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Clinton, Indiana, Arthur A. “Art” Lindsay, Jr. passed away November 19, 2021, in his sleep. He was born August 7, 1948, in Clinton, Indiana, to Arthur, (Sr.) and Julie Euriga Lindsay. From a very young age, it was natural for him to care about and genuinely love others. His range of love was wide and deep. It can be traced back to the foundation of his upbringing all the way to who he was as a man.
Growing up in the northern part of Clinton, Little Art, as he was known then, went to Glendale School. He would pedal his bike throughout the north end of the City delivering the morning Terre Haute Tribune Star newspaper. Sometimes during really nasty weather, Art and his mother, Julie, would hit the streets, with Julie driving the car and Little Art making sure the Terre Haute Tribune Star landed on the porches as dry as possible. Art wanted his customers to be able to read what was going on and to find the best buys. Pedaling his bike through all those miles to deliver the morning newspapers, Art got to know the City and its people early on in his life. At that time Art had the biggest paper route in the north end. Even as a young kid, he was frugal. Art would say, “tight!” Money he had saved from his paper route was included as part of his down payment on his house in the south end of the City.
As a Boy Scout, Art and other scouts learned how to help others by working on projects and badges. To this day, these early friendships continued. There are stories about Art’s high school years that found him being in the Letterman’s Club and choir, also as a sports manager for basketball/football, playing golf, and kidding around with classmates. In 1964, at age 16, Art started to work at Scott Oil Company, serving the public and getting to know people -- lots of people.
Graduating from Clinton High School in 1966, Art and a few buddies went to California. Following his trip to California, he joined the U.S. Army and served his active duty in Vietnam with an honorable discharge in 1970. Upon his return from Vietnam, Art was back in Clinton with his family and friends and working at Scott Oil Company.
Story has it that on rare occasions Art and some of the guys would head out on north State Road 71 (Bono area) to do a little drag racing. Look outs in place, Art in his blue ‘67 Chevy Chevelle SS 396, another guy in his Mustang, Camaro, or Charger, they would hit the starting line with engines revving, tires screeching, pedal to the metal to see who had the fastest machine. From muscle cars to school bus, Art was full of surprises.
As a school bus driver he would take the kids on field trips, using his own money, to go to a circus or Santa Claus Land or to see the famous basketball team, the Harlem Globetrotters. When Art found out some kids had no money for youth camp or to play a sport, he would do something about it. In a very quiet manner, Art would pay their way so they would be able to be campers or find some odd jobs for a kid to work and earn money so he could play on the football team. He made a difference in making possibilities become realities.
During this time Art also served as Commander multiple times for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Post 6653. He also became active in local politics and served in various roles including being a Democrat delegate throughout his life.
With Indiana State University Criminology, Sociology and Social Studies Education degrees, along with a Master’s in Social Sciences, Art had the training to get into law enforcement. Starting as a probation officer, then as a deputy sheriff, he ended up at Indiana State University as a police officer while he was Mayor of the City, director of the Vermillion County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Service Program, and still working at Scott Oil Company.
Art completed a full term as Mayor in 1983, and later was appointed twice as Mayor to finish out the terms of other mayors. One could find Mayor Art working alongside City workers, cleaning a clog out of a ditch, digging a hole, painting City Hall, sweeping the streets, developing budgets, managing operations, securing grants, attending meetings, and promoting the City and Vermillion County endlessly. When it came to money, Mayor Art repeatedly managed the City funds as his own, very conservatively. That’s why each time Mayor Art turned over his office to the next administration it was in the black with a good operational foundation.
One day during his last year in office at City Hall, in walked this planner from Terre Haute. Art was smitten. He was repeatedly nudged and encouraged by folks to “ask her out”. At the time she had this notion not to date anyone she was working with because it just complicates things. Watching the two of them work on grants and community development together it was obvious there was “chemistry” between them. As his last few months in the Mayor’s office were coming to a close, another door was opening on the romantic front with a courtship that led to Art Lindsay and Dot Farr tying the knot on September 1, 1985, during the Little Italy Festival and Civil War Reenactment weekend. The newlyweds were honored with the traditional Italian wedding dance at the festival, along with the traditional ride in a wheelbarrow where the groom pushes the bride showing he will take care of her from this day forward. The couple was then honored at the Sportland Park Reenactment grounds by overseeing the battle, followed by the wedding reception. Art’s big heart always managed to include one and all and this carried on throughout his life.
After retiring from ISU, Art continued to work at Scott Oil Company and volunteered at various events, sat on numerous boards, and belonged to many civic organizations throughout the years. Some of those organizations were the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, Lion’s Club, Izaak Walton League of America Youth Camp, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Post 6653, American Legion Honor Guard, and Clinton Boat Club, to mention just a few. One of his favorite projects at the VFW was frying fish. Many people wanted to know who was cooking the fish. If it was Art, more people showed up.
Art honored his obligations. He would show up, even when he didn’t have to. Art was known to collect plastic tops or aluminum flip tops for school kids’ fundraisers, drop off newspapers for the Humane Society to use, collect aluminum cans, and many other recycling and fundraising endeavors. He didn’t seek the limelight, but the limelight found him. Being more of the quiet behind the scenes guy, Art steadily got things done with little fanfare. Even as a boy, Art was an ol’ soul with uncanny wisdom. He would see things throughout his life and step up to make a difference, be it mentoring young people at work, camp, school bus, or wherever to help out any way possible. It didn’t matter if a person was young or old, or an organization needed extra help; all that mattered to Art was to try to make a difference for the better.
Art enjoyed playing golf, having healthy debates, and smoking his non-filtered Camel cigarettes. He lived life to the fullest, just the way he wanted, on his own terms. He was a man of his word – a true friend with a servant’s heart. He genuinely cared.
From some of the “Art stories” being shared, one can only say, “that sounds like Art!” This humble, easy going man made us laugh, could be frustrating, not to mention stubborn, yet we all knew where he stood on things. That was clear. He was a straight shooter; Art made us think, and he made us better, if we would let him. He gave us a precious gift -- the gift of his servant’s heart being present.
We will miss not seeing the red truck rolling down the streets of Clinton at 29 miles per hour, with Art behind the wheel with his friendly smile, a hand waving “hello” to all, and the kindness he shared. He knew no strangers. Art “walked the talk”. Leading by example, Art lived his legacy in real time serving others without any strings attached and expected nothing in return. Knowing Art made us all a little better. All we had to do was to “listen” and “pay attention” to his ever so kind spirit and wise wisdom.
Art is survived by his beloved wife of 36 years, Dot Farr Lindsay, and their daughter, Mandy and her husband Alan Morton, Dresden, Maine; his sister, Sharon Andrew, Clinton, IN; his brother, Robert and his wife Nina Lindsay, Fairview, IN; and several nieces, nephews, aunts, and cousins.
He was also predeceased by his father, Arthur A. Lindsay, Sr., Clinton, IN, in 2003; his mother, Julie Katherine Euriga Lindsay, Clinton, IN, in 2014.
There are too many “Art stories” to include them all, although some have been selected to share in this issue of the Clintonian. See Remembering Art Moments.
The family is honoring Art’s final wishes to be cremated and placing his remains in a cigar box with no visitations and/or services or memorials. With the outpouring of condolences and inquiries to services, it has been discussed we can honor Art’s final wishes, as well as do something that reflects Art’s acts of kindness and helping others when the weather is warmer in 2022. Arrangements are pending at Frist Funeral Home in Clinton.
With the utmost appreciation for everyone’s kind words and thoughtfulness, and the attentive support from Frist Funeral Home in Clinton, the family is deeply thankful.
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