By John Kiesewetter
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Former Ohio House minority leader Corwin Nixon

LEBANON - Corwin Nixon, a long-time Ohio legislator and one of the most powerful politicians in Warren County history, died Thursday in Dayton's Grandview Hospital and Medical Center after a one-month illness. He was 90.

Nixon retired from the state legislature in 1992 after 30 years, including 14 as minority leader. He also was manager of the Lebanon Raceway, and a director and former president of the U.S. Trotting Association.

He died of kidney and lung failure, said Keith Nixon Jr., his grandson.

"Warren County has lost a very good friend," said Warren County Commissioner Pat South. "A lot of new residents of Warren County may not have heard of Corwin Nixon, but he helped put Warren County on the map."

Evidence of his clout can be seen all over Southwestern Ohio. His name is on a Mason park, a Waynesville covered bridge, Miami University's aquatic center in Oxford, a wing of the Brookwood Retirement Community in Sycamore Township, a Wilmington aviation maintenance school and a Dayton health center. He also helped secure funds for a new Franklin bridge, Mason library, Warren County Alternative School and Lebanon courthouse.

"He did many good things for Warren County while he was in Columbus. He took care of us," said Leslie Spaeth, co-chairman of the Warren County Republican Party executive committee and former Warren County auditor.

Nixon, a Republican, took care of the rest of Ohio, too, aided by his close relationship with a Democrat, former House Speaker Vern Riffe.

"Corwin was the epitome of how a legislator could work in a bipartisan way. He worked effectively with Vern Riffe and the Republican Senate," said Stan Aronoff, a retired state senator who served in the legislature during Nixon's tenure.

"Corwin would promise to deliver so many votes, and he could do it, and that's how budgets got passed," said Richard Finan, who left the legislature in January.

Gov. Bob Taft called Nixon a friend and mentor. When Hamilton County voters elected Taft to the Ohio House in 1976, he was given an office across the hall from Nixon. "(He) showed me the ropes, and has been encouraging me and mentoring me until his last days," Taft said. "He is one of the most important political figures that I've had the opportunity to work with and know."

Nixon was an effective politician because of his small-town folksiness. He always inquired about family members, and often remembered secretaries with gifts or cards. He regularly visited nursing homes, and delivered presents to every minister in his district.

He began meeting people in the 1940s, when he managed the Lebanon Kroger store. He became Lebanon Raceway manager at the county fairgrounds in 1950, and for 20 years managed harness racing at Latonia Raceway in Kentucky, now known as Turfway Park. He served three terms as a Warren County commissioner (1950-62).

"All the years he was in politics, if there was a baby born in Warren County, he sent a card and a dollar. People remembered that! Boy, that was a great way to get votes," said Stella Hagemeyer, a Clarksville horse breeder and a 30-year member of the Warren County Board of Elections.

Nixon, who lived on a farm in Turtlecreek Township northwest of Lebanon, remained active in horse racing after leaving politics. He completed 15 years as president of the U.S. Trotting Association earlier this year, and continued to come to his racetrack office through September, said Hagemeyer, fair race secretary for Warren, Clermont, Clinton and Montgomery counties.

As recently as five years ago, Nixon was driving a trotter in a Warren County Fair harness race, Hegemeyer said.

He loved animals, meals at the Golden Lamb in Lebanon, and his weekly poker games with statehouse friends which he called the "Tuesday Night Investment Club," Finan said.

Nixon was inducted into the Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame in 1980, the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 1986, and the Harness Racing Living Hall of Fame in 1993.

He has served as a director for the American Horse Racing Federation, the Harness Tracks of America, Cincinnati Automobile Club, Lebanon Citizens National Bank, Bethesda Hospital and Grandview Hospital and Medical Center.

Nixon is survived by a son, Keith, and a daughter, Karen Heaberlin, both of Lebanon; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at Oswald-Hoskins Funeral Home, 329 E. Mulberry St., Lebanon. The funeral service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Lebanon United Methodist Church. Burial will be Lebanon Cemetery.

Memorials: Warren County Humane Association, P.O. Box 313, Lebanon, 45036; the Corwin M. Nixon Nursing School Fund, c/o Lebanon Citizens National Bank, P.O. Box 59, Lebanon, 45036; or Lebanon United Methodist Church, 122 E. Silver St., Lebanon, 45036.

E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com