PORTER, ALBERT S. (29 Nov. 1904-7 Jan. 1979), Cuyahoga County engineer for 29 years and county Democratic party chairman for 6 years, was born in Portsmouth, Va. to Albert S. and Lena Edmonds Porter. He moved with his family to LAKEWOOD in 1913, graduated from Lakewood High School in 1922 and from Ohio State University with his B.S. in civil engineering in 1928. In 1929 he joined the Cleveland Highway Research Bureau, becoming chief assistant to county engineer John O. McWilliams in 1933, where he remained until 1947, with time out for 5 years of Navy service during WORLD WAR II. After McWilliams's resignation in 1947, Porter became county engineer, serving in that capacity for almost 30 years. During his tenure, much of the freeway system linking Cleveland to its suburbs was built. Porter was active in Democratic politics, becoming county chairman of the Democratic party in 1963 upon the resignation of RAY T. MILLER†, serving until 1969. He was defeated for reelection as county engineer in 1976. As a result of a grand jury investigation in 1977, he pleaded guilty to 19 counts of theft in office, was fined $10,000, and was placed on probation for 2 years. Porter married Genevieve Shaveyco in 1949 and had 2 sons, Lee and Alan, and a daughter, Carol.
Last Modified: 21 Jul 1997 04:25:28 PM- Related Article(s)