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{{infobox
| image = [[File:Rhodes, James A. (1).jpg]]
| caption = Photograph of James A. Rhodes of Columbus, Ohio. He served four terms as governor of Ohio from 1963 to 1971 and 1975 to 1983.
}}
<p>James Allen Rhodes served as Ohio's governor for four terms during the late twentieth century.</p>
<p>Rhodes was born on September 13, 1909, in Coalton, Ohio. Rhodes's father was a coalminer coal miner who died in a mining accident in 1916. The Rhodes family then moved to Springfield, Ohio, where James took odd jobs to help support the family and also attended the Springfield Public Schools. He attended The Ohio State University but did not graduate because he had to leave school to financially aid his family.</p>
<p>In 1937, Rhodes embarked upon a career in politics and public service, winning election to the school board of Columbus, Ohio, as a Republican. His next public office was as the Columbus city auditor, and in 1943, he won election as mayor of Columbus, an office that he held from 1944 to 1952. In 1952, Rhodes successfully ran for Ohio's auditor's seat, a position that he held for the next decade. In 1954, Rhodes lost election as Ohio's governor.</p>
<p>In 1962, Rhodes won election as Ohio's governor. He eliminated or dramatically scaled back several programs that the previous governor, Michael DiSalle, had implemented. At the same time, Rhodes authorized the building of airports, state office buildings, prisons, and other public structures. Rhodes also lowered taxes on small business owners, hoping to enhance Ohio's economy, while he increased funding to schools and universities. He won reelection in 1966.</p>