DeMotte statesman was born 115 years ago Saturday
Charles A. Halleck was one of DeMotte’s renowned sons. He was born August 22, 1900 in a small house near the railroad tracks to Abraham and Lura Halleck. His parents moved to Rensselaer when he was a small child.
He attended law school and opened a law practice in Rensselaer where he also served the Thirtieth Judicial Circuit Court for a number of years.
Charlie Halleck had a long and remarkable political career. He personally had a part in more nominations of Republican Presidential candidates than any other Republican in the 20th century. He served as the Republican Majority Leader in the 80th and 83rd Congress and the Minority Leader in the 86th and 88th Congress.
On June 26, 1971, Charlie Halleck served as Grand Marshal of DeMotte’s Farm and Town Day. Indiana Governor Edgar Whitcomb proclaimed that day as Charlie Halleck Day. A new street sign was revealed naming the main street through DeMotte as Halleck Street.
Charlie Halleck retired from politics in 1968 and he died March 3, 1986 in Rensselaer.