GREGORY S. LASHUTKA IS AUTUMN COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

   COLUMBUS -- Columbus Mayor Gregory S. Lashutka will deliver the commencement address during The Ohio State University’s autumn ceremony Dec. 10. Approximately 1,400 graduates will receive degrees during the ceremony, to be held in St. John Arena. Commencement begins at 9:30 a.m.

   Lashutka received his bachelor’s degree in history in 1967 from Ohio State, where he was co-captain of the Buckeye football team in 1965. He went on to play defensive end for the Buffalo Bills briefly and served for four years as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, including active duty in Vietnam in underwater explosive ordnance disposal. Following his military service, he graduated from Capital University Law School in 1974. He served as Judge Richard B. Metcalf’s law clerk in the Probate Court of Franklin County and as U.S. Congressman Samuel Devine’s legislative aide. He later became a partner with the law firm of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, where he focused on municipal and sports law.

   He was twice elected to four-year terms as Columbus city attorney, serving from 1978 to 1985. As the city’s chief legal officer, he supervised 42 attorneys in the criminal and civil divisions. During his tenure, he streamlined the prosecutor division, making it more responsive to community needs.

   Under Lashutka’s leadership as the city’s 46th mayor since 1992, Columbus has become one of America’s premier inland international cities. In 1994, the city hosted the United Nations World Summit on Trade Efficiency, at which officials from around the globe discussed ways to increase trade through electric commerce. Through Lashutka’s initiatives, such as the Inland Port project and Trade Point USA, central Ohio businesses can increase trade and expand their operations.

   In 1993, he was named Municipal Leader of the Year by American City and County magazine. He was president of the National League of Cities in 1996, serving as a spokesman and representative for more than 3,000 municipalities nationwide. He is a frequent speaker to legal and municipal audiences throughout the country, and he has coordinated numerous county and statewide political campaigns for local, regional and national candidates.

   Lashutka’s community involvement has earned him several awards, including the Jewish National Fund’s Tree of Life Award in 1994, the National Football Foundation Association’s Mr. Ohio Gold Award in 1992, and the National Eagle Scout Award in 1996.

Contact: Karissa L. Shivley, University Relations, (614) 292-8295