Ralph S. Locher
| Ralph S. Locher | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 50th Mayor of Cleveland | |
|
In office 1962–1967 |
|
| Preceded by | Anthony J. Celebrezze |
| Succeeded by | Carl B. Stokes |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ralph Sidney Locher July 24, 1915 Moreni, Romania |
| Died | June 18, 2004 (aged 88) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Occupation | Politician, lawyer |
Ralph Sidney Locher (July 24, 1915 – June 18, 2004) was a Romanian-born American politician of the Democratic Party who served as the 50th mayor of Cleveland, Ohio.
Locher was born in Moreni, Romania, outside Bucharest, in 1915. He graduated from Bluffton College and was admitted to the Ohio bar. He became a close associate of Frank J. Lausche, later Governor of Ohio and U.S. Senator, who nurtured his career, first appointing him as secretary of the Ohio State Industrial Commission in 1945. They were instrumental in building the "cosmopolitan Democrats" movement of urban ethnic voters. Locher was law director of Cleveland under Mayor Anthony J. Celebrezze beginning in 1953, then succeeded him as mayor when Celebrezze was appointed United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare by President John F. Kennedy on July 14, 1962.Ohio Attorney General Mark McElroy was expected to win the Democratic nomination in the primary election held on October 2, but Locher won the nomination in an upset. Locher easily won election to the remainder of Celebrezze's term in a general election held on November 6.
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