Tennyson Guyer (November 29, 1912 – April 12, 1981) was a member of the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...
. He was a
Republican from
Ohio
Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...
for four terms from 1973 to 1981.
Early life and career
Born in
Findlay, Ohio
Findlay ( ) is a city in Hancock County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. The second-largest city in Northwest Ohio, Findlay lies about 40 miles (64 km) south of Toledo, Ohio, Toledo. Its population was 40,313 at the 2020 United Sta ...
on November 29, either in 1912
or 1913,
Guyer was educated in the public schools of Findlay, and performed as an
aerialist
Acrobatics () is the performance of human feats of balance, agility, and motor coordination. Acrobatic skills are used in performing arts, sporting events, and martial arts. Extensive use of acrobatic skills are most often performed in acro d ...
at a young age with the
Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus.
He lived with his uncle after his father was killed by a heart attack on July 22, 1926.
He received a
B.S. from
Findlay College
The University of Findlay (UF) is a private Christian university in Findlay, Ohio, United States. It was established in 1882 through a joint partnership between the Churches of God General Conference and the city of Findlay. UF has nearly 80 ...
in 1934, and afterwards became an ordained
minister.
Guyer served as mayor of
Celina, Ohio
Celina ( ) is a city in Mercer County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. The population was 10,935 at the 2020 census. Located about northwest of Dayton, Celina is situated on the northwestern shores of Grand Lake St. Marys.
History
...
, from 1940 to 1944,
and later became a member of the state central committee from 1954 to 1966.
Guyer was the public affairs director for
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. in Findlay from 1950 to 1972, and was a member of the
Ohio State Senate
The Ohio Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly. The State Senate, which meets in the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio, Columbus, first convened in 1803. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such t ...
from 1959 to 1972.
He was also a delegate to the Ohio State Republican conventions each year from 1950 to 1957, and was a delegate to the
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention (RNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1856 by the Republican Party in the United States. They are administered by the Republican National Committee. The goal o ...
in 1956.
Congress
He was elected as a
Republican to the Ninety-third and to the four succeeding Congresses, serving
Ohio's District 4 in the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...
, and served from January 3, 1973, until his death from a heart attack on April 12, 1981, in
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city (United States), independent city in Northern Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of Washington, D.C., D.C. The city's population of 159,467 at the 2020 ...
. While serving as Congressman in 1979, he led the Cocaine Task Force as chairman, committed to curbing the drug's use in the US.
As a congressman, he was well known for traveling cross country and internationally to deliver speeches.
Death
While inside his house in
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city (United States), independent city in Northern Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of Washington, D.C., D.C. The city's population of 159,467 at the 2020 ...
, he died in his sleep on April 12, 1981
while serving his fifth term in office.
A heart problem was suspected as the cause,
but was not confirmed immediately following the death.
Later sources state his cause of death as a heart attack.
He was interred in Maple Grove Cemetery in his hometown of
Findlay, Ohio
Findlay ( ) is a city in Hancock County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. The second-largest city in Northwest Ohio, Findlay lies about 40 miles (64 km) south of Toledo, Ohio, Toledo. Its population was 40,313 at the 2020 United Sta ...
.
See also
*
*
List of members of the House Un-American Activities Committee
Sources
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guyer, Tennyson
1912 births
1981 deaths
Republican Party Ohio state senators
People from Findlay, Ohio
People from Celina, Ohio
Mayors of places in Ohio
Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio
University of Findlay alumni
20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives
20th-century members of the Ohio General Assembly
Members of the House Un-American Activities Committee