Longtime State Sen. Larry Borst Dies At 89

INDIANAPOLIS — Longtime and influential former state senator Larry Borst has died at age 89, according to state leaders.

“He was a voice of the Southside of Indianapolis, Greenwood and the entire State of Indiana in the Senate,” Indiana Republican Party Chairman Jeff Cardwell said in a statement.

Borst played a significant role in instituting UniGov, the merging of the Indianapolis and Marion County governments in the 1960s, as well as statewide major tax reforms in 1973 and 2002. He also was instrumental in Gov. Bob Orr’s A+ education plan in 1987.

Kevin Brinegar, Indiana Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, worked for nine years as a fiscal analyst for the Senate Finance Committee chaired by Borst. He credited Borst with helping transform Indianapolis and improving Indiana’s business climate.

“Sen. Borst studied legislation intently and knew the details and intricacies of every bill that came before his committee – often more so than the authors and proponents,” Brinegar said in a statement. “I learned so much from him in regard to state government and the importance of being prepared.”

Borst served at the Statehouse for more than 35 years.

In addition to his work in politics, Borst was a veterinarian. He also served as both secretary and president of the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association, according to the Indiana State Library.

He and his wife, Eldoris, had three children.

“Larry Borst was a titan of Indiana politics,” Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne, said in a statement, “and his passing is a great loss for the people of our state.”

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