Andrew Jacobs

Andy Jacobs, Jr., 81, died peacefully at home on Saturday, December 27th with the love of his life, wife Kimberly Hood Jacobs; sons, Andrew and Steven; special family friend, Kate Newman; and other family members and friends at his side.

He is survived also by his sisters, Wanda Strange and Marjorie Landwerlen; nephews, Tom, Marty, Dan, and Greg Landwerlen and their families.

Andy was a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran of the Korean Conflict and a thirty-year member of the U.S. House of Representatives with eight year's service on the Judiciary Committee and twenty-two years on the Ways and Means Committee, including the Chairmanship of the Social Security Sub-Committee. He was an active co-author of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Throughout his Congressional years, he declined disability compensation for the combat injuries that complicated his final illness. As an early and vigorous opponent of the Vietnam War, he coined the term "war wimp" to describe those who were eager to send others into combat, but who had avoided the honor of serving in the military when that opportunity was presented to them. His love for his fellow veterans and his devoted efforts on their behalf never wavered.

His early and intense legislative efforts toward cognitive preschool education for disadvantaged children were largely unheeded and only now are being seriously acted upon. His consuming belief was that if the educational foundation were sound, not only would individual lives benefit but our society as a whole would be strengthened.

His legendary frugality was evidenced by his refusal after 1969 to accept pay raises between elections. After 1976 he refused all PAC contributions to his campaigns. In 1976 and every subsequent Congress, he introduced the Payment Book Amendment to the Constitution that would have paid off the national debt and require the federal government to operate on a balanced budget.

He was an animal lover, especially of dogs. His current primary canine companion was an eight year old shelter Great Dane named Brutus. His first Great Dane was named C-5 in honor of the C-5A military transport plane, the contract overruns for which kept growing.

The national and local outpouring of tributes has been most gratefully received by the family.

The family expresses special appreciation to Mason Goodman, M.D., the St. Vincent's Hospice, Congressman Andre Carson, Governor Mike Pence and staff, Andy's 50-year friend and colleague James W. Beatty, IUPUI teaching partner Professor Bill Blomquist, and loyal friends Loretta Raikes and Gary Taylor.

A visitation in the Indiana Statehouse rotunda will be from 10 AM with memorial celebration eulogies beginning no later than 12 noon on Friday, January 3, 2014. The proceedings will be webcast over the state network and can be accessed through this LINK..

For those so inclined the family suggests contributions to the Indiana University Foundation Andy Jacobs Scholarship Fund, IUPUI, Post Office Box 6460, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6460.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Aaron-Ruben-Nelson Mortuary. Friends and family may leave a memory or message of condolence by visiting the online obituary at www.arnmortuary.com.