Representative Frank Le Blond Kloeb

Frank Le Blond Kloeb (June 16, 1890 – March 11, 1976), also known as Frank L. Kloeb, was a Democratic United States Representative from Ohio and later a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. He served in the House of Representatives during the New Deal era and is the most recent Democrat to have represented his congressional district in the House of Representatives. A member of the Democratic Party, he contributed to the legislative process during his terms in office and later played a significant role in the federal judiciary.

Kloeb was born in Celina, Mercer County, Ohio, and was the grandson of Francis Celeste Le Blond, who had also served as a United States Representative from Ohio. He attended both parochial and public schools in his hometown before pursuing higher education. He studied at Ohio State University in Columbus and at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He then enrolled in the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, from which he graduated in 1917. That same year he was admitted to the bar in Ohio.

During the First World War, Kloeb enlisted in the United States Navy in September 1917. He initially served as a seaman, advanced to quartermaster, third class, and ultimately received a commission as an ensign. His naval service extended from September 1917 until March 1919. After his discharge from military service, he commenced the practice of law in Celina in April 1919, building a local legal career that would serve as the foundation for his later public service.

Kloeb entered public office as prosecuting attorney of Mercer County, Ohio, a position he held from 1921 to 1925. In that role he was responsible for the prosecution of criminal cases and the representation of the county in legal matters. Following his term as prosecuting attorney, he continued in private legal practice in Celina, maintaining his law practice from 1925 until 1933. His work as a local attorney and county prosecutor helped establish his reputation within the Democratic Party and among his constituents.

Kloeb was elected as a Democrat to the 73rd United States Congress and was reelected to the two succeeding Congresses, serving three terms in the House of Representatives. His congressional service began on March 4, 1933, and continued until August 19, 1937. Thus, he served in Congress from 1933 to 1939 in terms of the Congresses to which he was elected, and specifically held his seat from March 4, 1933, until his resignation on August 19, 1937, to accept a federal judicial appointment. His tenure coincided with a significant period in American history, as Congress addressed the Great Depression and enacted major New Deal legislation. As a member of the House of Representatives, Kloeb participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of his Ohio constituents during this transformative era.

On June 18, 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt nominated Kloeb to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, vacated by Judge George Philip Hahn. The United States Senate confirmed his nomination on June 22, 1937, and he received his commission on August 20, 1937, shortly after resigning from Congress. Kloeb served as a federal district judge for nearly four decades. He was appointed Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio in 1959 and held that administrative leadership position until 1960. He assumed senior status on September 30, 1964, continuing to hear cases in a reduced capacity while remaining an active member of the federal judiciary.

In his personal life, Kloeb was married to Florence Root, with whom he had one daughter. He spent his later years in Ohio while continuing his judicial service in senior status. His service on the federal bench terminated on March 11, 1976, upon his death in Toledo, Ohio. He was interred in Calvary Cemetery, leaving a legacy of service in both the legislative and judicial branches of the United States government.