Rex E. Breeden

He was bom in French Lick, Indiana, on October 19, 1920, to Charles and Ella (Lashbrook) Breeden.

He was a 1937 graduate of French Lick High School and in 1942 he graduated from Indiana State University where he was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity.

In 1973 he was appointed by Governor Bowen to Indiana State University Board of Trustees where he served for 19 years, and from 1975 to 1976 served as president of Indiana State University Board of Trustees. In 1988 he received the Indiana State University Distinguished Alumni Award.

In 1991 he established the Rex E. Breeden Scholarship at Indiana State University for qualified students from Columbus North and East High Schools, and Springs Valley High School. In 2004 he endowed the Rex E. Breeden Internship Institute at Indiana State University which was later changed to provide financial awards (Rex E. Breeden Internships) for I.S.U. students working in qualified internships.

He served as Lt.j.g. in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1943 to 1946 aboard the destroyer Monaghan D.D. 354. He served as C.I.C. Officer in the Pacific Theater and received two battle stars for the Palau Strike and Guam Invasion.

In 1951, he founded Butler & Breeden Realty - now Breeden Inc., RealtorsiDevelopers. The new Breeden office building was built in 1995 and the company was later sold in 1998.

He was a member of First Presbyerian Church, Harrison Lakes Country Club, Columbia Club, Elks Club, Rotary Club, Columbus Jaycees, and Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife, Kathy, wintered at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Florida where he was a member of the Ocean Reef Club, Key Largo Anglers Club and Card Sound Golf Club where he served as president for two terms.

Rex had a true and profound love for his family, friends and his community. He loved spending precious moments with his family and friends. An avid fisherman and golfer; he made his third hole-in-one at the age of 91.

A part of his community involvement that he was very proud of took place in the early 1960's at the urging of the Rev. William Laws (Presbyterian) and Father Patrick Gleason (Roman Catholic). Breeden and his company; Breeden, Inc., Realtors/Developers took the lead in promoting integrated housing in Columbus. It was not an effort that was universally welcomed. However, Breeden and the associates persisted in helping blacks find homes in whatever area of Columbus they chose. To convincingly display their ommitment, they found homes for many in Breeden developments.

His community involvement included: 1967 - Founding member of Board of Directors of Laws Negro Scholarship Fund. Now -William R. Laws Memorial Scholarship.

1969 - Appointed by Gov. Edgar Whitcomb to Indiana Real Estate Commission. 1970 - Member of Commiuee to obtain Higher Education for Columbus. First came IUPUI-C (Indiana University, Purdue University, Indianapolis-Columbus) and in 1984 became IUPUC (Indiana University, Purdue University - Columbus).

1971 - President Columbus Chamber of Commerce. As President of Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Breeden contacted Xenia Miller to suggest the old Storey house at 5th and Franklin was worthy of restoration and would make an excellent Chamber of Commerce Office and Visitors Center. She had already restored two historic homes on Franklin Street near the Storey House. She liked the idea and after analyzing the project, agreed to do the restoration, but decided the entire building was needed for a Visitors Center which he thought was a very good decision.

1972 - Chairman of Chamber of Commerce Education Committee.

1972 - President Harrison Lake Country Club where he led major re-modeling of the Club.

1976 - Awarded "Sagamore of the Wabash" by Governor Otis Bowen.

1977 - Member of first Board of Directors - Heritage Fund.

1978 - Recipient of Community Service Award.

1980 - Co-chaired United Fund.

1985 - Part of a group led by Art Angotti to bring the "Indianapolis Arrows" major league baseball to Indianapolis.

He held various political roles for national, state and local candidates for office.

He was involved in the following real estate developments and land acquisitions from 1958 to 2002: Imperial House Motel, Everroad Park West, Parkside Addition, Hiker Trace, Edgewood, Edgewood South, Sandy Hook, Four Seasons Retirement Center, Charleston Square Apartments, Indian Hills, numerous developments at I-65 and Highway 46, Clifty Farms, Otter Creek Golf Course, Cummins Research & Technical plant, Cosco, Cummins Walesboro Plant, Parkside Park and School, Richards Elementary School, Par 3 Golf Course, Lincoln Elementary School, McDowell School, The Republic, Sandy Hook North, Flatrock Park North, Commerce Park, North Park, Woodside Business Center, Washington Place, Longview, High Vista, Progress Park, Broadmoor, Woodfield Place, Talley Square, McCullough's Run, Westwood and the Sleep Inn.

He was founder of Culligan Soft Water Service in Columbus, Founder and Chairman of the Board, Breeden, Inc., Realtors/Developers, Founder and member of the Board of Directors of Columbus Bank & Trust Company, Founder and member of the Board of Directors of WWWY Radio Station, owner and President of Jackson Park Convalescent Center in Seymour, Founder and Chairman of Board of Directors of Blairex Laboratories.

In addition to his wife, Kathy, he is survived by his daughter, Jeanne Matson (Jim) of Centerville, Ohio; and grandchildren, Amanda Matson of Centerville, Ohio, and Kevin Matson (Rocio) of Los Angeles, California; grandchildren, Kimberly Graff of Columbus, Emily Corn (Jeremy) of Greenwood, Rachel Cseszko of Indianapolis, Christian Cseszko (Carey) of Indianapolis, and Jeff Hopkins (Tami) of Atlanta, Georgia, son-in-law John Lee of Bloomington and grandchildren: Andrew Lee of Nashville, TN and Katherine Lee of Denver, CO, step daughter Natalie Carr-Disman (Jim) of New Palestine, IN; and grandchildren, Amanda and Emily Moore, Tyler, Max and Mitchell Disman; stepson, Derek Carr (Dana) of Oviedo, FL; and grandchildren, Cody and Kirsten Carr; and great-grandchildren, Syd and Nick Hopkins of Roswell, Georgia, Lizzie Cseszko of Indianapolis, IN, and Aiden and Zoe Com of Greenwood.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Max and Jim; daughters, Diane Breeden-Lee and Rebecca Breeden; and Joy Breeden, mother of his children.

Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, September 24,2014, until time of service which will be 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 512 Seventh St., Columbus, IN. Burial will be at Garland Brook Cemetery with military rites by the Bartholomew County Veterans Color Guard. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Rex's memory to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Myers-Reed Dignity Memorial Chapel. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.myers-reed.com.

A Celebration of Life will follow at the Harrison Lake Country club.