Representative Tom Van Horn Moorehead

Tom Van Horn Moorehead (April 12, 1898 – October 21, 1979) was an American politician who served as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio from 1961 to 1963. A lifelong resident of Zanesville, Ohio, he built a career in local and state government before representing his district in Congress for one term during a pivotal period in American history.

Moorehead was born in Zanesville, Muskingum County, Ohio, on April 12, 1898. He attended the public schools of Zanesville and went on to pursue higher education at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. He later continued his studies at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., gaining exposure to the nation’s capital and the workings of the federal government at an early stage in his life.

During World War I, Moorehead served in the United States Naval Aviation Corps, contributing to the nation’s military efforts in the closing years of the conflict. After his wartime service, he returned to Zanesville, where he entered the real estate and insurance business. His professional activities in these fields helped establish him as a figure in the local business community and provided a foundation for his subsequent public career.

Moorehead’s entry into public office began at the municipal level in his hometown. He served as a member of the Zanesville city council and later as mayor of Zanesville, roles in which he participated directly in local governance and civic development. Building on his municipal experience, he advanced to state office as a member of the Ohio Senate, where he served eight terms. His long tenure in the state legislature reflected sustained support from his constituents and gave him substantial experience in legislative procedure and public policy.

In 1960, Moorehead was elected as a Republican to the Eighty-seventh Congress, representing Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives from January 3, 1961, to January 3, 1963. His service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history, overlapping with the early years of the John F. Kennedy administration and a time of evolving domestic and international challenges. As a member of the House of Representatives, Tom Van Horn Moorehead contributed to the legislative process, participated in the democratic governance of the nation, and represented the interests of his Ohio constituents during his single term in office.

Moorehead was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1962 to the Eighty-eighth Congress, bringing his federal legislative career to a close after one term. He then returned to private life in Zanesville, remaining a resident of the community where he had been born, conducted his business affairs, and begun his public service.

Tom Van Horn Moorehead died in Zanesville, Ohio, on October 21, 1979. He was interred in Greenwood Cemetery, leaving a record of service that spanned local, state, and national office over several decades.