OHIO
Ohio State Information
Nickname(s): The Buckeye State
Motto(s): With God, all things are Possible
State song(s): Beautiful Ohio
Capital Columbus
Largest City Cincinnati
Admitted to US 3/1/1803 17th State
Brief History
Here are a few interesting facts about Ohio:
Ohio had many firsts, including ambulance service, traffic lights, cash registers, baseball teams, police cars, traffic tickets (12 mph), laws protecting working women, and the first man to walk on the moon (Neil Armstrong).
Akron was the biggest rubber capital in the world.
This state is the birthplace of 7 presidents: Ulysses Grant, Rutherford B Hayes, James Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Taft, and Warren Harding.
There are many famous people from Ohio, including Roger Staubach (football), Larry Csonka (football), Cy Young (baseball), John Havlicek (basketball), Stephen Curry (basketball), Clark Gable (actor), Paul Newman (actor), Doris Day (actress), Steven Spielberg (filmmaker), Orville and Wilbur Wright (inventors), and many others.
Interesting Stories
Thomas Edison was born in Milan, OH. His education was limited to a few years of homeschooling. Thomas started as a newsboy, selling newspapers at a local railroad station. His employment as a night-shift telegraph operator gave him time to read and experiment. However, he spilled sulfuric acid on the floor one night, and the next day he was fired. Poverty, lack of education, and hearing impairment did not impede or slow him down. He had an insatiable ambition, organizing one company after another. He placed research on the pinnacle of his business plan, forming the facility known as Menlo Park in New Jersey. He could not have done it without his inexhaustible drive.
General George Armstrong Custer was born in New Rumley, Ohio. George graduated from West Point and directed many victorious battles. He was sent to the Dakota Territory to protect a railroad survey party when gold was discovered in the Black Hills. At that time, the Black Hills were controlled by the Sioux Nation. President Grant ordered the Sioux to a reservation. When they refused, he ordered a reluctant Custer to round them up. General Custer led 600 men into Little Bighorn Valley and was attacked by some 3000 Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. The victory was disastrous for the Native Americans, but it rallied support for President Grant. Military victories sometimes have unforeseen consequences.
Clarence Darrow was born in Kinsman, OH. He was a trial lawyer who had a particularly rocky start. His first murder case was defending a man accused of killing the mayor of Chicago. He lost, and his client was executed. Later, he represented two ruthless killers for the murder of a 14-year-old. They were both convicted. He also defended a high school teacher for teaching evolution. Clarence spent six days questioning experts on the bible, but the judge threw out all the testimony. He then called the prosecutor to the stand, but the judge also threw out that testimony. In closing arguments, Darrow requested the jury bring in a guilty verdict. The jury obliged and found his client guilty. This case was later turned into the movie Inherit the Wind. His raucous and flamboyant start did not slow him down. He became one of the most successful trial lawyers in the country.
Zane Grey was born in Zanesville. He married Linda Roth, aka Dolly. She was the person most responsible for his success. Her inheritance provided the financial support that he needed to write. She managed everything from editing and proofreading his manuscripts to handling all contract negotiations with publishers, agents, and movie studios. She also helped conceal his many affairs. With Dolly’s editorial help, Zane wrote more than 90 books. And through her keen negotiation skills, these books were adopted in 112 films. Zane Grey gave support to the phrase, “behind every famous man is a woman doing most of the work.”
Jack Nicklaus was born in Columbus, Ohio. He was a professional golfer who was exceptionally loyal to his family and friends. He was so loyal that he kept his high school golf coach and gave two of his caddies permanent employment. When Jack joined the American Tour, he promised his wife, Barbara, that he would not be away from their children for more than two weeks at a time. He only broke that promise once in 36 years. As a result, Jack is exceptionally close with his five children. They even picked up some of his traits and are all fiercely loyal to each other. Jack Nicklaus is the most successful golfer in history, with the most Major championship wins and the second most PGA Tour wins. Loyalty, trust, and talent define Jack Nicklaus.
Arthur Laffer was born in Youngstown, OH. He attended Yale University and Stanford University, receiving his Ph.D. in economics. He disputed the conventional theory that government revenue will increase if the tax rate increases. Instead, Dr. Laffer postulated that, at a certain point, an increasing tax rate would cause a decrease in revenue. Conversely, decreasing the tax rate will increase the incoming revenue. He drew the famous Laffer curve, which has been proven correct repeatedly. Tax cuts from Kennedy, Regan, and Trump have all shown an increase in revenue. Laffer says that cutting taxes will increase revenue.