Judge Charles Frederick Kurfess was a long-time public servant, committed to the people in his northwest Ohio districts and beyond. The revered statesman died Friday, March 1, at the age of 94.
His esteemed career as a public official included 11 terms as a state representative from 1957 to 1978, serving as Speaker of the House three times from 1967 to 1972. Following retirement from the House, he served two terms as Judge of the Wood County Court of Common Pleas. He also had a law practice in Bowling Green for 33 years.
Randy Gardner, of Bowling Green, filled Kurfess’ seat in the Ohio House in 1984, seven years after the elder statesman stepped down from the office.
“I’ve always said, if there was an Ohio General Assembly Hall of Fame, Speaker Kurfess would be a charter first-ballot member. An incredible record of public service and a life well lived,” Gardner said.
In addition to serving in his House seat representing Wood County, Gardner also had another connection with Kurfess, having graduated from Eastwood High School the same year as Kurfess’ daughter, Ann.
Gardner remembers Kurfess sharing much wisdom over their years of friendship.
“I remember him saying, ‘You aren’t anything in Columbus without the people back home,’” Gardner said. “You have to earn support from people.”
Gardner also recalled one speech that Kurfess made during a gathering at his home on Reitz Road in Perrysburg Township. Kurfess held up the keys to the speaker’s office in Columbus, and to the keys to members’ areas of the Ohio House.
“He had really important keys that no one else had,” Gardner said. But he stayed rooted at home and knew what was important in life. “He said, ‘the most important key is the one that opens the back door to your home.’”
Kurfess served during a different time in Columbus.
“It was an era when you tried to make things work and get things done,” Gardner said. “You were down there to get things done.”
Kurfess believed in passing his knowledge and power to younger generations. Just as he had done with Gardner, Kurfess saw something special in Mike Marsh, of Bowling Green.
In the early 1980s, he asked Marsh to take the role of the first finance chair of the Wood County Republican Party. From there Marsh went on to serve as chairman of the local party for years.
“He was big on involving young people in politics,” Marsh said. “He set a good example. He let me learn on the job, so I try to be the same way.”
Kurfess also saw someone worthy of mentoring in Matt Reger, now Wood County Common Pleas Judge. Reger worked as court attorney in Kurfess’ courtroom from 1993 to 1996.
“He was a mentor for me, and a great friend,” Reger said. “He was somebody I could give a call and get advice.”
Reger’s last visit with Kurfess was a week prior to his death, and as always, he wasn’t one to dwell on his successes.
“He wanted to talk about cases. He didn’t want to talk much about the past,” Reger said.
“What a great career he had. He was the example of what public service is about. I’ve tried to emulate that in many ways.”
“He had a great presence. He was kind of an icon. How many common pleas judges, a week after being sworn in, swear in a new governor,” Reger said, speaking of George Voinovich.
Gov. Mike DeWine issued the following statement about Kurfess: “Fran and I are saddened to hear of the death of former Ohio House Speaker Chuck Kurfess. Chuck was a true public servant who represented northwest Ohio so very well, serving in both the House and as Wood County Common Pleas Judge. As speaker, he always looked at the big picture of what was best for all Ohioans and for our children. Through the years when I visited Bowling Green, I would often see him, and I always enjoyed our conversations. He always stayed in touch with what was going on in Ohio, and I appreciated his wise counsel over the years.”
During his career, Kurfess also served on several committees and task forces for the Ohio Judicial Conference, the Ohio Supreme Court and the Ohio Bar Association. He was appointed by Presidents Nixon and Ford to the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations.
A graduate of Bowling Green State University and the Ohio State University Moritz Schooll of Law, Kurfess was awarded Honorary Life Fellowship by the Ohio State Bar Foundation and Distinguished Alumnus Award from BGSU.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Marsh & Marsteller Funeral Homes. Visitation will be Friday, March 8, from 4-7 p.m. in St. John’s Lutheran Church. 5520 Fremont Pike, Stony Ridge. Services will be Saturday, March 9, at 11 a.m. in the church.
A full obituary is forthcoming.
