Charlie Thayer, Indiana's Longest-Serving City Councilman, Dies

By Mike Perleberg Charlie Thayer, a 40-year Aurora City Council member, died on Saturday, December 12. Photo via Dearborn County Democrats. (Aurora, Ind.) – A man who was the longest-serving city councilman in any Indiana city passed away over the weekend. Charlie Thayer died on Saturday. He was 80. Visitation for Charlie Thayer will happen Thursday from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Aurora, 6060 Blair Road. Funeral services will immediately follow. Thayer served half his life – 40 years – on Aurora City Council. The Democrat was first elected in 1967 and was re-elected every four years until the election in 2007. He became the acting mayor of Aurora following the sudden death of mayor Leon Kelly in the midst of his third mayoral term in 1999. During his forty years on council, Thayer witnessed a lot of change in Aurora. He lived through floods, fires, major improvement projects, a $2.3 million renovation project to the oldest active city building in Indiana, and changes to the business district. He played an active role in in listing Aurora’s downtown as a National Historic District and helped get at least four properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The life-long Dearborn Countian made other noteworthy contributions to his country and community. He served as a sergeant with the U.S. Army in the Korean War. He worked for Seagrams in Lawrenceburg for more than 32 years. His memberships included the American Legion, VFW, Aurora Lions Club, Aurora Eagles, and Aurora Moose. Thayer had a good arm, too. While in the Army – in addition to being a championship boxer – he was on the European Fast Pitch softball championship team in 1954. Following his retirement from Seagrams at age 60, Thayer lent his knowledge and experience to the South Dearborn High School softball team. He continued to coach through this past softball season. His life resume made Thayer worthy of being the grand marshal of the Aurora Farmers Fair parade in 2014. The Indiana House of Representatives also passed a resolution recognizing his dedication to Aurora in 2008.