Frank O'Bannon

Frank Lewis O'Bannon ( born January 30, 1930 in Louisville, Kentucky; † 13 September 2003 in Chicago, Illinois ) was an American politician and between 1997 and 2003 the 47th Governor of Indiana.

Early years and political rise

O'Bannon was born in Kentucky but grew up in Corydon (Indiana). There he attended elementary school. Until 1952 he studied at Indiana University. He then spent two years in the U.S. Air Force. After his time in the Air Force, he returned to the University, where he graduated in 1957 his law. After qualifying as a lawyer, he began to practice. Besides, he was also publisher of several weekly newspapers in Harrison County and Crawford County. Already since 1907, his family had been active in the business publisher and O'Bannon followed with this activity a family tradition.

O'Bannon was a member of the Democratic Party and was elected in 1970 to the Senate of Indiana. Between 1979 and 1988 he was on this committee leader of the Democrats. In 1988 he was elected vice- governor of his state and confirmed in 1992 by the voters in this office. He was for eight years the representative of the Governor Evan Bayh. In addition to his role as Vice Governor, he was both commercial and Minister of Agriculture of Indiana. He was elected as a candidate of his party for governor himself in 1996.

Governor of Indiana

O'Bannon took up his new post on 13 January 1997. In 2000, he was confirmed by the voters of Indiana. As governor, he pushed for a further improvement of the school system and improved health care for children. In this field, he was at the forefront of all states. He was the first governor of Indiana, who used the Internet and e -mail programs, long before that was the rule. At the beginning of his tenure benefited the governor of the positive economic development of the 1990s. He could cut taxes and still set, for example, 500 new police officers. The terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001 resulted in the consequence also in Indiana to economic problems. The economy went into crisis and Indiana fell away 120,000 points. The reduced tax revenues significantly. With the problems and the opposition grew against the governor.

On 8 September 2003 O'Bannon suffered during the visit a trade show in Chicago a stroke, the consequences of which he died five days out. His Lieutenant Governor Joe Kernan had to complete his term. Frank O'Bannon was married to Judy Asmus, with whom he had three children.