Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2016 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The Pittsburgh Press September 25, 1927 LEW SHANK DIES AT INDIANAPOLIS. "Auctioneer Mayor" Passes Away After Brief Illness. By United Press. Indianapolis, Ind., Sept. 24. - LEW SHANK, auctioneer, former mayor of Indianapolis and one of the most picturesque men in Indiana public life, died today 10 minutes after his wife asked him to go back to bed to recuper- ate from a week long illness. He died at 7:40 a.m. of heart disease and acute indigestion. He had arisen and told his wife, "I never felt better in my life." Be- cause of his illness MRS. SHANK persuaded him to return to bed. Ten minutes later he was dead. SHANK - his full name was SAMUEL LEWIS SHANK - took office as mayor for the first time 17 years ago, and served until a few months before the term ended, when he abrupt- ly resigned while a street car and teamsters' strike was in progress. His name was linked with that of WILLIAM H. ARMITAGE, ex-gambler and politician, in the state's recent case against Mayor JOHN L. DUVALL, convicted Thursday of violating the corrupt practices law. SHANK was called as a rebuttal witness by the state but the defense success- fully objected to his testimony. LEW SHANK was born Feb. 23, 1872, in Indian- apolis, and after two years of high school, went to work. He rose steadily until he became known as the most spectacular auctioneer in Indiana. Later he developed a profitable storage busi- ness, and in recent years he was wealthy. His political success rose with his business prosperity. In 1921 he frankly admitted that public utilities had controlled him during his first term as mayor, but that he had "learned his lesson well since then." He twice served as mayor. Through his profession of auctioneering, and his two terms as mayor, Mayor SHANK won a peculiar place in the public life of Indiana. He had a thundering voice, which he used with equal suc- cess on the auction block and the political platform. ==========================================================================