Thomas A. Luken was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on July 9, 1925. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, and earned a law degree from Chase Law School. He began working in public services as Deer Park's City Solicitor, and then became a U.S. Attorney for the Southern District. He was a delegate to the 1964 Democratic National Convention and was elected to Cincinnati's City Council in 1965. He served on City Council from 1965-1967 and then again from 1969-1973. He was mayor of the City of Cincinnati from 1971-1972. He then served as a U.S. Representative for Ohio from 1974-1975 and 1977-1991. After retiring from Congress, he returned to Cincinnati's City Council from 1993-1995.
From the guide to the Thomas A. Luken papers, 1952-1972, 1952-1972, (University of Cincinnati, Archives and Rare Books Library)
