JeffersonvilleHoehn, Elmer Louis,Elmer Louis Hoehn, 101, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to many, passed away at home in Jeffersonville on Saturday, September 30, 2017. An educator, legislator and attorney, he devoted himself to community, state and national public service. Regarded as Clark County's elder statesman and "Democrat of the Century," he was honored as Indiana's Oldest Living Legislator by the Indiana Senate. He participated behind the scenes and was part of the force that led to the success of many people.A former state and federal official, he was personally involved in the establishment of Indiana University's Extension Center, the implementation of regulations governing the Indiana oil and gas industry, the defeat of segregationist Governor George Wallace in the 1964 Indiana Presidential Primary, the continuity of world oil supplies during the 1967 Six Day War, the purchase of property now known as Watertower Square, the creation of the Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville, the designation of local sites as part of the Lewis and Clark Trail, the transfer of the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant to Clark County and subsequent creation of River Ridge, and the founding of an Interfaith Centre at Clark Memorial Hospital. The son of Louis Hoehn and Agnes Goss, he was born on the family farm in Memphis, IN on December 19, 1915. There was no electricity, no running water and no mechanically powered vehicles. Horses provided power and transportation. As a boy, he plowed the fields behind a mule, cared for livestock, made hay and hunted for food. When he was nine, he was driving the family's Model T to New Albany selling vegetables door to door. The lessons of hard work and perseverance learned on the farm guided his life through the next century. His mother, a teacher, was an avid reader conversant in history and current political events. She inspired him to seek an education and life beyond the farm. Elmer attended elementary school in Memphis and graduated from Silver Creek High School in 1933. He earned his B.S. degree in 1936 from Central Normal College where he led numerous campus organizations and was elected to literary and journalistic honoraries. The caption below his fraternity's picture in the college yearbook foretold, "Here are to be found talented young men who are to be the men of affairs, the political, educational, social and civic leaders of tomorrow." From 1936-42 he taught business courses at Jeffersonville High School where he met his wife of 67 years, Frances Cory, the choral music teacher, and where he sponsored the Hi-Y Club. For the rest of their lives, his Hi-Y "boys" as well as many other students kept in touch, celebrated his birthday and considered him their mentor and friend. Their shared memories of the Depression, the 1937 flood and WW II deepened their bonds. During these years, Elmer pursued graduate business courses at Northwestern University and earned his law degree at night from the Jefferson School of Law.About 1939, Elmer inherited a cotton farm in Louisiana from his uncle. He managed this operation long distance making occasional trips south until the 1970s. On several occasions, he confronted prejudice. When a road was blocked preventing the school bus from taking African American children to their school, Elmer devised a route through his fields allowing the children to pass safely to school.In 1941 Dr. Herman B. Wells, President of Indiana University, and Dr. Floyd I. McMurry sought Elmer's assistance in establishing the Indiana University Southern Indiana Extension Center in Jeffersonville because of its proximity to Louisville. The first classes began at night in Elmer's typewriting classroom at Jeffersonville High School. Elmer was an instructor at the fledgling campus from 1941 until 1942.During WW II, Elmer served as Jeffboat in-house counsel managing government contracts and personnel matters. He was especially active in the Red Cross and scrap iron collection supporting the war effort. On June 10, 1943, Elmer and Frances married at St. Augustine's Church. Flowers were scarce due to wartime shortages, so neighbors supplied lilies from their gardens to decorate the altar. Because many guests had to go back to work at the defense plants, the wedding was early in the morning followed by a breakfast at the Kentucky Hotel in Louisville.By the end of the war, Elmer's talents, organizational skills and energy had come to the attention of community leaders who encouraged him to run for office and assume a leadership role in local Democratic politics. Twice elected to the Indiana House of Representatives he represented Clark County in the 1945 and 1947 sessions. He was elected House minority floor leader during the 1947 session. He also became Clark County Democratic Chairman. During the 1948 election, only two counties, Clark and Lake, were carried by President Harry S. Truman. Elmer received a phone call on behalf of President Truman from former U.S. Senator Sherman Minton of New Albany, who would later become a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. According to Minton, President Truman thanked him for the Clark County victory. Soon Elmer became acquainted with members of the Truman Cabinet and Secret Service.