Bill to Designate James A. Garfield Day Unanimously Passes Ohio Senate

COLUMBUS—House Bill 61, which will designate November 19th as “James A. Garfield Day” in Ohio, yesterday passed the Ohio Senate 31-0. Bill sponsors, State Reps. Callender (R-Concord) and Troy (D-Willowick), were pleased to see unanimous passage in both the Ohio House and Senate.

“I want to thank my colleagues in the Senate for their unanimous support of House Bill 61,” said Callender. “It is long overdue for Ohio to recognize the achievements of President James A. Garfield as not only one of Ohio’s finest sons but as an educator, public servant, and legislator.”

“At the request of National Park Service officials at the James A. Garfield Home and National Historical Site in my district in Mentor (Lake County, Ohio), I was asked to introduce this legislation,” said Troy. “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 2nd President to expire from an assassin’s bullet and that great promise was not realized. I think it’s fitting that we formally declare November 19th as James A. Garfield Day in Ohio.”

Native Ohioan James A. Garfield served in the Civil War, was a member of the U. S. House of Representatives and served as 20th President of the United States.

The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk for his signature.