John William Sweezy

John William Sweezy passed away on November 21^st 2017 at the age of 85. He was surrounded by family and went peacefully. He was considered to be the greatest County Chairman to have ever graced the position, serving as Marion County Republican Chairman for more than 28 years beginning in 1972.

Except for 1974 during the Nixon debacle, under his direction the Republican party never lost an election in Marion County during that time, a feat which will probably never be duplicated.

He was born to William (Bill) and Zuma Sweezy on November 14^th 1932, the third child out of three, with older brother Byron and oldest sister, Evelyn. He graduated from Franklin Central H.S. in 1950. In 1951 he joined the Army and was on his way to Korea when the war ended returning home and finishing his service in 1953. He decided to go to Purdue University and earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering. It was during this time he met the love of his life, Carole Harman. After he graduated from Purdue in 1956, they were married and they moved to Bloomington, Indiana where he enrolled at Indiana University and earned an MBA. During this time, they started their family, John Jr. and Brad. He was involved heavily in the Young Republican organizations at both IU and Purdue, becoming regional chairman during his college years. After college, they moved to Indianapolis where he became active in politics serving as precinct committeeman, ward chairman, township chairman, district chairman and eventually County chairman. He was a delegate to every state convention from 1956 until his retirement in 2000. He was a National delegate to every convention from 1968 until his retirement in 2000. He was the chairman of the Warren Twp GOP club, Warren Screening committee and the First Chairman of the National Association of Urban Republican County Chairmen . Along the way he first worked at Allison transmission as a design engineer, then at Indianapolis Power and Light as an engineer until becoming the first director of Public Works under Richard Lugar and Unigov. He was a life member of Mensa, Board of Directors at the Humane Society, 32^nd Degree Mason, Scottish Rite, York Rite and the Royal Arch.

He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings and his wife, Carole. He is survived by his sons, John (wife Susan), Brad (wife Tammy). Grandchildren- John Ill (wife Christa), Kimberly, Chris (wife Jamie) and Stephanie (husband Ron) Spratt along with 5 great grandchildren. We will miss you Dad and we love you.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 from 11am until 2pm at Flanner Buchanan – Washington Park East, 10722 E. Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46229. A funeral service will immediately follow at 2pm, also at the funeral center. Burial with military honors will follow at Washington Park East Cemetery.