By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Gordon M. Scherer - a former state representative and prominent Statehouse lobbyist whose clients included the city of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, the Bengals, the Reds and Paramount's Kings Island - died of cancer Sunday at his Westwood home. He was 64.

Mr. Scherer was well known in Columbus, where he spent four terms as a Republican representative in the Ohio House and 30 years as a lobbyist.

His trademark was his sense of humor, and he often got laughs by poking fun at himself.

"Gordy was a throwback to another era of politics, where a mixture of good humor went along with the seriousness of being productive," said Stan Aronoff of Mount Lookout, a friend and fellow legislator.

"He was as funny as he was loyal,'' Aronoff said. "He could get things done - and enjoyed every minute of it."

With a chuckle, Aronoff recalled Mr. Scherer tossing his toupee into an audience to the tune of burlesque music.

"No one who has ever met Gordy will ever forget him or his infectious laugh that rocked the walls of the Statehouse." Aronoff said.

"This came so suddenly that the repercussions are just being felt," he added.

Mr. Scherer let few people know of his illness and felt certain he was going to beat it. A month ago, he was shopping for new golf clubs for the summer, said his son, Gordon W. Scherer of Covedale.

A past board member of Western Hills Country Club, Mr. Scherer "loved politics almost as much as he loved golf," his son said.

For the past several years, Mr. Scherer was associated with State Street Consultants, a formidable lobbying group based in Columbus with an office in Cincinnati. Before that, he was in Columbus focusing on transportation issues during the 1960s and 1970s.

The first legislation he worked on was the safe bus bill, said his wife of 41 years, Judith Myers Scherer. Inspired by a schoolgirl who was struck by a negligent driver, the legislation imposed standards in an area that was "virtually unregulated at that time."

It was the beginning of his interest in transportation safety.

Mr. Scherer's omnibus highway safety bill is regarded as one of the best in the country, said Aronoff.

But "he was probably most proud of a law that was repealed, which was the motorcycle helmet law," his son said.

A graduate of Withrow High School, Mr. Scherer earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati and a law degree from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law.

Aronoff summed up Mr. Scherer's contributions to the public and private sector: "I think the fact that the House of Representatives (Wednesday) spent almost a half-hour in a tribute to a legislator who has been gone for a quarter of a century gives some idea of the affection with which he's held."

Mr. Scherer was a member of the Cincinnati Athletic Club, Cincinnati Bar Association and UC Boosters and a former member of the Queen City Club.

One of his sons, Steven Myers Scherer, died in 1984.

In addition to his wife and son Gordon, survivors include a sister, Suzanne Kitei of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and two grandchildren.

The funeral is noon today at Westwood United Methodist Church, Epworth and Urwiler. Visitation follows the service. Burial will be private.

Memorials: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, CF Research, Mail Location 2021, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com