GEORGE D. TABLACK, 71 Former mayor of Campbell dies

He was a Steelworker and a public servant.
CAMPBELL -- Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Wasko Funeral Home and at 10 a.m. in St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church for George D. Tablack, 71, of 756 Porter Ave. The former mayor of Campbell died Saturday morning at Forum Health Northside Medical Center.
Mr. Tablack was born June 12, 1930, in Youngstown, a son of George D. and Helen Durick Tablack, and was a lifelong Mahoning Valley resident. A 1948 graduate of Struthers High School, he attended Youngstown College and served in the Air Force during the Korean War.
He was a Steelworker at Youngstown Sheet and Tube and later an accountant with the Ohio Department of Taxation and a laborer at Fitzsimmons Steel.
State rep: Tablack was appointed state representative in Ohio's 82nd District in May 1970, after the death of James R. Panno. He won his first full term as 82nd District representative in November 1970 by a 5-to-1 majority over Republican Harold Olson.
He served as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee of the Ohio House of Representatives beginning in 1972. He served as a state representative until 1978.
He lost in his bid for 19th District congressman to U.S. Rep. Charles Carney in 1978. First tabulations showed Tablack losing by 671 votes, recounts showed he only lost by 76 votes.
"He was held in the highest regard for his ability to get a handle on all the intricate state finances and budgetary process," said Judge Joseph J. Vukovich of the 7th District Court of Appeals, a former state representative and senator.
"Any time I ever asked him for help, he was always there and always willing to share his expertise," said Vukovich, who ran successfully in 1978 for the seat Tablack vacated when he ran for Congress.
Wearing a badge: Tablack was appointed by then-Gov. James A. Rhodes in 1979 to the Environmental Board of Review. He was sworn in as Mahoning County sheriff in 1979 to replace the late Michael Yarosh. He served as sheriff until 1981, when current U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. became sheriff.
From 1981 to 1996, he was a lobbyist and political consultant. He became the mayor of Campbell in 1995, serving until 1999.
He was a member of the church and numerous social, fraternal and community organizations.
Besides his wife, the former Dorothy Zajac, whom he married May 3, 1952, he leaves three sons, Thomas D. of Boardman, Robert J. of Liberty, and Mahoning County Auditor George J. of Boardman; a daughter, Dorie Ann France of Columbus; a sister, Norma Katusic in Wisconsin; two brothers, Robert of Austintown, and James of Struthers; and seven grandchildren.
A sister, June Donchess, and two brothers, John and Atty. William, are deceased.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, where a prayer service will be at 5 p.m.