Robert Secrest was born at Senacaville, Guernsey County, Ohio, the eldest son of a miner, Robert Waits Secrest (1880-1929), and his wife Amelia née Thompson.

He was later promoted to Commander and served until February 28, 1946, in England, Africa, Italy and the Pacific.

He was elected to the 81st through 83rd Congresses, and served January 3, 1949, to September 26, 1954, when he resigned to become a member of the Federal Trade Commission.

[2] Secrest again was elected to the 88th and 89th Congresses, and served January 3, 1963, to December 30, 1966, when he again resigned after failing at re-election in 1966.

[2] At the time of his death, he was the earliest-serving former congressman as well as the last one to have served during the Herbert Hoover administration.