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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2010 > July > 29 > Entry
Former State Rep. Robert E. Netzley dies; served 40 years
Former state Rep. Robert E. Netzley, a Laura Republican who served 40 years in the Ohio House, died on Wednesday, July 28.
Netzley served longer in the House than anyone in state history.
Ohio House Minority Leader William Batchelder, R-Medina, issued a tribute to his long-time colleague:
“Ohio lost one of its greatest legislators in the history of the state when Bob Netzley of Miami County passed away last evening. Having served longer than any other member of the General Assembly (40 years), Bob Netzley served with unparalleled courage, total dedication to the philosophy of conservatism and an unbending adherence to the principals upon which this republic was founded.
“He was, in all of his service, one who could have joined the founders of this nation in courage integrity and adherence to principle. We shall not see his like again.” Share your condolences for Bob Netzley.
Here’s a column about Netzley from the Dayton Daily News upon his retirement in December 2000:
NETZLEY GOES OUT IN BLAZER OF OLD GLORY
State representative retires after 40 years
By William Hershey COLUMBUS BUREAU
COLUMBUS - Snow had begun falling and winter winds howled outside, but this month’s blustery weather made no difference to state Rep. Robert E. Netzley.
The Republican from Laura in Miami County came to the Ohio House dressed like the Fourth of July.
He wore a red blazer, white shirt and a flag tie with red and white stripes and white stars set against a blue background.
I'm proud of this country,' Netzley, 78, said.Anything I can do to promote patriotism I will.’
When the House adjourned for the year on Dec. 12, Netzley had served 40 years, longer than anyone in state history. Only former state Sen. Ted Gray, a Columbus Republican, put in more years in the Ohio legislature, 43.
Term limits now restrict legislators to eight years of consecutive service in the House or Senate. This would have prevented Netzley from seeking re-election, but Netzley said he would have retired anyway.
`There’ll never be another Bob Netzley in the Ohio General Assembly,’ said state Rep. Jim Buchy, R-Greenville, during House tributes to Netzley.
Buchy paused to listen to Netzley, sitting nearby on the House floor.
As he (Netzley) just said,Thank, God,’ ’ Buchy added.
For four decades, Netzley has been the don’t-tax and don’t-spend conservative scourge of governors and legislative leaders of both parties.
Only twice, Netzley said, has he supported a state budget.
When Netzley served on the State Controlling Board, which approves contracts for goods and services, he was a dogged and picky questioner.
Joanne Limbach, tax commissioner under Democratic Gov. Richard F. Celeste, remembers rehearsing for appearances before the board.
Everybody wanted to be Bob Netzley,' Limbach recalled.You could ask any question, every question you wanted to (ask) and never had been able to.’
Some questions, said Limbach, were `on the mark.’
`Some were just Netzley,’ she said.
There may not be a more politically incorrect member of the legislature. When he recently rose on the House floor to praise state Rep. Barbara Boyd, a Cleveland Heights Democrat who’s also leaving because of term limits, he commented on her size.
`Barbara, you’re sure an armful,’ Netzley said. Boyd didn’t seem to mind.
When her turn to speak came, she said there were `two Bobs in her life,’ her husband and Bob Netzley.
I don't give him a label,' Boyd said of Netzley.Except … friend.’
State Sen. Rhine McLin, D-Dayton, whose district extends to Netzley’s Miami County turf, feels the same way.
The one thing you have to give Netzley is respect,' McLin said.Because whether you agree with him or not, you always know where he’s coming from. He doesn’t have a hidden agenda. Sometimes you wonder if it wouldn’t be safer for him to hide it.’
It might have been in 1984 when Netzley, as chairman of the Miami County Republican Party, took a poke at the Democratic Celebrezze family from the Cleveland area. Brothers James and Frank Celebrezze were on the Ohio Supreme Court and their cousin Anthony Celebrezze Jr. was the Ohio attorney general.
It's no wonder that some are calling Ohio's justice system theMafia Family Court,’ ’ said a pamphlet circulated by the county party.
James Celebrezze sued Netzley and the party for $8 million, alleging that the pamphlet implied he was involved in organized crime and contributed to his losing a supreme court election. The U.S. Supreme Court in 1990 rejected an appeal by Netzley and left standing a ruling that he would have to defend himself at a trial against the lawsuit. In 1991, Netzley agreed to settle out of court, with his insurance company paying Celebrezze $100,000. Netzley makes no apologies.
I would have won that (lawsuit),' he said, citingfreedom of speech’ as the main reason.
Netzley also was a major bur under Democrat John J. Gilligan’s saddle when as governor Gilligan crusaded for a state income tax in 1971. Gilligan launched an austerity program that closed state parks and left the lawn at the Statehouse unmowed.
I said to some of the guys,Let’s mow the yard,’ ’ Netzley said. So Netzley and a few pals brought their lawnmowers to Columbus and cut the grass.
Was it a publicity stunt?
`What was closing the parks?’ Netzley asked.
No hard feelings, said Gilligan, who got the tax passed but lost his re-election bid in 1974 to Republican James A. Rhodes.
He not only tried, but succeeded in creating a lot of commotion,' Gilligan said of Netzley.He was a very dedicated guy.’
Netzley and outgoing House Speaker Jo Ann Davidson, R-Reynoldsburg, regard each other with chilly respect. Netzley backed another candidate for House minority leader when state Rep. Corwin Nixon of Lebanon in Warren County decided not to seek re-election in 1992.
Davidson won and went on to become Speaker after Republicans gained control of the House in 1994.
Bob pretty much told me at one particular time that he thought I was too old to be a leader and I should step aside,' said Davidson, 73.Bob’s been pretty up front. He’s not bashful about expressing his opinion.’
As Speaker, Netzley said, Davidson had the right to do whatever she wanted to do.' He added, however, thatthe Speaker always wants people that she can control.’
As Speaker, retorted Davidson, she had the responsibility to get a budget passed and sat down with members to hash out differences and reach agreements.
I don't call that control,' she said.I call that when you get to a certain point in time, you’ve got to do your job.’
Netzley doesn’t brag about his service in the legislature. In fact earlier this year, he spoke on the House floor with unusual candor. He came to Columbus 40 years ago, he said, to shrink government and cut taxes.
`I’ve been a total failure,’ Netzley said, half in jest.
He wasn’t being completely honest with himself, however. Taxes have increased and government has grown.
But another Netzley goal has been achieved. Back before anyone coined the term `welfare reform,’ Netzley thought paying people without jobs to stay at home was an outrage to the taxpayers and degrading to those taking the money.
`People ought to work for their welfare,’ Netzley told anyone who would listen.
Everybody said,You can’t do that. That’s degrading.’ Now we’re doing it,’ Netzley said approvingly. `I feel vindicated in my approach.’
Under Ohio’s welfare reform law, cash benefits now are limited to three continuous years.
Netzley has spent much of this year working as chairman of the Welfare Oversight Council, the House-Senate panel assigned to oversee Ohio’s welfare-to-work reform efforts. Boyd, the Cleveland Heights Democrat, has served with him. They’ve traveled the state, reviewing how Ohio’s 88 counties are handling the transition.
`I think we’re going to be all right,’ Netzley said.
He has not always been delicate about pushing his approaches to welfare reform.
`If you can’t feed ‘em, don’t breed ‘em,” says a sign on his office door. It refers to people, not cows. Cows, Netzley said, would feed their young.
Netzley’s welfare-to-work approach has won support, even among Democrats.
I think there should be a work component,' Sen. McLin said.If we had started a long time ago, we’d be in a different position than we are today. Netzley’s been very prophetic.’
Maybe that’s who Netzley is, a prophet and a patriot. The patriotism goes beyond the red blazer and flag tie.
Netzley was an ensign aboard the U.S.S. Chase near Okinawa on May 20, 1945, when a Japanese suicide bomber flew into the ship. The right wing broke off not far from where Netzley was standing. The bomb the plane had been carrying exploded under water, blowing two big holes in the ship.
Netzley was blown through the air, ending up one deck below where he had been standing.
It's a strange feeling when you're flying through the air,' Netzley said.It felt just like a big gust of hot air hit me.’
Netzley received a Purple Heart, the military award given to those wounded in action.
Most of his legislative colleagues didn’t know about it until Buchy told them last week.
`I don’t necessarily keep parading it like I’m a hero,’ Netzley said.
Retirement will give Netzley more time to spend with his wife, Marjorie, their three grown children and 11 grandchildren.
If a governor or legislative leader needs him for a special assignment, Netzley said he’s ready.
In certain areas, I might be dangerous,' Netzley said.In other areas, I might be just the guy they want. If they need somebody who’s going to stick to his guns, they couldn’t find a better person.’
As Buchy said, however, there won’t be another person like Netzley in the legislature, next year or probably ever.
`The Lord couldn’t handle it,’ said McLin.
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