Those who knew the late Sen. Richard Lugar remembered him as someone who never hesitated to use bipartisanship to achieve what was best for the United States.
“What an iconic individual,” said John Brown, a Columbus native who worked in the late President George H.W. Bush administration and got to know Lugar through the former senator’s two oldest sons, who were his fraternity brothers.
“He (Lugar) always put everyone else in this country above himself,” Brown said. “He always worked in a bipartisan manner for America’s goals around the world. I have to say this, that’s sadly missing in today’s environment.”
Brown, who was a political science major at Ball State, got to know Lugar very well when Lugar’s son, Bob, was in Brown’s fraternity pledge class at the university, followed the next year by Lugar’s son, Mark.
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He also credited Lugar with providing an introduction to his wife, who Brown met when she was on leave from IBM to work on Lugar’s 1982 campaign.
“Six terms in the U.S. Senate — that’s just unheard of,” Brown said. “What a remarkable man from Indiana.”
Longtime Indiana State Sen. Robert “Bob” Garton also reached out to remember Lugar, mentioning Lugar’s service as mayor of Indianapolis.
“He led the city through remarkable change and renewed national recognition. Ironically, when he was elected to the U.S. Senate, he was known as an international expert with a unique ability to work across the political aisle,” Garton said.
Local attorney Pete King said he was saddened to learn of Lugar’s death.
“He was the quintessential public servant. I worked on many of his local campaigns here in Bartholomew County, and I was impressed that, even during the political fray, he was always thinking of and advancing the public good with a thoughtful and deliberative approach. His voice will be missed,” King said.
Indiana Republican Party Chairman Kyle Hupfer said Lugar was a Hoosier who dedicated his life to making the world a better a place, starting in his own hometown (of Indianapolis) by ushering in a new era of modern government.
“He brought new life to Indiana’s capital city, with a visionary approach that catalyzed new growth and opportunity for the region,” Hupfer said.
“But Lugar’s impact is felt by all Americans and all people who are safe today because of his commitment to security and nuclear disarmament during the Cold War. As a U.S. Senator, he reduced the threat of nuclear weapons in the former Soviet Union through the Nunn-Lugar Act. His leadership in foreign relations was unparalleled,” Hupfer said.
“Serving Hoosiers for nearly four decades — the longest serving U.S. Senator in Indiana’s history — when Richard Lugar spoke, you listened. His words carried immense weight and were always backed with knowledge and insight,” Hupfer said.
“Outside the Senate, Richard Lugar also is responsible for inspiring generations of Hoosier and American leaders who follow him. In particular, his leadership in helping get more women involved in public service through the Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series is a legacy that will continue here in Indiana as more than 2,000 women have now completed the program,” Hupfer said.
Indiana’s Democratic Party leadership also remembered Lugar on Sunday.
Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody issued the following statement: “Indiana has lost a leading diplomat, a man who steadfastly believed in the power of dialogue and bipartisanship. Richard Lugar’s achievements were grounded in a clear-eyed approach that valued facts over rhetoric. His voice was never the loudest but his word meant something. Ultimately, his resolve and integrity made the world a safer place and is proof diplomacy can break down any wall,” Zody said.
Lugar spoke in Columbus in November 2017, the keynote speaker at the 25th anniversary of the William Laws Peacemaking Lecture at First Presbyterian Church in Columbus before an audience of more than 100 people.
He advocated for an increase in food production and the use of bio-technologies in other countries as two steps needed in order to improve food security abroad. Global food security remains an important issue as developing countries continue to struggle, said Lugar, who at the time was serving as president of the Lugar Center, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. The center focuses on global security, weapons of mass destruction nonproliferation, foreign aid effectiveness and bipartisan governance.
During the speech, Lugar advocated Congress focusing on climate change, which he said suffered a setback when the Trump administration withdrew from the Paris climate accord.
During a question-and-answer period after his speech, Lugar was asked about North Korea and its nuclear weapons, and he described it as a potentially dangerous situation not only for North Korea, but for the world.
Lugar said he hoped it could be dealt with through diplomacy.
“It’s a situation that must come to an end,” he said. “This is a political horror on the horizon.”
Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers, who was public information officer during Lugar’s last two years as Indianapolis mayor, and served on Lugar’s Senate staff, said, like countless other people, she was struggling with her emotions and sense of loss.
“There was no one like Dick Lugar, and it’s really hard to imagine the world without him. He never let us down — not the city, state, nation or world. The tributes will be pouring in and he deserves every one of them. I had the privilege to see the Senator and Char (his wife) about a month ago at an exhibit for his papers — from school board to his current service at the Lugar Center. He was as gracious in manner and insightful in perspective as ever. I was able to tell him — again — that other than my faith and family, nothing has had more of an impact on my life than the inspiration he provided. The sadness I’m experiencing is tempered by the gratitude all of us should feel for his life and selfless service.”
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INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Eric J. Holcomb is directing flags across the state to be flown at half-staff to honor former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, who died early Sunday.
Flags should be flown at half-staff from now until sunset on the day of his funeral, which has not yet been announced.
Holcomb also asks businesses and residents to lower their flags to half-staff as well to honor Lugar.
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