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Brad Fox, a retired six-term state representative and Rome City resident, has died.
Fox, 57, died Saturday at his home of lung cancer. He served six terms in the Indiana House from 1980 to 1992. The Republican retired in 1992 in part due to his employment at J.O. Mory and Reith-Riley Construction as sales and office manager.
At the time he ended his term, Fox also cited "political frustration." Fox, who was born in LaGrange, admitted having little political experience when he took the state seat. Fox said he was inspired to run for the seat in 1979 after complaining about government waste and inefficiency, according to The Journal Gazette archives.
Randall Kirkpatrick, chairman of the Noble County Republican Central Committee, said he got to know Fox last year during a state Senate caucus and found the former state representative to be sincere.
"He was a very knowledgeable, very personable man who really cared for his home state of Indiana," he said. "I don’t know that he had a selfish bone in his body."
During his tenure, Fox developed a reputation for his expertise in school funding and for always giving an honest answer. Fox also served on the Ways and Means Committee for 10 years. For the past eight years, Fox was self-employed as a lobbyist and state legislative consultant.
Fox was diagnosed with cancer in June, according to son Jay Fox. The younger Fox described his father as a family man. He is survived by Paula, his wife of 39 years, along with two sons.
"He always looked out for the other person, particularly his family," Jay Fox said. "Even in the political limelight, Dad never put on any front or pretended to be anyone he wasn’t."
The former lawmaker enjoyed deer hunting and watching football, his family said.
Funeral arrangements are being prepared at Hite Funeral Home in Kendallville. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, 403 S. Main St., Kendallville. The funeral is at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials can be made to Rome City United Methodist Church or Orange Township Volunteer Fire Department.
