HR 369

As Adopted by the House
136th General Assembly
   Regular Session  H. R. No. 369
      2025-2026
Speaker Huffman, Representatives Isaacsohn, Bryant Bailey, Abdullahi, Abrams,
  Baker, Barhorst, Bird, Brennan, Brent, Brewer, Brownlee, Callender, Claggett,
    Click, Cockley, Craig, Creech, Daniels, Dean, Deeter, Demetriou, Dovilla,
  Ferguson, Fischer, Fowler Arthur, Ghanbari, Glassburn, Grim, Gross, Hall, D.,
    Hall, T., Hiner, Holmes, Hoops, Humphrey, Jarrells, John, Johnson, King,
   Kishman, Klopfenstein, Lampton, LaRe, Lawson-Rowe, Lear, Lett, Lorenz,
Manning, Mathews, A., Mathews, T., McClain, McNally, Miller, J., Miller, K., Miller,
      M., Mohamed, Moore, Mullins, Newman, Odioso, Oelslager, Peterson,
 Piccolantonio, Pizzulli, Plummer, Rader, Ray, Richardson, Ritter, Robb Blasdel,
  Robinson, Roemer, Rogers, Russo, Salvo, Santucci, Schmidt, Sigrist, Sims,
 Somani, Stephens, Stewart, Swearingen, Sweeney, Synenberg, Teska, Thomas,
C., Thomas, D., Thomas, J., Tims, Troy, Upchurch, White, A., White, E., Williams,
  Willis, Workman, Young
  A RESOLUTION
  In memory of L. Helen Rankin.  1
     WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the 136th  2
General Assembly of Ohio extend our heartfelt condolences to the  3
family and friends of L. Helen Rankin in their bereavement; and  4
     WHEREAS, Helen Rankin left an indelible impression in all of her  5
endeavors, and the State of Ohio benefited exponentially during her  6
service as an Ohio legislator, a career which spanned one appointment  7
and seven re-elected terms in office, for a total of sixteen years.  8
Appointed to the 112th General Assembly as the member for the Ohio  9
House of Representatives 25th District, which was subsequently  10
redistricted to the 30th District, Helen Rankin was the first African  11
American woman to serve in the state legislature, and she was a  12
H. R. No. 369  Page 2
As Adopted by the House
dependable and esteemed advocate for women’s health, children, and the     13
underprivileged. She proved to be a champion for greater access to  14
insurance coverage, Medicaid reimbursement, special services for  15
impaired Ohioans, and Title XX Comprehensive Social Services  16
initiatives, and during her more than fifteen-year tenure, she was a       17
member of the Finance and Appropriations and Human Resources  18
committees. The wealth of experience she brought to her posts will be      19
remembered as a storied history of public service; and  20
     WHEREAS, Helen Rankin’s regard for improving the quality of life      21
in our society was reflected in her continued leadership in her  22
community, and she was esteemed for her character and strong values.       23
She was a longtime supporter of such entities as the Shalom Habitat        24
for Humanity Project, the Emanuel Community Center, and New Vision  25
United Methodist Church, and her meaningful efforts earned her the  26
respect of many. Her absence will, indeed, be keenly felt in countless     27
realms; and  28
     WHEREAS, Helen Rankin always used her talents to the benefit of       29
others, and the laurels of her life stand as a tribute not only to her     30
but also to the people who shaped her life, including her husband, the     31
late James, her children, James, Sharron, and Connie, and her seven        32
grandchildren. Although the void her death has created can never be        33
filled, the legacy of care and commitment she established will surely      34
live on. The world is a richer place for her having been in it, and        35
the impact she made during her lifetime will be her eternal legacy;        36
therefore be it  37
     RESOLVED, That we, the members of the House of Representatives of     38
the 136th General Assembly of Ohio, in adopting this Resolution,  39
express a profound sense of loss and sincere regret at the passing of      40
L. Helen Rankin and, in so doing, salute the memory of an honorable        41
woman; and be it further  42
     RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit     43
a duly authenticated copy of this Resolution to the family of L. Helen     44
Rankin.  45