Bill Text: IN SCR0020 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Memorializing Merton Stanley, former Indiana State Senator.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Passed) 2013-02-05 - Returned to the Senate [SCR0020 Detail]
Download: Indiana-2013-SCR0020-Introduced.html
RESOLUTION No. _____
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing Merton Stanley,
former Indiana State Senator.
, read first time and referred to Committee on
RESOLUTION No. _____
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing Merton Stanley,
former Indiana State Senator.
Whereas, Merton Stanley was born on May 2, 1917 in
Clinton County, Indiana. He married Thelma C. Wright on
March 14, 1937;
Whereas, Merton graduated from Forest High School in
1935 and from the Indiana University School of Law in 1938.
After earning his L.L.B. degree, he started his law practice
in Kokomo, Indiana;
Whereas, After serving as a minister of Jerome Christian
Church, Merton attended the Field Artillery Officer
Candidate School. He received an honorable discharge in
1945 and began the next phase of his career;
Whereas, In 1948, Merton was elected as Judge of the
Howard Circuit Court in Howard County, Indiana. He was
subsequently re-elected in 1954 and 1960;
Whereas, In 1961, Merton was appointed as Chairman
of the Public Service Commission by Indiana Governor
Matthew Welch, serving in that capacity until 1967. During
his tenure with the Public Service Commission, Merton was
honored with the Sagamore of the Wabash;
Whereas, Merton was elected as Indiana State Senator in 1970 and served the people of District 21 until 1978;
Whereas, After he left legislative office, Merton Stanley
remained dedicated to the State, serving on various boards
and commissions. He was a member of the Board of
Governors of the Indiana Judges Association and the Board
of the National Association of Railroad and Utility
Commissioners;
Whereas, Merton Stanley also served as President of a
wide variety of organizations, including: the Great Lakes
Association of Railroad and Utility Commissioners, the
Howard County Mental Health Association, the Kokomo
Lions Club, the Howard County Bar Association, the Howard
County Council of Churches, the Crippled Children's
Society, and the Scottish Rite Club;
Whereas, Merton remained actively involved with
Indiana University. He served as a member of the Indiana
University-Kokomo Board of Advisors over 25 years, he
received the Chancellors Award in 1966
and he was
presented with the IU-Kokomo Service Award in 1988. Most
recently, Merton and his wife, Thelma, were honored with the
IU-Kokomo Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award
in 2002;
Whereas, Merton served as a member of the Retired
Indiana Public Employees Association Board of Directors
from December 2, 1999 to December 8, 2008;
Whereas, In addition to his community involvement,
Merton was dedicated to his family. He was married to his
wife for 75 years and they raised two children, Paul and
Zonda. They also had four grandchildren, Stephanie,
Bradford, Gregory and Sherry, and five great-grandchildren,
Payton, Carson, Reimi, Sashi and Clayton;
Whereas, Merton passed away on December 18, 2012,
preceded by his wife, Thelma, who passed away on
November 3, 2012; and
Whereas, Merton Stanley dedicated his life to serving his
community and the state of Indiana. His absence will
certainly be felt by the countless individuals who knew him:
Therefore,
SECTION 1. That the Indiana General Assembly memorializes
Merton Stanley and celebrates his legacy of community involvement.
SECTION 2. The Secretary of the Senate is hereby directed to
transmit a copy of this Resolution to Paul M. Stanley, Zonda (Stanley)
Emmert, and their familes.
