FORMER INDIANA CONGRESSMAN ANDY JACOBS JR. DEAD AT AGE 81
A stalwart of the Indianapolis community whose name was synonymous with decency and common sense in politics, former Indiana Congressman Andrew Jacobs Jr. died on Saturday at age 81.
A graduate of Shortridge High School and Indiana University, Jacobs also served honorably in the United States Marine Corps where he fought in the Korean War.
He served in Indiana’s House of Representatives from 1959 to 1960 and later served in the U.S. House of Representatives for two stints, the first from 1965 to 1973 and a lengthier one from 1975 to 1997 when he didn’t seek reelection opting to retire from political office. Jacobs became a force helping to catapult Julia Carson onto the national stage as a democratic congresswoman from Indiana. After retirement, Jacobs taught on the collegiate level at IUPUI and became a columnist writing thought-provoking quips for NUVO Newsweekly.
Jacobs was a public servant who was known to work closely in his career with civil rights leaders, most notably on the local level was his close relationship with Reverend Andrew J. Brown. Jacobs also authored a book on fellow congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr. entitled The Powell Affair: Freedom Minus One, which told the story of the 1967 vote in the U.S. House of Representatives which unseated Powell excluding him from his formal political power.
Among Jacobs’ numerous accolades and awards is “The Drum Major for Justice” which was awarded to him by the Indiana Christian Leadership Conference (ICLC), which is the Indiana chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, founded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
In a statement, Indiana Governor Mike Pence said, “Andy Jacobs, Jr.’s contributions to the life of our state and nation are incalculable and I mark his passing with a sense of personal loss. Andy Jacobs personified the kind of principled and compassionate leadership that Hoosiers most admire and he will be greatly missed…”
Jacobs passed away peacefully at home. He is survived by his wife, Kim Hood Jacobs and two children, Andy and Steven Jacobs.
Memorial arrangements have not been announced. Check back here and listen to the “Morning News on AM-1310 ‘The Light’ with Kim Wells” for updates.
Share your thoughts about Former Congressman Andy Jacobs Jr. and your memorial messages on our Twitter page @1310TheLight. Use hashtag #1310AndyJacobsJr.
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