Beurt SerVaas
Beurt SerVaas | |
---|---|
Born | May 7, 1919 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
Died | February 2, 2014 | (aged 94)
Education | Shortridge High School |
Alma mater | Indiana University |
Occupation(s) | Businessman, publisher, and politician |
Spouse | Cory Synhorst SerVaas |
Children | 5 |
Dr. Beurt Richard SerVaas (May 7, 1919 – February 2, 2014) was an American businessman, publisher, and politician. He served as a US Naval Officer in China during World War II, after being recruited by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS, now known as the CIA). He later served on the Indianapolis City-County Council from 1961 to 2002, the last 27 years of which as the council president.
Early life
SerVaas was born on May 7, 1919, in
SerVaas served in the China theatre in World War II as a naval officer. Together with 15 men in his command he was to "disrupt Japanese river supply lines, train Chinese troops and establish intelligence resources prepared for the invasion of the Japanese mainland." He was awarded the Bronze Star for fulfilling the special assignment at the Japanese garrison on Formosa (Taiwan). Ten years after the end of World War II, SerVaas was invited to Taiwan to receive the Chiang Kai-shek Medal of Honor.[2]
Career
SerVaas worked for the Central Intelligence Agency.[4] His business career started in 1949 when he bought a struggling electric plating company for $5,600, the sum he saved during his military service. In the following years he bought about 50 other businesses in Indianapolis and around the world. His business activity was spread across engine rebuilders, rubber refiners, and makers of cleaning products, including the brand Bar Keepers Friend. He was the owner of The Saturday Evening Post which he bought and moved to Indianapolis. SerVaas built the first color TV manufacturing plant in Poland before the fall of Berlin Wall.[5]
SerVaas won election to the Indianapolis City Council in the early 1960s.[6] SerVaas served as chairman of the Governor’s Indiana State Commission on Medical Education. He also held a post of chairman of the original State Commission for Higher Education. He was one of the founders of the National Institute for Fitness and Sport.[2]
SerVaas served as a founding member of the board of
SerVaas was also instrumental in helping African American-owned newspapers and TV stations in Indianapolis.[7]
SerVaas retired from the council in 2002.[5]
Personal life and death
SerVaas married Cory Synhorst on February 4, 1950. They had five children (Eric, Joan, Paul, Kristin and Amy), 22 grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.[2]
SerVaas died at the age of 94.[8]
References
- ^ "The Saturday Evening Post mourns the loss of owner Dr. Beurt R. SerVaas". The Saturday Evening Post. 17 Apr 2014.
- ^ a b c d The Saturday Evening Post mourns the loss of owner Dr. Beurt R. SerVaas Retrieved on 22 Feb 2018
- IndyStar.
- ^ OCLC 959031269.
- ^ a b Beurt SerVaas, owner of Saturday Evening Post, dies Retrieved on 22 Feb 2018
- IndyStar.
- ^ III, Amos Brown (6 February 2014). "The IPS charter shift and things you didn't know about Beurt SerVaas". Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
- ^ Beurt SerVaas, 94, former Indianapolis council president, dies Retrieved on 22 Feb 2018