Representative William Howard Harsha

William Howard Harsha Jr. (January 1, 1921 – October 11, 2010) was an American lawyer, politician, and World War II veteran who represented Ohio as a Republican in the United States House of Representatives from January 3, 1961, to January 3, 1981. Over the course of ten consecutive terms in Congress, he served as a member of the House of Representatives during a significant period in American history, participating in the legislative process and representing the interests of his Ohio constituents.

Harsha was born in Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio, on January 1, 1921. He attended the public schools of Portsmouth and graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1939. He then enrolled at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he pursued undergraduate studies and became a member of the Sigma Pi fraternity. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Kenyon College in 1943, laying the academic foundation for his later legal and political career.

During World War II, Harsha served in the United States Marine Corps from 1942 to 1944. His military service coincided with his early adulthood and reflected the broader national mobilization of his generation. Following his time in the Marine Corps, he continued his education in law, attending Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree there in 1947, preparing for admission to the bar and entry into legal practice.

Harsha was admitted to the bar on March 6, 1947, and began practicing law in Portsmouth. Shortly thereafter, he entered public service at the local level, serving as assistant solicitor for the city of Portsmouth from 1947 until 1951. In 1951 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Scioto County, Ohio, a position in which he served one four-year term. His work as a local prosecutor and municipal legal officer established his reputation in southern Ohio and provided him with experience in public administration and the justice system that would inform his later legislative work.

In 1960, Harsha successfully sought election to the United States House of Representatives as a Republican from Ohio, taking office on January 3, 1961. He served in Congress for twenty years, holding his seat through ten terms until January 3, 1981. As a member of the House of Representatives, William Howard Harsha contributed to the legislative process during a period marked by the Cold War, the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and significant domestic policy debates. He participated in the democratic process on behalf of his district, working on legislation and constituent matters and helping to shape federal policy over two decades. Upon his retirement from Congress in 1981, he was succeeded by Bob McEwen, who had previously managed two of Harsha’s re-election campaigns.

After leaving Congress, Harsha remained active in professional life. From 1981 to 1986, he worked as a consultant in Washington, D.C., drawing on his extensive legislative experience and knowledge of federal government operations. In 1986 he returned to his hometown of Portsmouth, where he resumed the practice of law. His post-congressional years thus combined private legal work with the perspective of a long-serving former member of the House.

Harsha’s personal life was rooted in Ohio. He married Rosemary L. Spellerberg on June 24, 1946. The couple had children, including a son, William H. Harsha III, who went on to a judicial career as a judge of the Ohio Court of Appeals for the Fourth Appellate District, continuing the family’s involvement in public service and the law. Harsha remained closely associated with his native region throughout his life.

William Howard Harsha Jr. died in Portsmouth, Ohio, on October 11, 2010, at the age of 89. His legacy is commemorated in Ohio through several public landmarks. An artificial lake on the East Fork of the Little Miami River in Clermont County near Batavia is named in his honor (located within East Fork State Park), recognizing his contributions to the state and its infrastructure. In addition, the William H. Harsha Bridge, spanning the Ohio River between Ohio and Kentucky, bears his name, symbolizing his long-standing service to the region and to the nation.