Hoagland Carroll Elliott

Born in Westfield, Illinois, on August 6, 1935, to Charles and Dorothy Elliott, Hoagy moved to Indianapolis at age four with his late siblings Richard and Charlene. He attended Shortridge High School (‘53), where many lifelong friendships were formed. He excelled at track and was the first high jumper in SHS history to clear six feet, winning the ‘52 City Championship. Later, he served as a devoted committee chair for many class reunions.

He went on to study history and political science at Purdue and Butler. While at Butler, he joined Sigma Chi fraternity and survived an explosion that tragically destroyed the house. Soon after, he married his high school sweetheart, the late Priscilla Adams Elliott, in 1955. Together, they enjoyed 56 years of marriage and had four children: Douglas (who passed in 2017), Leslie, Bob, and Cyndi.

Hoagy spent the first half of his career in retail, moving from buyer to manufacturer’s rep for L.S. Ayres and C.R. Gibson, respectively. In 1967, he and a partner opened several successful independent retail shops throughout the state: The Card & Gift Gallery, The Fireside Shop, and The Wooden Unicorn.

In 1998, after a brief retirement, Hoagland joined Raphael Health Center, a ministry outreach of Tabernacle Presbyterian Church serving the uninsured and underserved. This was life-changing and rewarding. What started as a half-day health clinic on Saturday mornings grew from 400 patient visits in its first year to 20,000 visits per year by the time he retired as CEO in 2014.

Hoagy loved college basketball, cheering on the Butler Bulldogs, and taking his kids skiing in Colorado. An audiophile at the dawn of the home hi-fi era, he adored jazz and swing, playing his favorite artists at high volume. He collected and refurbished stereo gear, cars, antiques, clocks, watches, and radios. In the 1980s, he refurbished an old wood sailboat and taught his kids to sail well enough to place in a few races on Lake Leelanau, Michigan. He sailed from the Chesapeake Bay to the Bahamas several times, and also visited Italy, Scotland, France, and England.

Hoagy valued faith, recreation, family, friendship, and community. This was evident throughout his life whether coaching football at the Jordan YMCA and Tab Rec, serving as a deacon at Fairview Presbyterian Church, or being a session member at Tabernacle.

He also served on committee boards for the Indiana Primary Health Care Association, Crown Hill Cemetery, and Butler University. For the Covering Kids & Families Hospital Health Center Committee and The Indianapolis Dramatic Club, he served as treasurer.

Hoagy received many awards, including the Indiana Primary Health Care Association All-Star Award. Former Governor Mike Pence gave him the Sagamore of the Wabash Award, and in 2014, Mayor Greg Ballard declared October 16th "Hoagland Elliott Day." In 2018, he was honored to receive the Robert Todd Duncan Alumni Achievement Award from Butler University.

He is survived by his wife, Priscilla B. Ruddell; three children, Leslie (Nate), Robert (Pamela), and Cynthia (Anil); cherished grandchildren Alexander, Aaron, Sarah, and Max; daughter-in-law Andrea Elliott; and brother-in-law Richard Adams.

Visitation will be held at Tabernacle Presbyterian Church on March 29, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., followed by a service at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Tabernacle Presbyterian Church Community Care Fund or Recreation Scholarship Fund: https://tabpres.org/giving.