The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Nov. 19 declared ‘James A. Garfield Day’
State Reps. Troy, Callender thank colleagues for unanimous passage
State Reps. Daniel Troy, D-Willowick, and Jamie Callender, R-Concord Township, this week announced the unanimous passage of House Bill 61, declaring Nov. 19 as “James A. Garfield Day.”
“At the request of National Park Service officials at the James A. Garfield National Historic Site in my district, I was asked to introduce this legislation,” Troy said. “James A. Garfield was a true son of Northeast Ohio who rose to the highest office in our nation. He had such promise, as someone who knew how to compromise and reach common ground on the important issues of his day. He was passionate in his efforts to end the spoils system and its blatant political patronage practices.
“Unfortunately, President Garfield became our second president to expire from an assassin's bullet…. sadly, his great promise was not realized,” Troy added. “I think it's fitting that we formally declare November 19 (Garfield's birthday) as James A. Garfield Day in Ohio.”
“I want to thank my colleagues for their support,” Callendar
added. “President Garfield was a great American, great Ohioan and truly worthy of this honor as his impact can still be felt across the United States. From universal public education, a professional civil service and presidential libraries, the influence of President Garfield's legacy can be seen in his hometown of Mentor, Ohio, and throughout the United States.”
Garfield served as the 20th president of the United States, and had a varied career, including serving as the president of the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, now known as Hiram College.
He also served as an ordained minister, attorney and officer in the Union Army, in addition to being a nine-term congressman and United States senator during his journey to the presidency.
Garfield was shot twice at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C., on July 2, 1881, fewer than four months into his term, and died 79 days later on Sept.19 in New Elberon, N.J.
Garfield's widow, Lucretia, is credited with creating the first presidential library when she built an extension onto the family home in Mentor and filled the shelves with the president's writings from both before and during his time in office.
The House Session vote came after passage by the House State and Local Government Committee in March. House Bill 61 now goes to the Senate for additional hearings.