus area. Devine attended Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
in 1933 and 1934; and then the 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...
from 1934 to 1937. After being graduated from the Ohio State University, Devine went to law school at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, and received an LL.B.
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
and J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1940. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1940 and began private legal practice in Columbus, but in 1940 was appointed a special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
. He resigned from the Bureau in October 1945 and resumed private practice in Columbus.
Devine embarked on a political career in 1950, and 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....
, in which he served from 1951 to 1955. Thereïn, Devine was chairman of the Ohio Un-American Activities Committee, a joint committee of the Ohio House and the Senate
Ohio Senate
The Ohio State Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body for the U.S. state of Ohio. There are 33 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Columbus. The President of the Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Tom...
, and modelled on the federal House Un-American Activities Committee
House Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities or House Un-American Activities Committee was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. In 1969, the House changed the committee's name to "House Committee on Internal Security"...
. This committee was given extensive powers of interrogation. It declared in 1952 that approximately 1,300 Ohioans were members of the Communist Party
Communist Party USA
The Communist Party USA is a Marxist political party in the United States, established in 1919. It has a long, complex history that is closely related to the histories of similar communist parties worldwide and the U.S. labor movement....
. At Devine's urging, the state legislature overrode a gubernatorial veto of a bill to impose prison terms and fines on Communists.
Devine served as Prosecuting Attorney for Franklin County, Ohio
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...
, from 1955 until 1958, when he was elected to the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
.
Devine was also a college football official for 27 years.
See also
- Election Results, U.S. Representative from Ohio, 12th District
- List of United States Representatives from Ohio