Michael DeBose
| Michael DeBose | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 12th district | |
|
In office February 13, 2002 - December 31, 2010 | |
| Preceded by | John E. Barnes Jr. |
| Succeeded by | John E. Barnes Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1953[1] Cleveland, Ohio |
| Died | April 23, 2012 (aged 58) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Cleveland State University |
| Profession | Baptist minister; politician |
| Religion | Christian |
Michael DeBose (1953 – April 23, 2012) was an African-American politician who served as a Democratic member of the Ohio House of Representatives. He was first elected to that position on 13 February 2002.
Biography
DeBose attended Cleveland State University, where he earned a BA in Mass Media Communications. He was an ordained and licensed minister of the Zion Chapel Baptist church. He was married with three children.[2]
He was the primary sponsor of four bills, including one to create a mandatory pink sex offender license plate so people can better identify them, saying "The primary reason they can prey is because they're camouflaged from who they really are."[3]
On 1 May 2007, DeBose was taking a walk around his neighborhood after returning from Columbus when two armed robbers attempted to hold him up. He had in the past voted against concealed weapon legislation, but cited this incident as changing his stance: "I was wrong, I'm going to get a permit and so is my wife. I've changed my mind. You need a way to protect yourself and your family... If more people were packing guns, it might serve as a deterrent." [4] "I don't want to hurt anyone. But I never again want to be in the position where I'm approached by someone with a gun and I don't have one."[5]
Death
DeBose died of complications of Parkinson's disease on April 23, 2012, aged 58.[6] He was survived by his wife and three children, all of Cleveland, as well as three grandsons, four brothers and four sisters.
References
- ↑
- ↑ "African-American legislators: Those Who Followed". Archived from the original on December 10, 2006. Retrieved 2005-06-12.
- ↑ "Pink Plates Proposed For Sex Offenders". NBC 4 (Columbus, Ohio). 2007-04-27. Retrieved 2005-06-12.
- ↑ "State Rep Michael DeBose Changed from Anti to ProGun".
- ↑ "Run-in changes lawmaker's stance". The Plain Dealer. 2007-05-15. Retrieved 2005-06-12.
- ↑ Grant Segall (2011-11-01). "Rev. Michael DeBose, former state representative, died today: news obituary". cleveland.com. Retrieved 2012-04-24.