Thomas Andrew Luken (July 9, 1925 – January 10, 2018) was an American politician of the Democratic Party from

Ohio Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...

, serving in the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

during the 1970s and 1980s.

Early life and education

Luken received his high school diploma in 1942 from Purcell High School. During the Second World War, Luken served as a U.S. Marine. In 1947, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from

Xavier University Xavier University ( ) is a private Jesuit university in Cincinnati and Evanston (Cincinnati), Ohio. It is the sixth-oldest Catholic and fourth-oldest Jesuit university in the United States. Xavier has an undergraduate enrollment of 4,860 stud ...

in Cincinnati, after having earned some credits at

Bowling Green State University Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is a public research university in Bowling Green, Ohio. The main academic and residential campus is south of Toledo, Ohio. The university has nationally recognized programs and research facilities in the ...

. In 1950, he earned a law degree at the Salmon P. Chase College of Law at

Northern Kentucky University Northern Kentucky University is a public university in Highland Heights, Kentucky. It is primarily an undergraduate institution with over 14,000 students; over 12,000 are undergraduate students and nearly 2,000 are graduate students. Northern ...

and began practicing law.

Career

From 1955 to 1961, Luken served as solicitor for the city of Deer Park, Ohio. He was then appointed

United States District Attorney United States attorneys are officials of the U.S. Department of Justice who serve as the chief federal law enforcement officers in each of the 94 U.S. federal judicial districts. Each U.S. attorney serves as the United States' chief federal c ...

for the Southern District of Ohio, in which he served from 1961 to 1964. He served on the Cincinnati city council from 1964 to 1967 and from 1969 to 1974. He also was the mayor of Cincinnati from 1971 to 1972. In 1974, Luken won a special election in the Cincinnati-based 1st congressional district to fill out the term of

William J. Keating William John Keating (March 30, 1927 – May 20, 2020) was an American lawyer, businessman and politician of the Republican party. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1971 to 1974. Background Keating was born in Cinci ...

, a Republican who resigned his seat. However, Luken was defeated later that year in his bid for a full term by Republican Bill Gradison, who had preceded him as mayor of Cincinnati. In 1976, Luken ran in the neighboring 2nd district and unseated Republican incumbent

Donald D. Clancy Donald D. Clancy (July 24, 1921 – June 12, 2007) was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives. He represented the 2nd District of Ohio from 1961 until 1977. Early life and education Clancy was born in Cincinnati, ...

, beginning service in 1977 (95th Congress). He was reelected six times, all by large margins. He was only the second Democrat to represent a significant portion of Cincinnati for more than one term in the 20th century. In 1983, Luken and Gradison swapped districts as a result of the 1980 census, with Luken's district being renumbered as the 1st District. He did not run for an eighth term in 1990, opting instead to retire in favor of his son, Cincinnati mayor

Charlie Luken Charles John Luken (born July 18, 1951, in Cincinnati, Ohio) is an American politician of the Democratic party who was mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, and served in the Ohio's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. L ...

, who won a term in his father's former seat. Tom Luken's brother,

Jim Luken James T. Luken (December 31, 1921 – July 12, 1979) was an American politician and labor union leader of the Democratic party, who served as mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, in the 1970s. Luken was a local leader of the Milk Driver's Union, a subsi ...

, was a labor leader and also served as a Cincinnati mayor.

Death

Tom Luken died on January 10, 2018.Cincinnati political legend Thomas Luken is dead
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References

External links

Finding Aid for Thomas A. Luken papers
Archives and Rare Books Library, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Luken, Tom 1925 births 2018 deaths Bowling Green State University alumni Cincinnati City Council members Mayors of Cincinnati Xavier University alumni Salmon P. Chase College of Law alumni United States Marine Corps officers United States Attorneys for the Southern District of Ohio United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II Military personnel from Cincinnati People from Deer Park, Ohio Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio