James A. Rhodes

James A. Rhodes. Governor, State of Ohio. , .Established Ohio’s System of Two-Year and Technical Colleges , . Former President of the American Athletic Union “AAU” , . Increased state support for medical education , . “Jim Rhodes is the fastest wit I’ve ever met.” , Bob Hope , . Expended Ohio’s system of state parks, building six , . Established the Ohio Board of Regents as the coordinating body for higher education in Ohio. , . “Poverty breeds crime, disease, immorality, and delinquency.” , , . Built the Ohio State Fair to the largest in the country. He called it “The Showcase of Ohio” , . Led the way in building Ohio’s part of the Appalachian Highway System serving southern Ohio. , . Responsible for the building of the Ohio Historical Society Center in Columbus. , . Established the Junior Fairboard, the Agriculture Hall of Fame, and The Sale of Champions , . “We must prepare each youth to graduate with a diploma in one hand and a job in the other.” , . Established the Ohio Water Development Authority and the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority. , , . Principal state partner in the creation of the James Cancer Hospital at Ohio State University. , . Built 85 county airports , . “The Jobs Governor” , . Built the Ohio Historical Center at the State Fairgrounds , . Built numerous senior citizen centers across Ohio , , . Founded the Ohio Association of Commodores, a group who exists to promote Ohio. , . Made Ohio the leader in development of interstate highways. , . “Three rules: No stealing. No drinking on the job. No romancing the help.” , . Established the Ohio Youth Commission to deal with juvenile crime. , . “Never get so mad at someone that you can’t have breakfast with them the next day.” , . The greatest contribution a governor can make is to create jobs in the private sector.” , . 44th Mayor, City of Columbus 1944–1952 , . “Ohio has more things by accident than all the other states have on purpose.” , , . Born, Coalton, Ohio 9/13/1909. , . Died, Columbus, Ohio 3/4/2001. , . In 1948, selected as representative of the United States at the Olympic Games in London. , . Founded the renowed Rhodes Raiders, a group who traveled worldwide enticing businesses to locate in Ohio , . Increased two-year school enrollment from 27,000 to 147,000 students between 1965 and 1982. , , . Established the Ohio Commission of Aging and in 1976 he established the Golden Buckeye Card program. , . “Profit is not a Dirty Word in Ohio.” , . Expanded the State University System to 12 universities , . Ohio’s longest-termed governor , . “All the social ills among able-bodied people comes from the lack of a job.” , . Established Ohio’s System of Vocational Schools, built 49 facilities , . The nation’s first governor to lead a trade mission to China. , . “Government does not create wealth.” , . Auditor, State of Ohio 1853–1963 , . Co-author of three historical novels and author of another. , . Eleven Ohio colleges and universities awarded him honorary degrees. , . Founder of the Pan-American Games , , Dedicated 5/2/2013 by Governor John Kasich . Jackson Historical Society . Designer Michael Stroth . Architect: Panich + Noel Associates . Statue Cast by Alan Cotrill . Constructed by Stockmeister Enterprises, Inc.. Committee: Alan Stockmeister, Bob Ervin, Steve Evans, Bill Morgan, James Baker, Brad Long, Richard Hillis, John Kelly, Fred Mills, Janine Conrad, Dick Crawford, Richard More . Commissioners: Jim Riepenhoff, Jerry Hall, Paul Haller, Ed Armstrong , Constructed using private donations from: Ohio Association of Commodores, MACBEA Foundation, Jewell Evans, Bellisio Foods, OPM Metals, Stockmeister Family Fund, Steve Landerman, Steve and Becky Evans, Marguerite Hughes, Fred Daily, Ed and Sharon Armstrong, WesBanco, Eisnaugle Lewis Funeral Home, David Jenkins, James A. Rhodes Leadership Fund, Robert Howarth