Robert D. Orr
Robert Dunkerson Orr ( born November 17, 1917 in Evansville, Indiana, † March 10, 2004 in Indianapolis, Indiana ) was an American politician and from 1981 to 1989 the 45th Governor of Indiana.
Early years and political rise
Robert Orr studied to 1940 American History at Yale University. Subsequently, he attended the Harvard Graduate School of Business. During the Second World War, he brought it to the U.S. Army in the Pacific theater to the Major. Orr was a member of the Republican Party and began in Vanderburgh County his political career. There he rose to the local party chairman. Between 1969 and 1973 he was a member of the Senate of Indiana from 1973 to 1981 he was Deputy Governor of the Deputy Governor Otis R. Bowen. During his time as Lieutenant Governor, he was simultaneously Trade and Agriculture Minister of Indiana. In 1980 he was elected with 57.7 percent of the vote to Democrat John A. Hillenbrand to the new governor of his state.
Governor of Indiana
Robert Orr took up his new post on 13 January 1981. After a re-election in 1984, he could officiate as governor until January 9, 1989. The focus of his eight years in office were the school policy and to promote the economic development of his state. In the field of education, among others, the class size especially of the lower classes has been reduced. Gifted students were promoted and the teaching profession was made more attractive by better pay. Economically experienced Indiana in term Orrs the strongest recovery period for 40 years. Orr was also a member of numerous associations governor.
After the end of his term Orr was a member of various federal organizations. Among other things, he was president of the Council of Governments of the U.S. States (Council of State Governments ). U.S. President George Bush appointed him as successor by Daryl Arnold to the United States Ambassador to Singapore. This office he held until 1992. Thereafter, he founded his own consulting firm, which specialized in trading and export business. Robert Orr died in March 2004 at a hospital in Indianapolis to the consequences of a kidney operation. He was married twice and had three children.