Adam Benjamin, Jr.
| Adam Benjamin Jr. | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 1st district |
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In office January 3, 1977 – September 7, 1982 |
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| Preceded by | Ray J. Madden |
| Succeeded by | Katie Hall |
| Member of the Indiana Senate | |
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In office 1971–1977 |
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| Member of the Indiana House of Representatives |
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In office 1967–1971 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Adam Benjamin Jr. August 6, 1935 Gary, Indiana |
| Died | September 7, 1982 (aged 47) Washington, D.C. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater |
B.S. United States Military Academy, J.D. Valparaiso University |
| Profession | Politician, Lawyer |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch |
United States Marine Corps United States Army |
| Years of service | 1952–1961 |
| Rank | First lieutenant |
| Unit | 101st Airborne Division |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
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.
Born to an Assyrian father, Adam Benjamin and 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.
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.
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