Holmesville in Holmes County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Birthplace of William M. McCulloch

Civil Rights Champion

Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 1, 2018

1. Birthplace of William M. McCulloch Marker, Side One

Inscription.
Republican congressman William M. McCulloch was one of the architects of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, the first of three laws to recommit the nation to the cause of civil rights in the 1960s. “Bill” McCulloch was born near Holmesville to James H. and Ida McCulloch on November 24, 1901. Raised on the family farm, he attended local public schools. the College of Wooster, and, in 1925, earned his law degree from the Ohio State University. He married his childhood sweetheart Mabel Harris McCulloch (1904-1990) in 1927, after settling in Jacksonville to start his career during the Florida land-boom of the 1920s. It was in Jacksonville that the Deep Souths racial intolerance seared him.

The McCullochs returned to Ohio in 1928 and Bill joined a law firm in Piqua. He entered politics in 1932, winning election to the Ohio General Assembly. He was Speaker of the Ohio House from 1939–1944 and, after service in army during World War II, was elected the representative from the Fourth Ohio Congressional District, serving from 1498–1973. He rose to become the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee. Seeing himself as an upholder of Republicans’ commitment to civil rights, dating from the founding of the party, McCulloch co-sponsored what became the Civil Rights Act of 1964, adroitly guiding it to passage. He

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died in 1980 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Erected 2018 by The Ohio History Connection. (Marker Number 4-38.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is July 2, 1964.

Location. 40° 37.866′ N, 81° 54.982′ W. Marker is in Holmesville, Ohio, in Holmes County. Marker is on Jackson Street (County Route 192) just east of West Market Street, on the left when traveling east. It is on the Holmes County Trail (former Pennsylvania Railroad right of way) a hiking, bicycle and horse-drawn carriage trail that runs 23 miles from Fredericksburg to Gann, as it resumes north of town. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Holmesville OH 44633, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Millersburg Historical Information (approx. 5.3 miles away); Millersburg Opera House (approx. 5.3 miles away); Hotel Millersburg (approx. 5.3 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 5.3 miles away); Holmes County Veterans Memorial (approx. 5.3 miles away); Brenner Building (approx. 5.3 miles away); Holmes County Watering Trough (approx. 5.4 miles away); Calmoutier (approx. 7.6 miles away).

Also see . . . William M. McCulloch.

Birthplace of William M. McCulloch Marker, Side Two image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 1, 2018

2. Birthplace of William M. McCulloch Marker, Side Two

Article in Ohio History Central. “McCulloch fought another major battle in 1969-1970 by defending the renewal of certain temporary provisions in the 1965 Voting Rights Act during the Nixon administration. Directed at Southern states with a history of discriminatory voting practices, a strong provision in the legislation demanded that these states obtain clearance through the Justice Department before making any changes that would affect the voting process. The Nixon Administration argued for cutting back on the provision, while McCulloch fought for its retention in a still volatile voting environment. McCulloch and his legislative allies succeeded in keeping the landmark bill intact, echoing his belief as stated on the House floor before the signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act that ‘no statutory law can completely end discrimination. Intelligent work and vigilance by members of all races will be required for many years before discrimination completely disappears ... To create hope of immediate and complete success can only promote conflict and result in brooding despair.’ McCulloch continued to champion equal rights and to protect the landmark legislation of the 1960s until his retirement in 1972.” (Submitted on July 8, 2018.)

View from Jackson Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 1, 2018

3. View from Jackson Street

Brown historical marker is difficult to see in the shadows. I drove past it on Jackson Street numerous times before I spotted it.

Birthplace of William M. McCulloch Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 1, 2018

4. Birthplace of William M. McCulloch Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 19, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 367 times since then and 24 times this year. Last updated on August 18, 2021, by Robert Baughman of Bellefontaine, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 8, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.