Representative Lawrence E. Imhoff

Lawrence E. Imhoff (December 28, 1895 – April 18, 1988) was an American soldier, lawyer, and four-term U.S. Representative from Ohio. Born at Round Bottom, Ohio, he moved with his family to St. Clairsville, Ohio, in 1907. He attended rural schools in the area and later St. Clairsville High School, laying the educational foundation for his subsequent public service and legal career.

During the First World War, Imhoff enlisted as a private in the Fifth Regiment, United States Marine Corps, on August 9, 1917. He served overseas during the conflict and was honorably discharged on April 1, 1919. In recognition of wounds received in service, he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal. Following his military service, he pursued higher education at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, preparing for a career in law and public administration.

Imhoff’s early civilian career was rooted in local government in Belmont County, Ohio. He served as clerk of courts for Belmont County from 1921 to 1925, gaining experience in court administration and public records. He then served as probate judge of Belmont County from 1925 to 1933. During this period he studied law, and he was admitted to the bar in January 1930, formally entering the legal profession while continuing his judicial responsibilities at the county level.

A member of the Democratic Party, Imhoff was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat to the Seventy-third, Seventy-fourth, and Seventy-fifth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1933, to January 3, 1939. His service in Congress thus began at the outset of the New Deal era, a significant period in American history marked by economic crisis and sweeping federal legislation. As a member of the House of Representatives from Ohio, he participated in the legislative process and represented the interests of his constituents over three consecutive terms. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1938 to the Seventy-sixth Congress.

After leaving Congress in 1939, Imhoff continued his federal service in the executive branch. He served as a special assistant to the United States Attorney General in 1939 and 1940, contributing to the work of the Department of Justice on the eve of the Second World War. He returned to elective office when he was again elected to the House of Representatives as a Democrat to the Seventy-seventh Congress, serving from January 3, 1941, to January 3, 1943. In this fourth term, he served during the early years of U.S. involvement in World War II. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1942 to the Seventy-eighth Congress, concluding his congressional service, which spanned from 1933 to 1939 and again from 1941 to 1943.

With World War II underway, Imhoff resumed active military-related service. On January 21, 1943, he was commissioned as a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy Reserve. He served on active duty during the war, was promoted to the rank of commander, and was released from active duty on November 8, 1945. His wartime naval service complemented his earlier Marine Corps service in World War I, marking him as a veteran of both world wars.

Following his release from active duty, Imhoff continued his commitment to public service, particularly on behalf of veterans. On November 9, 1945, he was appointed a member of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals in Washington, D.C., an adjudicatory body within the federal government responsible for reviewing decisions on veterans’ benefits. He served on the Board for nearly two decades, retiring on December 31, 1964. In retirement, he resided in North Fort Myers, Florida, where he lived until his death on April 18, 1988.