James W. Huffman

Template:Short description Template:Redirect Template:Infobox Officeholder James Wylie Huffman (September 13, 1894Template:Spaced ndashMay 20, 1980) was an American lawyer and Democratic Party politician from Ohio. He represented Ohio in the United States Senate from 1945 until 1946.

Early life

Huffman was born in Chandlersville, Ohio on September 13, 1894 and attended the schools of Rich Hill Township in Muskingum County as well as schools in Ashland County.<ref name="CongBio">Template:Cite book</ref> He was a student at Ohio Wesleyan University and Ohio State University, then worked as a high school teacher and principal for three years.<ref name="CongBio"/><ref name="Obit">Template:Cite news</ref>

World War I

Huffman joined the United States Army for World War I.<ref name="CongBio"/> He completed officer training, received his commission as a second lieutenant, and was assigned as a machine gun officer for the 329th Infantry Regiment, a unit of the 83rd Division.<ref name="CongBio"/> He was subsequently assigned to the 120th Machine Gun Battalion, a unit of the 32nd Division.<ref name="CongBio"/> Huffman participated in four major American Expeditionary Forces offensives -- Aisne–Marne, Oise–Aisne, Meuse–Argonne, and Argonne Forest.<ref name="CongBio"/> In 1918, he was promoted to first lieutenant.<ref name="CongBio"/> After the Armistice of 11 November 1918 ended the war, Huffman remained in Germany for six months of occupation duty.<ref name="CongBio"/>

Career

Huffman was discharged from the army in 1919 and attended the University of Chicago Law School, from which he graduated with an LL.B. degree in 1922.<ref name="CongBio"/> He was admitted to the bar in Illinois and practiced in Chicago.<ref name="CongBio"/> He carried out a temporary appointment as an assistant state attorney general in 1923, then decided to return to Ohio.<ref name="CongBio"/>

In 1925, Huffman married Margaret Catherine Donahey, the daughter of Governor A. Victor Donahey.<ref name="Obit"/> Huffman served as Donahey's executive assistant during his governorship, and was a member of the state public utilities commission from 1927 to 1929.<ref name="CongBio"/><ref name="Obit"/> At the expiration of his term, Huffman began to practice law in Columbus.<ref name="CongBio"/> In 1944, Huffman ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Ohio governor.<ref name="CongBio"/> He subsequently served as Ohio's director of commerce during the first term of Governor Frank Lausche.<ref name="CongBio"/>

U.S. Senator

In 1945, Senator Harold Hitz Burton resigned in order to accept appointment to the United States Supreme Court.<ref name="CongBio"/> Lausche appointed Huffman to fill the vacancy and he served in the U.S. Senate from October 8, 1945 to November 5, 1946, when Kingsley A. Taft defeated him in the election to complete the remainder of the term.<ref name="CongBio"/><ref name="Obit"/> After leaving the Senate, Huffman resumed practicing law until 1957, when he became president of the Motorists Mutual Insurance Company.<ref name="Obit"/> He later became president of a newly-formed subsidiary, Motorists Life Insurance Company.<ref name="Obit"/>

Death and burial

Huffman's niche at Arlington National Cemetery

Huffman died in Pickerington, Ohio on May 20, 1980.<ref name="Obit"/> He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• Ohio gubernatorial elections

External links

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