Jo Ann Davidson
- October 25, 2024
- 97 years
About Jo Ann Davidson
Jo Ann Davidson, 97, American politician, member (1981–2000) and speaker (1995–2000) of the Ohio House of Representatives.
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Full Biography
|Jo Ann Davidson (September 28, 1927 – October 25, 2024) was an American politician of the Republican Party. A member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1981 to 2000, she was its first female Speaker, from 1995 to 2000, and also served as co-chair of the Republican National Committee.
Early life and education
Jo Ann Benington was born in Findlay, Ohio on September 28, 1927, and raised in Atlanta until her father's death in 1939, when the family returned to Findlay; she finished high school there in 1945.
Career
Davidson worked for the Findlay Chamber of Commerce after high school. After moving to Reynoldsburg with her husband, in 1971 she became a research associate at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, where she eventually became Director of Legislative Services and Vice President of Special Programs.
In 1967 she was elected on her second try to the Reynoldsburg city council, where she served until 1977 and chaired the Finance Committee. In 1978 she was elected Clerk of Truro Township. In 1980, she was then elected to the Ohio House of Representatives. In 1985 she was elected assistant minority whip, subsequently advancing to minority whip and minority leader. When the Republicans gained a majority in 1994, she was elected as the first female Speaker of the House and served in that position until 2001, when she retired from the legislature due to term limits.
In Republican party politics, Davidson was a long-time member of the Franklin County Republican Central Committee, becoming its chair in 1973, served on the National Republican Platform Committee in 1976, and from 2005 to 2009 was co-chair of the Republican National Committee.
In 2001, after her retirement from the legislature, Davidson became interim director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. She was appointed by Governor John R. Kasich as chair of the first Ohio Casino Control Commission in February 2011, serving until February 2018. She was also vice-chair of the Ohio Turnpike Commission, and a member of the Franklin County Mental Health Board. She founded and was president of JAD Associates, a public policy and political consulting firm. In 2000 she founded the Jo Ann Davidson Ohio Leadership Institute, which provides leadership training to Republican women, and she personally advised many women.
Personal life and death
Davidson was married to John Davidson in 1949. They had two daughters, one of whom predeceased her. She died on October 25, 2024, at the age of 97.
Honors
Davidson won awards including the United Conservatives of Ohio's Outstanding Legislator and Watchdog of the Treasury awards, the 1991 Legislator of the Year of the National Republican Legislators Association, and the YWCA Woman of Achievement award. She was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in 1991 and was awarded honorary degrees by Ohio University, Bowling Green State University, Capital University, and The Ohio State University.
The Capitol Theatre in the Vern Riffe State Office Tower in Columbus, Ohio was renamed in her honor in 2016.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo_Ann_Davidson
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Jo Ann Davidson's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was Jo Ann Davidson born?
- A.Findlay, Ohiocorrect
- B.Atlanta, Georgia
- C.Columbus, Ohio
- D.Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Jo Ann Benington was born in Findlay, Ohio on September 28, 1927.
Source: Early life and education
2.What year did Jo Ann Davidson graduate from high school?
- A.1949
- B.1939
- C.1952
- D.1945correct
Jo Ann Davidson finished high school in Findlay in 1945.
Source: Early life and education
3.Which position did Jo Ann Davidson hold at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce starting in 1971?
- A.Treasurer
- B.Director of Communications
- C.President
- D.Research associatecorrect
In 1971, Jo Ann Davidson became a research associate at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
Source: Career section
4.Jo Ann Davidson was elected to the Reynoldsburg city council in which year?
- A.1971
- B.1978
- C.1967correct
- D.1980
Jo Ann Davidson was elected on her second try to the Reynoldsburg city council in 1967.
Source: Career section
5.What role did Jo Ann Davidson hold starting in 1978?
- A.Director of Legislative Services
- B.Mayor of Reynoldsburg
- C.Clerk of Truro Townshipcorrect
- D.Ohio State Representative
In 1978, Jo Ann Davidson was elected Clerk of Truro Township.
Source: Career section
6.In what year was Jo Ann Davidson elected to the Ohio House of Representatives?
- A.1980correct
- B.1978
- C.1977
- D.1981
Jo Ann Davidson was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1980.
Source: Career section
7.Jo Ann Davidson became the first female Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives in what year?
- A.1985
- B.2000
- C.1995correct
- D.1994
After Republicans gained a majority in 1994, Jo Ann Davidson was elected Speaker in 1995.
Source: Career section
8.What position did Jo Ann Davidson hold from 2005 to 2009?
- A.Co-chair of the Republican National Committeecorrect
- B.Director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
- C.Chair of the Ohio Casino Control Commission
- D.Speaker of the Ohio House
Jo Ann Davidson served as co-chair of the Republican National Committee from 2005 to 2009.
Source: Career section
9.Whom did Governor John R. Kasich appoint Jo Ann Davidson to chair in 2011?
- A.The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
- B.The Ohio Casino Control Commissioncorrect
- C.The Ohio Turnpike Commission
- D.The Franklin County Republican Central Committee
In February 2011, Governor John R. Kasich appointed Jo Ann Davidson as chair of the first Ohio Casino Control Commission.
Source: Career section
10.What organization did Jo Ann Davidson found in 2000 to provide training for Republican women?
- A.The Ohio Women's Hall of Fame
- B.The National Republican Legislators Association
- C.The Jo Ann Davidson Ohio Leadership Institutecorrect
- D.JAD Associates
In 2000, Jo Ann Davidson founded the Jo Ann Davidson Ohio Leadership Institute to provide leadership training to Republican women.
Source: Career section
11.In what year was Jo Ann Davidson married to John Davidson?
- A.1945
- B.1967
- C.1952
- D.1949correct
Jo Ann Davidson was married to John Davidson in 1949.
Source: Personal life and death
12.At what age did Jo Ann Davidson pass away?
- A.95
- B.96
- C.98
- D.97correct
Jo Ann Davidson died on October 25, 2024, at the age of 97.
Source: Personal life and death
13.Which of these organizations awarded Jo Ann Davidson the Legislator of the Year award in 1991?
- A.National Republican Legislators Associationcorrect
- B.Ohio Women's Hall of Fame
- C.United Conservatives of Ohio
- D.YWCA
Jo Ann Davidson received the 1991 Legislator of the Year award from the National Republican Legislators Association.
Source: Honors
14.In 1991, Jo Ann Davidson was inducted into which prestigious organization?
- A.The Franklin County Mental Health Board
- B.The National Republican Platform Committee
- C.The Ohio State University Board of Trustees
- D.The Ohio Women's Hall of Famecorrect
Jo Ann Davidson was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in 1991.
Source: Honors
15.What public facility was renamed in honor of Jo Ann Davidson in 2016?
- A.The Capitol Theatrecorrect
- B.The JAD Leadership Center
- C.The Ohio Statehouse
- D.The Reynoldsburg City Hall
The Capitol Theatre in the Vern Riffe State Office Tower in Columbus, Ohio was renamed in honor of Jo Ann Davidson in 2016.
Source: Honors
16.How many daughters did Jo Ann Davidson have?
- A.Three
- B.Zero
- C.Twocorrect
- D.One
Jo Ann Davidson and her husband had two daughters, one of whom predeceased her.
Source: Personal life and death
People who died on October 25
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