Harris, IBLC honor late State Rep. Bill Crawford at Statehouse ceremony

Today, members of the Indiana General Assembly honored the late State Rep. Bill Crawford by unveiling a photograph of him inside the House Ways and Means Committee in the Statehouse. Crawford served in the state legislature for 40 years, including a stint as the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. He died in 2015 at the age of 79.

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) issued the following statement after the ceremony:

“Throughout his decades of service, Rep. Crawford embodied what it means to be a leader and an advocate for your community. This work didn't begin in the Statehouse. As a Korean War veteran, Crawford risked his life to defend democracy abroad. When he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1973, he worked to enhance democracy for Hoosiers.

“From co-authoring the Second Chance Act – which created a pathway for those with a criminal record to rejoin society – to working to create the Minority Teachers Scholarship Fund, Crawford was dedicated to making a more equitable, just state for every resident of Indiana.

“In 1979, Crawford co-founded the IBLC and eventually served as chair. Years later, in 2002, he became the first African American to serve as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, where he crafted three biennial budgets.

“Throughout his time in the Statehouse, Rep. Crawford served as a mentor to many young lawmakers looking to make the Hoosier state a better place to live. I hope his photo outside of the committee room offers lawmakers a reminder of the good that can happen when they strive to do right by their constituents and the people of Indiana every day.”