Frank Cremeans

Frank Arnold Cremeans (April 5, 1943 – January 2, 2003) was an American small businessman and Republican politician who represented Ohio in the United States House of Representatives. He served one term in Congress, from January 3, 1995, to January 3, 1997, during a period of significant political change in the mid-1990s, and participated in the legislative and democratic processes as a member of the House of Representatives, representing the interests of his constituents in Ohio’s Sixth Congressional District.

Cremeans was born on April 5, 1943, in Cheshire, Gallia County, Ohio. He grew up in southeastern Ohio and attended local public schools, graduating from Kyger Creek High School in Cheshire. Remaining in the region for his higher education, he enrolled at the University of Rio Grande in Rio Grande, Ohio, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1965. He continued his studies at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, receiving a Master of Arts degree in 1969, further grounding himself in the educational and civic life of the state he would later represent.

After completing his education, Cremeans embarked on a career in business in southeastern Ohio. He settled in Gallipolis, Ohio, where he founded and operated a concrete company that grew into a successful enterprise. Through this work he became known as a self-made millionaire and a prominent small-business owner in the region. His experience in building and managing his company shaped his public image as a practical, business-oriented figure and provided the foundation for his later political career, as he emphasized private enterprise and local economic development.

Cremeans entered national politics in the context of the Republican landslide of 1994. Running as a Republican in Ohio’s Sixth Congressional District, he campaigned on themes consistent with the broader Republican “Contract with America” era, stressing fiscal conservatism and support for small business. In the November 1994 general election, he narrowly defeated one-term Democratic incumbent Ted Strickland, capturing the seat in a closely contested race. His victory contributed to the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives in the 104th Congress.

As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1997, Cremeans served during a significant period in American political history marked by divided government and major debates over federal spending, regulation, and the role of the federal government. A member of the Republican Party, he took part in the legislative process and represented the interests of his southeastern Ohio constituents, bringing the perspective of a small-business owner to congressional deliberations. During his single term, he aligned with the Republican majority in efforts to reshape federal policy in accordance with the party’s mid-1990s agenda.

In 1996, Cremeans sought reelection to a second term in the House. His predecessor, Ted Strickland, challenged him in a rematch for the Sixth District seat. The race was again closely contested, and Strickland ultimately defeated Cremeans by a slim majority. The outcome was attributed in part to strong Democratic turnout in southeastern Ohio, particularly in Athens County, which helped Strickland regain the seat. Cremeans’s service in Congress concluded on January 3, 1997, after one term in office.

Following his departure from Congress, Cremeans returned to Gallipolis and resumed active involvement in his concrete business. He remained engaged in politics and sought to return to elective office. In 1998, he attempted to reclaim his former House seat by running in the Republican primary for Ohio’s Sixth Congressional District. In that three-way primary contest, he was defeated by Ohio Lieutenant Governor Nancy Hollister, who secured the Republican nomination. Undeterred, Cremeans later entered the March 2000 Republican primary for the United States Senate, challenging incumbent Senator Mike DeWine. In that three-way race, DeWine won overwhelmingly with approximately 80 percent of the vote, while gun show promoter Ronald Dickson received about 12 percent and Cremeans finished in third place with roughly 8 percent.

Frank Arnold Cremeans spent his later years in Gallipolis, continuing his business activities and maintaining his ties to the southeastern Ohio communities where he had lived, studied, worked, and served. He died in Gallipolis on January 2, 2003, at the age of 59, due to a respiratory disease. His career combined entrepreneurship and public service, reflecting the trajectory of a local businessman who rose to national office during a pivotal moment in contemporary American politics.