[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 170 (Monday, October 28, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1348-E1349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING PERSHING EDWIN (P.E.) MacALLISTER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 28, 2019

  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor of the 
life of a beloved and iconic member of the Hoosier state, Pershing 
Edwin (P.E.) MacAllister. A pillar of the Indianapolis community, P.E. 
passed away at the age of 101 on October 23, 2019. P.E. was an 
industrious, enthusiastic and generous individual whose life's work 
touched and benefitted so many Hoosiers. A longtime leader in Indiana 
politics, P.E. was a guiding force in not only my career but also the 
political careers of legendary Republican Hoosier lawmakers, the late 
Senator Richard Lugar and the late Indianapolis Mayor William Hudnut, 
among others. In 1945, P.E. co-founded the MacAllister Machinery 
Company with his father. His 74 years at the helm of the company are a 
telling reminder of his unequaled business acumen and leadership 
capabilities. Throughout his life he helped lead and develop both the 
public and private sector successes of Indianapolis and the state of 
Indiana. The people of Indiana's Fifth Congressional District are 
forever grateful for P .E.'s contributions to our Hoosier community, 
and it is my privilege to honor him today.
  P.E. was born August 30, 1918, in Oconto, Wisconsin to Edwin W. 
(E.W.) and Hilda MacAllister. As a recent veteran of World War I, Edwin 
named his son Pershing after General John Joseph ``Black Jack'' 
Pershing. Growing up during the Great Depression, P.E. was taught the 
frugality and self-sufficient nature required to survive and flourish 
in the America of the time. With a strong Scottish Presbyterian 
upbringing and close familial bond, P.E. advanced in his academic 
career, graduating high school and then enrolling at Carroll College. 
After graduation from Carroll College in 1940, P.E. joined the United 
States Army Air Force. On October 25, 1941, he was shipped off to basic 
training, and his service to his country began. As an armament officer, 
P.E. was stationed initially in the United States, but also served in 
England, North Africa, and finally in Italy where he earned the rank of 
Captain. After 5 years in the Army Air Force, P.E. finished his service 
having earned four Overseas Service Bars and a Presidential Unit 
Citation.
  Upon returning from service overseas, P.E. and his father E.W. co-
founded the MacAllister Machinery Company in June of 1945. After his 
father's medical complications in 1951, P.E.

[[Page E1349]]

and his brother Dave took the helm of the company. Over the next 74 
years, P.E. led the company as it grew to cover two states with over 
2,500 employees. Starting in 1986, he began to co-publish and write the 
lead articles for 170 issues of the company's newsletter, ``Mac 
Today''. Outside of the office, P.E. maintained strong ties with his 
faith as a devoted member of Northminster Presbyterian Church. As a 
leader in the church's governing body, P.E. served two terms as its 
moderator. In 1972, he was the moderator of the Synod of Indiana, and 
in 1975 he was named the moderator of the Synod of Lincoln Trials. P.E. 
also served on the board of trustees at the Christian Theological 
Seminary, where along with friend Dick Petticrew, he created ``The 
MacAllister-Petticrew Chair'' of the Old Testament Studies. At his alma 
mater of Carroll College, P.E. endowed a ``Chair in Old Testament 
Studies''.
  Later in his career, P.E. began his entrance into the Indiana 
political arena. Along with close friends Harold Ransburg, John 
Burkhart and Keith Bulen, P.E. helped to bring about a political 
revolution within Indiana. He helped to foster the early careers of 
many Republican candidates such as former Mayor William Hudnut, former 
Governor Mitch Daniels, former Senator Richard Lugar, and former 
Governor and Vice-President Michael Pence. P.E. was also an integral 
part of the creation of the Indianapolis Parks Foundation and served as 
the chairman of the Foundation for many years, helping to transform 
many of the city's various parks and public lands. His time as a member 
and then chairman of the Capital Improvements Board helped to see the 
city commit to the building of the RCA Dome and Convention Center which 
were important steps to eventually enticing the Colts of the National 
Football League to relocate to Indianapolis. These partnerships helped 
change Indianapolis from a sleepy stop on the highways of middle 
America to a premiere emerging city in the heartland of America.
  P.E. leaves behind a larger than life legacy that is fitting for the 
impact he had on the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana. 
During his life, he was one of the most impactful local leaders in the 
city's public and private sectors, leaving a legacy unmatched by his 
peers. He dedicated his life to the service of his clients, employees, 
and fellow Hoosiers, fundamentally changing the lives of those he 
served for the better. His unparalleled love for Indiana and the city 
of Indianapolis led to massive changes that impacted not only the lives 
of Hoosiers, but also the skyline of Indianapolis. P.E. will be 
remembered for his amazing compassion, charismatic and warm 
personality, as well civic involvement. Awarded the Sagamore of the 
Wabash, Indiana's highest public honor, by three separate Governors is 
a testament the influence P.E. had on our state. I feel fortunate to 
have known him, and I know that his legacy lives on through the great 
contributions he made to Indianapolis, to Indiana, and to the country. 
On behalf of Indiana's Fifth District, I offer my condolences to the 
entire MacAllister family and all who mourn his loss and cherish his 
memory.

                          ____________________