Robert Thompson Secrest (January 22, 1904 – May 15, 1994)(18 May 1994). Robert T. Secret Dies, The Washington Post was an American veteran of World War II, educator, and Democratic representative to the United States Congress from the state of Ohio. He served in Congress three separate times: 1933 to 1942, 1949 to 1954, and 1963 to 1966, resigning each time prior to the end of his term.
Biography Robert Secrest was born at Senacaville, Guernsey County, Ohio, the eldest son of a miner, Robert Waits Secrest (1880-1929), and his wife Amelia née Thompson. Robert attended the State public schools. He subsequently graduated from Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio, 1926, Washington, D.C. College of Law, 1938, and Columbia University, New York City, 1943. He graduated from British School of Civil Affairs, Wimbledon, England, 1943.
Early career Secrest was superintendent of the Murray City, Ohio, schools 1931–1932. He was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives 1931–1932. He was elected as a Democrat to the rd to th United States Congresses, and served March 4, 1933, to August 3, 1942, when he resigned to join the United States Navy. He was later promoted to Commander and served until February 28, 1946, in England, Africa, Italy and the Pacific.
Political career Secrest ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1946, and acted as legal supervisor for the Library of Congress from 1946 to 1947. He was elected to the st through rd Congresses, and served January 3, 1949, to September 26, 1954, when he resigned to become a member of the Federal Trade Commission. He served on that commission 1954–1961, and was Director of Commerce, State of Ohio in 1962.
Secrest again was elected to the th and th Congresses, and served January 3, 1963, to December 30, 1966, when he again resigned after failing at re-election in 1966. He was a member of the Ohio State Senate from 1969 to 1973, and member of the National Council of the American Legion, 1978 to 1987.
Death He died May 15, 1994, in Cambridge, Ohio. At the time of his death, he was the earliest-serving former congressman as well as the last one to have served during the Herbert Hoover administration.
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