| Bob Secrest | |
| Image Name: | Robert T. Secrest 88th Congress 1963.jpg |
| State: | Ohio |
| District: | 15th |
| Term Start: | March 4, 1933 |
| Term End: | August 3, 1942 |
| Preceded: | C. Ellis Moore |
| Succeeded: | Percy W. Griffiths |
| Term Start2: | January 3, 1949 |
| Term End2: | September 26, 1954 |
| Preceded2: | Percy W. Griffiths |
| Succeeded2: | John E. Henderson |
| Term Start3: | January 3, 1963 |
| Term End3: | December 30, 1966 |
| Preceded3: | Tom V. Moorehead |
| Succeeded3: | Chalmers P. Wylie |
| State Senate4: | Ohio |
| District4: | 20th |
| Term4: | January 3, 1969-December 31, 1976 |
| Preceded4: | Tom V. Moorehead |
| Succeeded4: | Sam Speck |
| Office6: | Member of the Ohio House of Representatives |
| Term6: | 1931-1932 |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Birth Date: | 22 January 1904 |
| Birth Place: | Senecaville, Ohio |
| Death Place: | Cambridge, Ohio |
| Restingplace: | Senacaville Cemetery |
| Alma Mater: | Muskingum College Columbia University British School of Civil Affairs |
| Allegiance: | United States |
| Branch: | United States Navy |
| Serviceyears: | 1942 - 1946 |
| Battles: | World War II |
| Rank: | Commander |
Robert Thompson Secrest (January 22, 1904, near Senecaville, Ohio – May 15, 1994, in Cambridge, Ohio)[1] was an American Democratic representative to the United States Congress from the state of Ohio. He served in Congress three separate times: 1933 to 1942, 1949 to 1954, and 1963 to 1966, resigning each time prior to the end of his term.
Robert Secrest was born at Senacaville, Guernsey County, Ohio, the eldest son of a miner, Robert Waits Secrest (1880-1929), and his wife Amelia née Thompson. Robert attended the State public schools. He subsequently graduated from Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio, 1926, Washington, D.C. College of Law, 1938, and Columbia University, New York City, 1943. He graduated from British School of Civil Affairs, Wimbledon, England, 1943.[2]
Secrest was superintendent of the Murray City, Ohio, schools 1931–1932. He was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives 1931–1932. He was elected as a Democrat to the rd to th United States Congresses, and served March 4, 1933, to August 3, 1942, when he resigned to join the United States Navy. He was later promoted to Commander and served until February 28, 1946, in England, Africa, Italy and the Pacific.[2]
Secrest ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1946, and acted as legal supervisor for the Library of Congress in 1946–1947. He was elected to the st through rd Congresses, and served January 3, 1949, to September 26, 1954, when he resigned to become a member of the Federal Trade Commission. He served on that commission 1954–1961, and was Director of Commerce, State of Ohio in 1962.[2]
Secrest again was elected to the th and th Congresses, and served January 3, 1963, to December 30, 1966, when he again resigned after failing at re-election in 1966. He was a member of the Ohio State Senate, 1969–1973, and member of the National Council of the American Legion, 1978 to 1987. He died May 15, 1994, in Cambridge, Ohio.[2] At the time of his death, he was the earliest-serving former congressman as well as the last one to have served during the Herbert Hoover administration.
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