Robert L. Rock
Robert L. Rock (September 8, 1927 – January 9, 2013) was an American politician who served as the Lieutenant Governor of Indiana from 1965 to 1969 and as the Mayor of Anderson, Indiana, from 1972 to 1980. He was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Indiana in 1968, but lost to Republican Edgar Whitcomb.
Robert L. Rock | |
|---|---|
| 30th Mayor of Anderson, Indiana | |
| In office 1972–1980 | |
| Preceded by | J. Ed Flanagan |
| Succeeded by | Thomas R. McMahan |
| 50th Lieutenant Governor of Indiana | |
| In office January 11, 1965 – January 13, 1969 | |
| Governor | Roger D. Branigin |
| Preceded by | Richard O. Ristine |
| Succeeded by | Richard E. Folz |
| Member of the Indiana House of Representatives from Madison County | |
| In office November 5, 1958 – November 4, 1964 | |
| Preceded by | Multi-member district[1] |
| Succeeded by | Multi-member district |
| In office November 3, 1954 – November 7, 1956 | |
| Preceded by | Multi-member district |
| Succeeded by | Multi-member district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 8, 1927 Alexandria, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | January 9, 2013 (aged 85) Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mary Jo Ferguson (m. 1956) |
| Children | Four |
| Alma mater | Indiana University |
| Occupation | Politician |
Early life
Born in Alexandria, Indiana, Rock grew up in Anderson, Indiana. He served in the United States Navy during World War II as a hospital corpsman at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. He graduated from Indiana University with a degree in business in 1951.[2]
Political career
In 1954, at the age of 26, Rock was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives as a Democrat serving in the 1955, 1959, 1961, and 1963 sessions. Then he served as Lieutenant Governor of Indiana from 1965 to 1969. In 1968, Rock won the Democratic nomination for Governor of Indiana, but lost the general election to Republican Secretary of State Edgar Whitcomb. He later served as Mayor of Anderson, Indiana from 1972 to 1980, where he established the Anderson Housing Authority Commission and the City of Anderson Transportation System (CATS).
Personal life
In 1956, he married Mary Jo Ferguson with whom he had four children and later nine grandchildren.
Death
Rock died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 9, 2013, at the age of 85.[3][4][5]
References
- ^ http://www.capitolandwashington.com/offices/all-offices/h48/[dead link]
- ^ 'Mayor Robert L. Rock Dies at 85,' Baylee Pulliam, The Herald Bulletin, January 9, 2013
- ^ Former Lt. Governor Rock Dies At 85 2013-01-12 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Obituary for Robert L. Rock
- ^ Obituary for Robert L. Rock