Frank Bartlett Willis (December 28, 1871 - March 30, 1928) was a Republican politician from Ohio. He served as the 47th Governor of Ohio. Born in Lewis Center, Ohio, Willis graduated from Ohio Northern University in 1894. After teaching at Ohio Northern for twelve years, Willis was admitted to the bar and began practicing law. He served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1900-1904 while teaching at Ohio Northern, and was subsequently elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1910, serving from 1911-1915. Elected to the governorship in 1914, he served one two-year term from 1915-1917, but was not re-elected, being defeated by James M. Cox, who he defeated in 1914. Cox also defeated Willis in 1918. After placing Warren Harding's name in nomination at the 1920 Republican National Convention, he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1920, replacing Harding, who then resigned his seat to take the presidency, allowing Willis to take his seat early. Willis died in office in 1928 at Gray Chapel, Ohio Wesleyan University, in Delaware, Ohio during a Republican presidential nomination organized by the Delaware County Willis-for-president Club.
Preceded by: James M. Cox Governor of Ohio 1917-1921 Succeeded by: James M. Cox Preceded by: Warren G. Harding United States Senator (Class 3) from Ohio 1921-1928 Succeeded by: Cyrus Locher Governors of Ohio Tiffin • Kirker • Huntington • Meigs • Looker • Worthington • E. Brown • Trimble • Morrow • Trimble • McArthur • Lucas • Vance • Shannon • Corwin • Shannon • T. Bartley • M. Bartley • Bebb • Ford • Wood • Medill • Chase • Dennison • Tod • Brough • Anderson • J.D. Cox • Hayes • Noyes • Allen • Hayes • Young • Bishop • Foster • Hoadly • Foraker • Campbell • McKinley • Bushnell • Nash • Herrick • Pattison • Harris • Harmon • J.M. Cox • Willis • J.M. Cox • Davis • Donahey • Cooper • White • Davey • Bricker • Lausche • Herbert • Lausche • J. Brown •