Representative Ralph Regula

Ralph Straus Regula (December 3, 1924 – July 19, 2017) was an American politician from Ohio who served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1973 to 2009. Over the course of 18 consecutive terms, he represented Ohio’s 16th congressional district and became one of the longest-serving members of the House. In the 110th Congress (2007–2009), he was the second longest-serving Republican member of the House of Representatives, ranking behind C. W. Bill Young of Florida. His congressional career spanned more than three and a half decades, during which he participated in the legislative process during a significant period in American history and consistently represented the interests of his constituents.

Regula was born on December 3, 1924, in Beach City, Stark County, Ohio, a small community in the northeastern part of the state. He grew up in a rural setting, an experience that would later inform his interest in education, agriculture, and local economic development. Coming of age during the Great Depression and World War II, he was part of a generation shaped by economic hardship and global conflict, influences that contributed to his later emphasis on public service and pragmatic governance.

After completing his early schooling in Ohio, Regula pursued higher education while also serving his country. He attended Mount Union College (now the University of Mount Union) in Alliance, Ohio, where he studied and prepared for a career that would combine law, business, and public service. He also studied at the William McKinley School of Law in Canton, Ohio, which helped provide the legal background that would prove useful in his later legislative work. In addition to his academic pursuits, he served in the United States Navy during World War II, an experience that reinforced his commitment to national service and civic responsibility.

Before entering elective office, Regula worked in education and business in his home region of Ohio. He served on a local board of education, gaining firsthand experience with public schools, budgeting, and community needs. He was also involved in the insurance and dairy businesses, which gave him practical insight into the concerns of small businesses, farmers, and working families in his district. These early professional experiences grounded his later legislative priorities in the everyday realities of his constituents.

Regula’s formal political career began at the state level. He was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives, where he served as a Republican member and gained experience in state policymaking and legislative procedure. He later advanced to the Ohio State Senate, continuing to build a reputation as a diligent and detail-oriented lawmaker. His service in both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly provided him with a strong foundation in state government and prepared him for the complexities of federal legislative work.

In 1972, Regula was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Ohio’s 16th congressional district, taking office on January 3, 1973. He would be reelected 17 times, serving a total of 18 terms until January 3, 2009. During this long tenure, he participated in the democratic process at the national level through committee work, floor debates, and the development of federal legislation. Serving through periods that included the end of the Vietnam War, the Cold War’s conclusion, economic transformations, and the post–September 11 era, he contributed to deliberations on a wide range of domestic and international issues. As a senior member of the House, he was known for his attention to constituent services and for bringing federal resources to his district, particularly in areas related to education, infrastructure, and public lands.

By the time of the 110th Congress (2007–2009), Regula’s length of service made him one of the most senior Republicans in the House of Representatives, second in tenure only to Bill Young of Florida among Republicans. His long incumbency reflected sustained electoral support in northeastern Ohio and underscored his role as an experienced voice within his party and the institution. After more than three decades in office, he chose not to seek reelection in 2008, concluding his congressional service on January 3, 2009.

Ralph Regula spent his later years in Ohio following his retirement from Congress, remaining a respected figure in state and local civic life. He died on July 19, 2017, in Bethlehem Township, Stark County, Ohio, at the age of 92. His career, spanning service in the Ohio House of Representatives, the Ohio State Senate, and the United States House of Representatives, left a lasting imprint on both his district and the broader legislative history of Ohio and the nation.