Our 32nd Prosecutor was born in Grinnell, Iowa, and received his law degree from the University of Michigan, in 1911. He moved to Toledo in 1922 after serving a term as prosecuting Attorney in Commanche County, Oklahoma.

Rhinefort was appointed as Assistant Prosecutor under Frazier Reams in 1933 and served in that position under both Reams and Thomas O'Connor until 1942 when he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of O'Connor who had been elected to the Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

As an Assistant Prosecutor, he and Harry Friberg teamed up to try and ultimately get a conviction of the Purple gang. Subsequently, they also prosecuted the principals in the Toledo Guaranty Corp. Fraud conspiracy which was valued at $1 million (in the 1930's!).

A Blade article on January 5, 1953, stated that Rhinefort was one of the most colorful Prosecutors and that he "possess a flair for the traditional courtroom oratory and he ability to shatter a hostile witness." As a Prosecutor, it has been said that he never tried a person for murder who was acquitted either by a jury or by a judicial panel.

Rhinefort also contributed significantly to the Ohio anti-gambling legislation and pioneered the gambling injunction padlock law. He retired to private practice in 1953, having chosen not to run for re-election in the 1952 election. He was succeeded by his fellow trial partner, Harry Friberg. In 1954, Rhinefort suffered a stroke and was in ill health until his death in 1968. He was predeceased by his wife, with whom he had no children.