Vern Riffe - Life and Political Career

Life and Political Career

Riffe, a moderate Democrat, was an exceptionally strong Speaker, even bringing Republican members of the House under his sway by threatening to fund the campaigns of their Democratic opponents for re-election.

Riffe, who hailed from the impoverished Appalachian Region of southeastern Ohio fought hard to bring money for development to his corner of the state. Riffe's efforts resulted in the creation of Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, sometimes referred to as "Vern Riffe U." He also brought funding to southern Ohio for the building of a major highway, Ohio 32, disparaged as the "Highway to Nowhere," which starts in the countryside near Athens, Ohio, in the east and winds its way westward across Southern Ohio, finally ending in rural Clermont County east of Cincinnati. At the time of its construction it traversed no major population centers, stopping short of both Cincinnati and Athens. Today, it is referred to as the Appalachian Highway or the James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway.

Riffe has been honored by several state agencies in Ohio. The Vernal Riffe Chair, a professorship in government at Ohio State University is named after him. Ohio State's Department of Biochemistry is housed in the Vernal G. Riffe Building. The Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts, located across High Street from the Ohio Statehouse in Downtown Columbus, provides office space for the Governor of Ohio, members of the Ohio House of Representatives and many state agencies. The Vern Riffe Center for the Arts in Portsmouth is located at Shawnee State University.

Riffe is buried at Memorial Burial Park in Wheelersburg, Ohio.

Riffe's son, Vernal G. "Skip" Riffe III, is a county commissioner in Scioto County, Ohio. His grandson, Vernal G. "Nick" Riffe IV, ran for Porter Township Trustee in 2009. He finished a distant third in a field of four.

Riffe's wife continues to reside in Scioto County. His daughter Cathy E. Skiver is a retired elementary school teacher. Verna Riffe Biemel, Riffe's second daughter currently serves with the American Cancer Society and Mary Beth Hewitt, Riffe's third daughter is a former teacher. Riffe served as a member of the Ohio House for 36 years, from 1959 to 1995 and served as speaker from 1975 until 1994. Because of his power to raise funds, Riffe's departure from the political scene was a major financial blow to the Ohio Democratic Party.