Governor O'Bannon

Indiana Governor Frank Lewis O'Bannon, 73, died Saturday, September 13, 2003 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois five days after suffering a massive stroke. O'Bannon, a Democrat, was born January 30, 1930 in Louisville, Kentucky son of the late Robert and Faith (Dropsey) O'Bannon of Corydon, Indiana. He was first elected governor in 1996 and again in 2000; he served two terms prior to that as lieutenant governor under Evan Bayh. Prior to taking office, O'Bannon was a state senator for 18 years. He represented eight Southern Indiana counties and, for the last 11 years, was Democratic floor leader. A 1948 graduate of Corydon High School, O'Bannon served as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force from 1952 to 1954. He earned a law degree in 1957 from Indiana University and was admitted to the bar the same year. He opened a law office in Corydon, where he also wrote and helped run the family owned newspaper, The Corydon Democrat. He also managed the First Federal Savings and Loan Association in Corydon. He is a member of the Corydon United Methodist Church, and formerly served as president of the Corydon Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Judith Mae(Asmus); two daughters, Jennifer O'Bannon of Indianapolis and Polly Zoeller of New Albany; a son, Jonathan O'Bannon of Floyds Knobs, and five grandchildren. On Thursday, September 18, the public will be allowed to file past a display in the Indiana Statehouse from 12 Noon to 10:00 PM (EST) and will be invited to write a message or memory about the governor in a memorial book. On Friday, September 19, an interfaith service is planned for 12 Noon on the west steps of the Statehouse, where O'Bannon was inaugurated in 1997. Plans for a service in Corydon are pending. Interment will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Corydon.