 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2013) |
Frank O'Bannon | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, c. 1990 | |
| 47th Governor of Indiana | |
| In office January 13, 1997 – September 13, 2003 | |
| Lieutenant | Joe Kernan |
| Preceded by | Evan Bayh |
| Succeeded by | Joe Kernan |
| 46th Lieutenant Governor of Indiana | |
| In office January 9, 1989 – January 13, 1997 | |
| Governor | Evan Bayh |
| Preceded by | John Mutz |
| Succeeded by | Joe Kernan |
| Member of the Indiana Senate | |
| In office November 4, 1970 – December 1, 1988 | |
| Preceded by | Robert O'Bannon[1] |
| Succeeded by | Richard D. Young |
| Constituency | 29th district (1970–1972) 46th district (1972–1982) 47th district (1982–1988) |
| Succeeded by | Leslie Duvall |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Frank Lewis O'Bannon January 30, 1930 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | September 13, 2003 (aged 73) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Indiana University Bloomington (BA, JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1952–1954 |
| Rank | First Lieutenant |
Frank Lewis O'Bannon (January 30, 1930 – September 13, 2003) was an American politician who served as the 47th governor of Indiana from 1997 until his death in 2003. He is the most recent U.S. Governor to have died in office.
O'Bannon was a native of Corydon, Indiana. He graduated from Corydon High School (now Corydon Central High School) in 1948 and then Indiana University Bloomington, where he met his wife Judy. In Corydon, he served as a practicing attorney and a newspaper publisher for The Corydon Democrat before his entrance into the political arena.
A conservative Democrat, O'Bannon was first elected to the Indiana Senate in 1969.[2] He eventually became one of the body's most prominent members. O'Bannon ran for Governor of Indiana in 1988; however, instead of facing a hotly competitive primary, O'Bannon dropped out of the race and became the running mate of Evan Bayh. The Bayh/O'Bannon ticket was successful, and O'Bannon served in the role of lieutenant governor for eight years. In this position, he served as President of the State Senate and directed the state's agriculture and commerce programs.
With Bayh ineligible to seek a third consecutive term as governor in 1996, O'Bannon ran for governor that year. He was initially considered a heavy underdog but emerged a narrow victor over Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith. He was re-elected in 2000, defeating Congressman David M. McIntosh. As governor, O'Bannon was known for advocating for education-related issues and helping to create the state's AMBER Alert System. He presided over a period of economic prosperity for the state in the 1990s and served a term as Chairman of Midwestern Governors Association. O'Bannon died in office in 2003 and was succeeded by Lieutenant Governor Joe Kernan. He is the most recent governor of any U.S. state to die in office. To date, he is also the most recent Democrat to be elected governor of Indiana.
- ^ "List of All Offices and Office Holders". March 5, 2015.
- ^ Alonso-Zalvidar, Ricardo (September 14, 2013). "Indiana Gov. Frank O'Bannon, 73; Conservative Democrat Stressed Education and Development". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 31, 2019.