CINCINNATI (AP) — Former Ohio legislator William L.Mallory, who was the state’s first black House
majority leader andlongest-serving in its history, died Tuesday in Cincinnati at the age of82.Former
Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory said his father diedpeacefully at a hospice, surrounded by his family, after a
briefillness.Elected to the Ohio House in 1966, the elder Malloryserved 28 years in the Legislature,
including two decades as theDemocratic leader in the House.The Cincinnati native worked hisway through
Central State University, then held various jobs includingjuvenile court employee, welfare case worker and
highway inspector. Hetaught in Cincinnati Public Schools and was a leader in the city’s WestEnd
neighborhood.As a legislator, he pushed successfully for drugprevention efforts, more public transportation,
senior citizen issuesand civil rights. After leaving the Legislature, he served on the OhioElections
Commission, founded a nonprofit center for communitydevelopment in Cincinnati, and taught political science
andAfrican-American studies at the University of Cincinnati.House Speaker William Batchelder, R-Medina, said
Mallory "leaves an indelible legacy" in Ohio politics."Ihave no doubt that Bill’s passion for
serving others, which heinstilled in his children, will continue to be exhibited for many yearsto
come," Batchelder said in a statement.Democrat lawmakers in Columbus honored Mallory with a moment of
silence Tuesday before a news conference on the economy.HouseMinority Leader Tracy Maxwell Heard, a Columbus
Democrat, calledMallory a great mentor who would often offer advice while he visited thecapital city.Asked
what words of his she had taken to heart, she said, "To show up and do the work, regardless of how hard
it is."Thechairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party said he first metMallory as a student at the
University of Cincinnati, where Mallorytaught. Alex Triantafilou said Mallory would bring in government
leadersto speak to his class, stimulating students’ interest in publicservice."During my time leading
the local opposition party, Rep.Mallory was always very gracious and always the consummate
gentleman,"Triantafilou said in a statement.The son of a laborer anddomestic worker, Mallory had an
early interest in politics, readingnewspaper opinion pages and talking politics with black city
councilmanR.P. McClain, according to the Cincinnati History Library and Archives.He was in student
government in high school, while working a variety ofjobs before dropping out to help support his family.He
laterresumed his education and then went to Central State. There, he met hisfuture wife and graduated with
honors with a major in elementaryeducation. He helped pay his way by painting dormitories and working inthe
school cafeteria.Mallory was elected president of the WestEnd Community Council in 1965, leading to his
election to the House thenext year. Eight years later, he was elected majority floor leader. Bythe time of
his retirement in 1994, he had become the longest-servingmajority leader and longest-serving Ohio
representative from HamiltonCountyHe is survived by his wife, Fannie, and six children.Besides the former
two-term Cincinnati mayor, his son Dale Mallory is inthe Legislature and sons William Jr. and Dwane are
Hamilton Countymunicipal court judges.Mark Mallory described his father as adeeply spiritual man and a
positive thinker who always found ways aroundobstacles as he rose from humble beginnings."My father was
a fantastic man," Mallory said. "He was in our estimation, the best father anyone can
have."___Associated Press writer Ann Sanner in Columbus contributed to this report.Copyright 2013 The
Associated Press. All rightsreserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten
orredistributed.