Sam Gresham, life long advocate and chair of Common Cause Ohio, passed away on Thursday, August 7. A dear friend and colleague, and an iconic and irrepressible voice for civil rights and equality, Sam will be deeply missed by us and by the larger community of democracy advocates. 

Sam was a persistent, insightful champion for a democracy that works for all of us. His fight against gerrymandering began twenty years ago during the Reform Ohio Now effort. He kept up the steady call for fair maps. He was instrumental in the 2011 Ohio Redistricting Competition and served on the 2021 Citizens Redistricting Commission.  Last year, Sam promoted Citizens Not Politicians. 

Sam had a long history of community and government involvement which included: CEO of the Columbus Urban League, Executive Director and later chair of Common Cause Ohio, and Executive Director for the Ohio Commission on African-American Males. He also served as the Chief of Single Family Loan Management at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

Sam loved a good debate and ruffling feathers. For many he will be best remembered for his regular appearances on TV such as WOSU’s Columbus on the Record. 

If you would like to make a donation in Sam’s honor, celebrating his decades of defending democracy in Ohio, please click here.

We’re heartbroken by this loss, but we will honor Sam’s legacy through our continued commitment to achieving the democracy we all deserve.