8 Hoosier Banker July 2016 COVER STORY Twenty years ago, on his 27th birthday, Luke Messer came to the realization that “it was time for a different path.” Motivated by an inspirational speaker, Messer determined to devote his life to the public good. Since that time, he has led two not-for-profits as president and CEO, was executive director of the Indiana Republican Party, served in the Indiana House of Representatives, and was a partner in two law firms. Rep. Luke Messer now serves in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving Indiana’s 6th and largest congressional district. He was elected to office in 2012, and was elected freshman class president by his peers. Now serving in his second congressional term, Messer has been named House Republican Policy Chair, the fifth ranking leadership position in the Conference. Additionally he serves on the House Financial Services Committee and on the Education and the Workforce Committee. Messer and his wife Jennifer are “proud parents of two daughters, one son and two dogs,” as Messer’s website states. Luke and Jennifer Messer also have authored a children’s book: Hoosier Heart: A Story About Hoosiers and the Great State of Indiana. Messer is a graduate of Wabash College, for which he played football as a middle linebacker, and he earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University. Recently Hoosier Banker interviewed Congressman Messer about his life as a public servant. What led you to public service? “There are a couple of influences. One is that my grandmother volunteered for Richard Lugar during his early days, when he was on the school board in Marion County. I admired how Dick Lugar helped his community. “Another is that I was raised in a single-parent family by my mother, who taught me that everyone has a responsibility to give back. She also taught me that, if you work hard, anything is possible. “Other positive influences came through a close community of neighbors, teachers, church parishioners and team coaches. Then when I was older, I was inspired by President Ronald Reagan, who restored America’s confidence and painted a bold vision of where America could go with conservative policy. “My first paying job, besides mowing lawns and detassling corn as a kid, was as a young lawyer in the firm of Johnson Smith LLP. Next I worked for Koch Industries, which would bring in guest speakers as part of its corporate culture. “One day we had a speaker named Henry Marsh, whose message could be summarized in one sentence: ‘When I deal in generalities I seldom succeed, but when I deal in specifics I seldom fail.’ “John Wooden quoted a slightly different version of this idea: ‘Inch by inch, life’s a cinch; yard by yard, life is hard.’ The idea is that whatever your goals are, you can get there if you start taking small steps. “That day was my 27th birthday, and later I went bowling. But I kept thinking about the message I heard that day and decided it was time for a different path. So I made a choice to go into public service. “My first effort was to campaign for Virginia Blankenbaker, former state senator, who was running for U.S. Congress. It was an unsuccessful campaign, but a good learning opportunity. Next I went to Washington, D.C., where I served in a variety of positions, eventually as legislative counsel for Congressman David McIntosh. “When David ran for Indiana governor in 2000, I wound up running for his congressional position. In that primary, I placed a ‘close third,’ as they say, with Mike Pence and Jeff Linder placing ahead of me. Out of that experience, I returned to being an attorney, serving at Barnes & Thornburg LLP. “While there, some people in the Indiana Republican Party asked me to consider serving as executive director. I accepted that position in 2000. Then in 2003 I was named a state Rep. Luke Messer: Leading With a Hoosier Heart Rep. Luke Messer, shown at a hearing, serves as House Republican Policy Chair, plus is a member of the House Financial Services Committee and of the Education and the Workforce Committee.
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