Corwin Nixon was born on March 5, 1913 one mile south of Red Lion, Ohio. Corwin was best known as an Ohio politician for Lebanon, Ohio. He served as Warren County Commissioner from 1950-1962 and was then elected to the Ohio House of Representative in 1962, a post he maintained for 30 years until his retirement in 1992. He rose to Minority Leader of the Republican Party in the Ohio House, holding the position longer than any other minority Leader from 1979-1992.
Mr. Nixon was very passionate about Standardbred horse racing. Nixon was the manager and part owner of the Lebanon Raceway in Lebanon, Ohio, also a breeder, trainer, and driver. He was the president of the U.S. Trotting Association.
Nixon was an effective politician because of his small-town folksiness. Whenever a new baby was born in Warren County he would send a dollar and card to the family. He always inquired about family members, and often remembered secretaries with gifts or cards. He would visit nursing homes on a regular basis, and delivered presents to every minister in his district.
Nixon began meeting people in the 1940s, where he managed the Lebanon Kroger store. Nixon lived on a farm in Turtlecreek Township northwest of Lebanon, remained active in horse racing after leaving politics. He loved animals, meals at the Golden Lamb in Lebanon, and his weekly poker games with statehouse friends which he called “Tuesday Night Investment Club.”
His honors and awards were: Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame, Honorary Doctor Of law, Ohio University, Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame 1980, Corwin M. Nixon Aviation Facility, Great Oaks Joint Vocational School, 1986, Corwin M. Nixon Covered Bridge, Waynesville, Ohio, 1982, Corwin M. Nixon Park, Mason, Ohio, Corwin M. Nixon Bridge, Franklin, Ohio, Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 1994, Board of Trustees Bethesda Hospital and Grandview Hospitals, Corwin M. Nixon Health Center , Lebanon, Ohio October 30, 2008, Corwin M. Nixon Community Health Center, Dayton, Ohio, and Ohio University Award for his role in establishing the Ohio University School of Osteopathic Medicine.
Nixon died on November 6, 2003.
