Benjamin, Adam, 1935-1982

<p>Adam Benjamin Jr. (August 6, 1935 – September 7, 1982) was an American politician and a United States Representative from Indiana's 1st congressional district, serving from 1977 until his death from a heart attack in Washington, D.C. in 1982. Benjamin was the first Assyrian-American to be elected to the United States House of Representatives in American history. Benjamin served in the Indiana Senate from 1971 to 1977, the Indiana House of Representatives from 1967 to 1971, and was a member of the Democratic Party.</p>

<p>Born to an Assyrian father, Adam Benjamin, and Armenian mother, Margaret Marjanian, in Gary, Indiana, on August 6, 1935, Adam Benjamin Jr. graduated from Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri, in 1952. Benjamin joined the Marine Corps in 1952, and served as a Corporal in the Korean War until he was honorably discharged in 1954. After serving in the Marine Corps, he gained an appointment to the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, earning a B.S. degree in engineering in 1958. Following three years in the 101st airborne division the "Screaming Eagles", and ranger training in the U.S. Army, in 1961 Benjamin left the Army as a First lieutenant.</p>

<p>After his service in the Military, Benjamin returned to Gary in 1961 and began teaching math and physics at Edison High School. Two years later, he entered public service as Gary's zoning administrator from 1963 to 1965, and gained further experience in local government acting as Gary Mayor A. Martin Katz's executive secretary from 1965 through 1966.</p>

BENJAMIN, Adam, Jr., a Representative from Indiana; born in Gary, Lake County, Ind., August 6, 1935; attended the public elementary schools of Gary; graduated, Kemper Military (high) School, Boonville, Mo., 1952; B.S., United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., 1958; J.D., Valparaiso (Ind.) Law School, 1966; admitted to the Indiana Bar in 1966 and commenced practice in Gary; served in United States Marine Corps, corporal, 1952-1954; United States Army, first lieutenant, 1958-1961; teacher, Edison High School, Gary, 1961; employed as computer analyst, Chicago, Ill., 1962; served as zoning administrator, Gary, 1964-1965; executive secretary to the mayor of Gary, 1965-1967; served in Indiana house of representatives, 1967-1971; Indiana senate, 1971-1976; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth, Ninety-sixth, and Ninety-seventh Congresses; served from January 3, 1977, until his death on September 7, 1982, in Washington, D.C.; interment at Calumet Park Cemetery, Merrillville, Ind.