Awards

IU Indianapolis Spirit of Philanthropy Award - 1994

About Gordon St. Angelo

Gordon St. Angelo was the Democratic Party State Chairman in Indiana (1964-1974). Born in Huntingburg, Indiana, St. Angelo attended North Central College in Illinois after serving in the Navy during World War II. He moved back to Indiana in 1952 and entered into business with his father.

St. Angelo began his political career in 1954 and was elected Dubois County Chairman in 1958. He became the 8th District Chairman in 1960. After managing the campaign of Governor Roger D. Branigan in 1964, Gordon was elected state Democratic Party Chairman, a position he held until 1974. His tenure was longer than that of any party chairman in Indiana. He was Deputy Democratic Party National Chairman from June to November, 1968, when he helped manage the Hubert Humphrey presidential campaign. In 1973, he ran for national Democratic Party chairman, being narrowly defeated by Lawrence O'Brien.

In 1974 St. Angelo left politics to become Senior Program Officer of community development at the Lilly Endowment, where he worked for twenty-three years. There he was instrumental in expanding the role of non-profits in public policy, with many positive civil- and individual-rights implications. His building of coalitions between non-profit think tanks was instrumental in the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

In 1997 St. Angelo retired from the Lilly Endowment to help establish the Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, where he was President Emeritus until his death. Gordon was a long time trusted friend of the Friedmans. He had personal contact with Presidents Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Carter, Reagan and Bush I and II.

St. Angelo and and his wife, Beatty were active members of Second Presbyterian Church. There Gordon served as both Deacon and Elder, and chaired the search committee that brought Dr. William Enright to Indianapolis in 1981. He also chaired the boards of the Indianapolis Star's Jefferson Awards and Indianapolis Civic Theatre, and was board member and Vice President of the Indianapolis Airport Authority (1983-1999). He owned ITAN Travel Services and was a limited partner in Indianapolis Cablevision.

Gordon also served on the boards of the University of Indianapolis (1965-1993), St. Meinrad College, WFYI, the United Way, the Welfare Service League, the State Employment Commission, the Indiana Division of the National Civil Rights Commission, and the Indianapolis 500 Festival Committee.