GILROY, Sue Anne
(photo from Towne Post Network)
A Crawfordsville HS graduate in 1966, Sue Ann served as the first female Secretary of State for Indiana from 1994-2002 taking the place of William H. Hudnut. Although losing to Bart Peterson, Sue Anne was the Republican nominee for Mayor of Indianapolis in 1999. A graduate of DePauw she earned a master’s in public administration from IUPUI. Later, she served 12 years as an executive in the St. Vincent Foundation (Josh Brown – Sue Anne Gilroy Retires July 26, 2018) where she was involved in helping raise $111 million to support various St. V programs. During her years with the foundation she was involved in several projects (St. Vincent Stress Center; St. V Primary Care Center; Cardiovascular Research Institute; Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital Expansion; Cancer Care and Equine Assisted therapy. In 2003, she was appointed the new Director of Advancement at the University HS. She noted that (Indianapolis Star Tuesday Feb 11, 2003 p 2) “Education has always been in my heart. I’m going back to my roots and returning to what my heart probably always wanted to do.” Applying her already honed skills, she was hired to raise money with the goal of $1 million annually. Having turned down major opportunities in DC and California she wanted to remain in her home state. Although she passed her life as a politician, the Republican Party blessed her dive into the education world. Senator Teresa Lubbers (Rep Ind) said that the school was fortunate to have her and that she has brought a level of professionalism and commitment to every job she’s held!” Other employments was the director of Indianapolis Dept. of Parks and Rec (the first woman director of the city’s department); also the Director of Indiana Central’s community services and an executive board member of the Youth Voter Corps. Life wasn’t perfect for Sue Anne as she often told it like it was, “$1 billion over what is need was spent to run Indiana (The Times Tue Oct 27, 1998 p 5). In an ad while running for Governor she stated that Democratic Gov. Frank O’Bannon tax cuts, author Mike Smith disagreeing, saying it was the legislature’s fault including politicians from both sides of the coin. Not only involved with politics, (even serving as the head of the Indiana Election Commission) she was also an elder of the Tabernacle Presbyterian Church and active in Richard Lugar’s Excellence in Public Service program and a long time member and director of St. Vince Hospital Foundation as well as having her own business consultant occupation. Sue Anne Starnes married Richard Gilroy and they were parents of two children (losing an 11-year-old daughter, Emily, to cancer who passed in 1996 and son Grant Harris Gilroy) plus some grands, as well. Sue Anne said (Kokomo Times 30 Dec 1997 p3) that to make it in politics, women have to develop think skin, learn to balance work and play and wait until the time is right.” It all began early as she held class offices at Crawfordsville HS and worked part time for the Crawfordsville mayor during her high school years. One nifty lady with much potential and drive, she is a fine example of one grown in the Athens of Indiana!. - kbz