Background
He was born in Youngstown, Ohio on June 13, 1924, to Greek-American parents, Rubena (Markakis) and Angelo Michelakis (sometimes spelled Mechilakis), whose surname was Americanized to Meshel.
political party official State Senator
He was born in Youngstown, Ohio on June 13, 1924, to Greek-American parents, Rubena (Markakis) and Angelo Michelakis (sometimes spelled Mechilakis), whose surname was Americanized to Meshel.
Bachelor of Business Administration, Youngstown College, 1949. Master of Science, Columbia University, 1950. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Ohio University.
Doctor of Laws (honorary), Youngstown State University. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Ohio College Podiatric Medicine. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Youngstown State University.
He served as the president of the Ohio State Senate and chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party. Meshel is noted for his legislative efforts on behalf of the disabled, economic development, and solid and hazardous waste disposal. Meshel served in the Naval Construction Battalion, or SeeBees, during the Second World War from 1943 to 1946.
He was awarded two Bronze Battle Stars for the battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944.
He earned a bachelor"s degree in business from Youngstown College in 1949. As an undergraduate, he was Student Council president and vice president of the senior class.
Meshel received a master"s degree in urban land economics from Columbia University in 1950. That same year he became a limited instructor at Youngstown College, while also working in investment, real estate, and insurance.
In the 1960s, Meshel waged two unsuccessful campaigns for Mahoning County commissioner.
He became an administrative assistant to Youngstown Mayor Anthony Flask in 1964, and served as urban renewal director in 1969. In 1971, he was elected to the 33rd District of the Ohio Senate, and he was re-elected five times. Meshel became the Senate"s majority whip and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
In 1980, Meshel ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives but lost to Republican incumbent Lyle Williams.
Meshel served as minority leader from 1981 to 1982. During his five terms in the Ohio Senate, Meshel was credited with helping to secure almost $150 million in capital improvements for Youngstown State University.
In addition, he secured more than $160 million in grants and loans from the Ohio Department of Development for economic development projects. Meshel also worked to create the Northeastern Universities College of Medicine, the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Ohio University, the Wright State University School of Professional psychology, and other programs.
Meshel helped create the Ohio Commission, which eventually became the Ohio Athletic Commission.
Since 1994, Meshel has also been a supervisor for the International Council. In 1986, YSU named its new technology center Meshel Hall in his honor, as he helped secure funding for the project In 1993, Meshel resigned from the Ohio Senate to become chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, a position he held until 1995.
In May 2007, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland named Meshel to a nine-year term as a trustee of Youngstown State University.
He also works as a lobbyist. He was honored for spearheading the creation of the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor, which celebrated its 15th anniversary in September 2007.
Meshel has a street, "Meshel Way" named after him in Struthers, Ohio. Meshel also has a hall named after him at NEOMED.
Meshel entered electoral politics in 1970, when he ran for a seat in the Ohio State Senate. That same year, the Democrats lost the majority in the state Senate and Meshel replaced Oliver Ocasek, who had been president of the Ohio Senate, as the party"s leader in the senate.
Past president, past lieutenant governor American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association ). Precinct committeeman Mahoning County Democratic Party, ward captain, member executive committee. Campaign manager local candidates, county campaign manager presidential candidates.
Delegate Democratic Mid-Term Convention, 1981. Founder Great Lakes/N.E. Legislation Coalition. Chairman, founder National Democratic State Legislation Leaders Association.
Director State Legislation Leaders Foundation. State/federal assembly, member communications committee National Conference State Legislation, legislation management committee, government operations committee. Chair fiscal affairs committee Midwest Conference Council State Governments, task force on economics & fiscal affairs.
Delegate, executive committee Democratic National Committee. Member Democratic Leadership Council, State Democratic Executive Committee. Executive committee Association State Democratic Chairs.
Board trustees National Hall of Fame for Persons with Disabilities, Youngstown State University. Member St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Member Mill Creek Metro Park Board Commissioners With United States Navy, 1943-1946.
Member (life) National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, American Civil Liberties Union, American Veterans of World World War II, Korea, Vietnam (Legislator of Year 1993), Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Catholic War Vets (District Legislator award), Veterinary Boxers Association Mercer County, Pennsylvania, Trumbull County Boxers' Legends of Leather (Man of Year award Hall of Fame), William Holmes McGuffey History Society, Buckeye Elks Lodge (honorary). Member Kiwanis International, Urban League, Alliance Chamber of Commerce, Southern Community Junior Chamber of Commerce (honorary), Society for Preservation of Greek Heritage, Greek American Progressive Association, Pan Cretan Association, Arms History Museum Society, Eagles, Moose, The Stambaugh Pillars.
Children: Barry, Melanie.