SIDLO, THOMAS L. (10 Mar. 1888-27 May 1955), lawyer and founding partner of the law firm of Baker, Hostetler, Sidlo & Patterson (see BAKER & HOSTETLER), was born in Cleveland to Thomas and Anna Sidlo, started as a freshman at Western Reserve University (see CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY) but transferred to the University of Wisconsin at Madison for 2 years, returning to WRU in 1908 and graduating in 1909, receiving his M.A. (1910) and LL.B. (1912) from WRU. He was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1912. Sidlo supported NEWTON D. BAKER for Cleveland mayor, and when Baker took office, Sidlo was made chief deputy under PETER WITT, the street railway commissioner. In 1913, Sidlo became commissioner of franchises, shortly thereafter commissioner of information and publicity, and in 1914 director of public service.
When Baker left office in 1916, Sidlo joined him in forming Baker, Hostetler, Sidlo & Patterson. Sidlo was the financial director, controller, and general counsel for Scripps-Howard Newspapers, United Press Assoc., and the Newspaper Enterprise Assoc. from 1924-36. After Sidlo resigned, he devoted his time to his numerous outside interests, which encompassed more than 200 organizations, chiefly in music, theater, foreign affairs, and science. He was chairman of the NORTHERN OHIO OPERA ASSOC.; president of the MUSICAL ARTS ASSOC., CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE, CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, and the Foreign Affairs Council in Cleveland; chairman of the Cleveland Committee for Relief in Czechoslovakia; and a trustee of Science Service, Inc. Sidlo married Winifred Morgan in 1914. She died in 1932. He later married Elizabeth Avery in 1935. Sidlo was buried in LAKE VIEW CEMETERY.