These noteworthy Hoosiers, from Bob Knight to Jimmy Erskine, left Indiana in 2023
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They had on jerseys. They put on badges. Listening devices. ties. racing outfits. For many, the heart was on their sleeves.
On the court or in the courtroom, some were champions. Some were fearless businesspeople or loyal public servants. They were a fiery bunch of people with an unusual faith. As we start the new year, everyone will be missed.
An incomplete list of important Hoosiers who we lost in 2023 can be seen below.
Morrison, Timothy J.
He was never appointed by the president, but he did lead the federal Southern District’s prosecution operations while serving as an acting U.S. attorney, thus he wasn’t well-known to the general public.
However, the judges and prosecutors who knew him mourned in January because, in their eyes, he made a difference just by being a law-abiding public worker.
Judge Doris Pryor of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals told IndyStar, “Everyone has a Tim Morrison life jacket moment.” You knew that your boat was sinking where you were, right? …And here comes Tim Morrison with a life jacket just when you thought, “This entire thing is simply going to pot.”
More: Tim Morrison eliminated corruption and added comedy to a job filled with high stakes and stress.
Jan. and Paul Estridge Jr.
Though Paul Estridge, Jr. had an extraordinary reputation as a home builder, many who knew him would cherish his tenacity, kindness, and interpersonal skills.
Especially in Hamilton County, Estridge was a well-known home builder in Central Indiana.
Further: “He divulged everything.” Paul Estridge Jr., a Central Indiana builder, passes away at age 65
Hamilton, Donnell “Coach Nell,” January 11
Tragically, a guy who devoted his life to guiding kids away from violent situations was shot and killed in Greenwood while commuting.
He was known by hundreds of families in Indianapolis as Coach Nell.
His simple credo when starting the Indianapolis Steelers youth football team was to “mute the echoes of gun violence so youngsters can learn a better path.”
That’s exactly what Coach Nell and his fellow coaches did for years. For youth in the neighbourhood, the Steelers squad offered a secure environment where they could find solace and an outlet through football.
More: Greenwood Road Rage Shooting: Indianapolis Steelers coach committed to putting an end to violence
Bruce White, 19 January
As the creator of hundreds of hotels around the nation, notably the JW Marriott, which permanently altered the cityscape of downtown Indianapolis, Bruce White left a lasting impact.
The JW Marriott is now the largest hotel in the city, with 34 stories. When the project first opened in 2011, it was thought to be necessary for Indianapolis to hold major events like the 2012 Super Bowl.
Mayor Joe Hogsett of Indianapolis stated, “It’s hard to fathom the Indianapolis of today without the efforts of Bruce White.” Bruce left a lasting impression on everything from our standing as a prominent host city to the view a visitor has on the skyline upon arrival.
More: Bruce White, 70, is the owner and developer of JW Marriott.
At least not in a professional sense, Art Wells was not a photographer. But Wells always carried two or three cameras around his neck, with three rolls of film for each, shooting away at family cookouts, special occasions, and pretty much any other time he wasn’t working, documenting whatever wonder came into his lens’s view.
