[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 11, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE OF BEURT R. SerVaas, M.D.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 11, 2014

  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rife today to pay tribute to 
Dr. Beurt R. SerVaas of Indianapolis, Indiana. He passed away on 
February 2, 2014, at the age of 94. Beurt was an exceptional civil 
servant, businessman and philanthropist who was devoted to bettering 
the city he loved. He served both Indianapolis and his country with 
integrity and honor.
  A lifelong Hoosier and resident of Indianapolis, Beurt graduated from 
Shortridge High School and later from Indiana University. After 
completing his degree, he bravely served in the United States Navy 
during the Second World War as a member of the American Intelligence 
Command's Office of Strategic Services in China. He later continued his 
service to our nation as a member of the newly formed Central 
Intelligence Agency.
  Returning to Indianapolis, Beurt began his storied career as a 
businessman in 1949 when he purchased his first company. Over the 
following decades, he would buy and sell nearly fifty businesses in 
Indiana and around the world, including the venerable Saturday Evening 
Post. An avid learner, he obtained his M.D. in his forties from the 
university he helped create, Indiana University-Purdue University 
Indianapolis (IUPUI). Beurt SerVaas exemplified the best of the Hoosier 
spirit: hard work, determination and entrepreneurship.
  Beurt was not only a business leader, but also a civic leader whose 
work fundamentally shaped the city of Indianapolis Along with then-
Mayor Richard Lugar, he was instrumental in the creation of Unigov, the 
government consolidation that expanded the boundaries of Indianapolis 
to include all of Marion County. After the transition, Beurt served on 
the City County Council for forty years, including twenty-seven as the 
president, and served under four different mayors. I was immensely 
proud to work with Beurt during my time as Deputy Mayor of 
Indianapolis. He was always kind and generous, and he provided 
invaluable guidance on how to keep the residents of Indianapolis safe 
and secure.
  Dr. Beurt SerVaas is an irreplaceable pillar of the Indianapolis 
community whose legacy will continue to inspire Hoosiers for 
generations to come. Without his tireless devotion and visionary 
leadership, Indianapolis would not be the world-class city it is today. 
He brought the world's attention to his beloved hometown and helped 
Indianapolis compete on the global stage. My condolences and well 
wishes go out to his wife, Cory Jane SerVaas, his five children, his 
nineteen grandchildren, and his two great-grandchildren. My thoughts 
and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.

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