Governor of Indiana. He served as the 43rd Governor of Indiana from January 13, 1969 to January 8, 1973. He entered Indiana University in 1939 to study law, but quit school to join the Army Air Corps in 1940 at the outset of the Second World War. While serving in the Philippines as a Second Lieutenant, he was captured by the Japanese after his base was overrun. He was able to escape his captors by miraculous means, which was detailed in his book "Escape from Corregidor" (1958). After the war he went back to school to earn his law degree and then went into state politics. He served in the Indiana State Senate for three years before resigning to go into private law practice. In 1966 he was elected as Secretary of State and while in this office, served on several commissions. In 1968 he was elected governor as a Republican and served until 1973. While in office, the state government was split between "urban" and "rural" Republicans, of which Whitcomb sided with the "rurals". This led to party infighting during his term. Even with this infighting, he was able to get a number of government reforms passed during his term. After his term was up in 1973, he tried for the United States Senate in 1976, but was unsuccessful. After retiring from politics, he went into the world of sailing, but after an unsuccessful attempt to sail around the world, he retired to a private life until his passing.
Governor of Indiana. He served as the 43rd Governor of Indiana from January 13, 1969 to January 8, 1973. He entered Indiana University in 1939 to study law, but quit school to join the Army Air Corps in 1940 at the outset of the Second World War. While serving in the Philippines as a Second Lieutenant, he was captured by the Japanese after his base was overrun. He was able to escape his captors by miraculous means, which was detailed in his book "Escape from Corregidor" (1958). After the war he went back to school to earn his law degree and then went into state politics. He served in the Indiana State Senate for three years before resigning to go into private law practice. In 1966 he was elected as Secretary of State and while in this office, served on several commissions. In 1968 he was elected governor as a Republican and served until 1973. While in office, the state government was split between "urban" and "rural" Republicans, of which Whitcomb sided with the "rurals". This led to party infighting during his term. Even with this infighting, he was able to get a number of government reforms passed during his term. After his term was up in 1973, he tried for the United States Senate in 1976, but was unsuccessful. After retiring from politics, he went into the world of sailing, but after an unsuccessful attempt to sail around the world, he retired to a private life until his passing.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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Major, U.S. Army Air Forces
World War II
Air Medal & 1OLC
Family Members
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