INDIANAPOLIS -- Former State Representative William Crawford died Friday after battling an illness, according to a press release from his family.
He was 79. Crawford served as an Indiana State Legislator for 40 years from 1972 to 2012.
“To the end, Bill faced death with dignity and courage. He fought the good fight in sickness as he did in health, and throughout his long career as a public servant. Bill will be remembered here in Indianapolis, throughout the entire state of Indiana and this nation as a champion for the poor and disadvantaged. Please be in prayer for us during this challenging time,” Crawford's wife Bernice and children said in a statement.
Crawford, a Democrat, was a political powerhouse. He was a Navy veteran who was committed to public service. His legacy as a community activist is well-documented in Indianapolis. He was integral in the formation of Indiana Black Expo. In politics, he sat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee that decided how state money was spent.
He supported building the former RCA Dome, the Circle Centre Mall, and supported IUPUI's growth.
When he retired from legislature, he left as the longest serving African-American state lawmaker in Indiana history.
