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| George Voinovich |
Born: July 15, 1936
Died: June 12, 2016
Political Party: Republican Party
Term of Office: January 14, 1991-December 31, 1998
Buried: All Souls Cemetery Chardon, Ohio
No. 38 of 58
George Voinovich was born in Cleveland in 1936. He graduated from Ohio State University in 1958, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in government. He then received a law degree in 1961 from the Moritz College of Law at the Ohio
State University.
Voinovich jumped into politics right away by becoming one of Ohio's Assistant Attorney Generals in 1963. In 1966, he was elected a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives. After 4 years in the state legislature, Voinovich moved closer to
home by serving as the County Auditor of Cuyahoga Co., Ohio from 1971 - 1976. Voinovich ran for Mayor of Cleveland unsuccessfully in 1971. In 1978, Voinovich ran for Lt. Governor on a ticket with Governor James A. Rhodes, as he was seeking his
4th term as Governor. The Rhodes Voinovich ticket won and Voinovich became the first Lt. Governor of Ohio elected on a party ticket. Before that, the offices of Governor and Lt. Governor were separately elected.
Voinovich wasn't Lt. Governor for long. In 1979, he ran for Mayor of Cleveland against sitting Democratic Mayor Dennis Kucinich. In October of that year, Voinovich's 9 year old daughter Molly was hit and killed by a van. This brought his
campaign to a halt. However he went on to win the election. He won reelection to be Mayor of Cleveland 2 more times in 1981 and 1985. His 1981 victory was the first time that a Mayor of Cleveland was elected to a 4 year term, as compared to the
previous 2 years terms.
When Voinovich became Mayor, Cleveland was the butt of many comedians jokes about how bad the city had become. With financial assistance by local banks and state government, Voinovich was able to start digging Cleveland out of debt, and turning around the city's reputation for the better. While serving as Mayor, he was a member of the National League of Cities, and became the groups President in 1985.
In 1988, Voinovich ran for the U.S. Senate against Democratic Senator Howard Metzenbaum. He lost the election. But in 1990, he became the Republican parties candidate for Governor of Ohio, and won. As Governor he help pull the state out of a 1.5 billion dollar deficit. He also worked on welfare reform. In 1994, Voinovich won reelection with 72% of the vote, which was the largest margin of victory in an Ohio Governors race up to that point. As Governor, Ohio's unemployment rate reached a 25 year low and the state created 500,000 new jobs. He appointed Nancy Hollister Lt. Governor during his second term, making her the first women to serve as Lt. Governor. He also appointed Cincinnati Mayor Ken Blackwell to become Ohio's State Treasurer. Making him the first African American to hold state office in Ohio.
Starting back in 1985, then Mayor Voinovich petitioned hard to have the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to be built in Cleveland. As Governor in 1995, the Museum opened in Cleveland and the main atrium was named George Voinovich Atrium in honor of his efforts. In 1996, Voiovich was considered as a Vice Presidential candidate for Bob Dole, but with drew his name from consideration with other plans in mind. In 1998, as his 2nd term as Governor was nearing an end, Voinovich once again ran for the U.S. Senate, and won. He resigned about 11 days shy of the end of his term as Governor to be sworn in to his new job in the U.S. Senate. At this point his Lt. Governor Nancy Hollister became the first female Governor of Ohio. She served for 11 days until the newly elected Governor Bob Taft would be sworn in.
As Senator, Voinovich was a moderate Republican who would on occasion, cross the isle to do what he thought was best. In 2004, he won reelection to the Senate, winning all 88 counties and 64% of the vote. With 3.5 million votes in that election, he won more votes then any other Senate candidate in Ohio history. He chose not to seek reelection in 2010, retiring to spend more time with family.
In 2016, Voinovich endorsed current Ohio Governor John Kasich for President of the United States and was set to be an elector at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in August. Voinovich died in his sleep on June 12, 2016, having been struggling with heart issues since around 2003.
George Voinovich was the first Governor that I remember well. At the time of me writing this, he has been gone for less then a year. Of all the Governor gravesites that I have visited, his is the first of a person that I had actually voted for. I was to young to of voted for him when he was Governor. But I did vote for him in 2004 when he ran for reelection to the Senate.
Governor Voinovich was one of 6 new Governor gravevisites that I visited in late March 2016 in the Cleveland area.
When Voinovich became Mayor, Cleveland was the butt of many comedians jokes about how bad the city had become. With financial assistance by local banks and state government, Voinovich was able to start digging Cleveland out of debt, and turning around the city's reputation for the better. While serving as Mayor, he was a member of the National League of Cities, and became the groups President in 1985.
In 1988, Voinovich ran for the U.S. Senate against Democratic Senator Howard Metzenbaum. He lost the election. But in 1990, he became the Republican parties candidate for Governor of Ohio, and won. As Governor he help pull the state out of a 1.5 billion dollar deficit. He also worked on welfare reform. In 1994, Voinovich won reelection with 72% of the vote, which was the largest margin of victory in an Ohio Governors race up to that point. As Governor, Ohio's unemployment rate reached a 25 year low and the state created 500,000 new jobs. He appointed Nancy Hollister Lt. Governor during his second term, making her the first women to serve as Lt. Governor. He also appointed Cincinnati Mayor Ken Blackwell to become Ohio's State Treasurer. Making him the first African American to hold state office in Ohio.
Starting back in 1985, then Mayor Voinovich petitioned hard to have the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to be built in Cleveland. As Governor in 1995, the Museum opened in Cleveland and the main atrium was named George Voinovich Atrium in honor of his efforts. In 1996, Voiovich was considered as a Vice Presidential candidate for Bob Dole, but with drew his name from consideration with other plans in mind. In 1998, as his 2nd term as Governor was nearing an end, Voinovich once again ran for the U.S. Senate, and won. He resigned about 11 days shy of the end of his term as Governor to be sworn in to his new job in the U.S. Senate. At this point his Lt. Governor Nancy Hollister became the first female Governor of Ohio. She served for 11 days until the newly elected Governor Bob Taft would be sworn in.
As Senator, Voinovich was a moderate Republican who would on occasion, cross the isle to do what he thought was best. In 2004, he won reelection to the Senate, winning all 88 counties and 64% of the vote. With 3.5 million votes in that election, he won more votes then any other Senate candidate in Ohio history. He chose not to seek reelection in 2010, retiring to spend more time with family.
In 2016, Voinovich endorsed current Ohio Governor John Kasich for President of the United States and was set to be an elector at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in August. Voinovich died in his sleep on June 12, 2016, having been struggling with heart issues since around 2003.
George Voinovich was the first Governor that I remember well. At the time of me writing this, he has been gone for less then a year. Of all the Governor gravesites that I have visited, his is the first of a person that I had actually voted for. I was to young to of voted for him when he was Governor. But I did vote for him in 2004 when he ran for reelection to the Senate.
Governor Voinovich was one of 6 new Governor gravevisites that I visited in late March 2016 in the Cleveland area.
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| Voinovich with Governor Jim Rhodes |
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| Voinovich campaigning with President George H. W. Bush |
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| Voinovich with President Clinton |
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| Voinovich campaigning with President George W. Bush |
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| A picture from Voinovich's funeral |
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| Voinovich buried with his daughter and parents. |
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| Governor Voinovich passed away so recently that the birth year and death years have not yet been carved into the stone. |
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| Governor Voinovich and I |
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