A former Batesville basketball star and businessman has a big day Tuesday in Florida.
Curt Clawson is running for office in Florida’s US Congressional District 19. The primary will be held Tuesday as part of a special election to replace former congressman Trey Radel, who resigned in January for buying cocaine.
Clawson attended Batesville High School, and as a senior, led the state of Indiana in scoring and was recruited by Purdue Head Basketball Coach Gene Keady.
Clawson attended Purdue from 1981 through 1984. While at Purdue, Clawson served as a senior captain on the 1984 Big Ten Championship Team. He is known for making the first 3-point basket in Purdue history and making two clutch free throws to clinch the Big Ten Championship.
Locally, the Clawson name is well known for business success and community charity. Curt’s father, Jack, served as CEO and President of Hill-Rom from 1975 to 1993. Some current and former associates may recall Jack Clawson for his involvement, as he was seen regularly in the manufacturing plant and other areas of the company. The Clawson family was also prominent in the Mormon faith community in Batesville.
Before announcing his candidacy for congress, Curt had success as a top executive for Honeywell and American Can Company.
With minimal experience in politics, Clawson has chosen to run as the ‘outsider for congress.’
“As an outsider candidate who has never held political office, I think one of the things we bring to the table, is that we are going to go at it alone,” Clawson said. “If we do get elected we can represent the will of our constituents and not somebody who helped me win the campaign by making a donation.”
The campaign trail has garnered national attention, with him receiving endorsements from Michelle Bachman, Rand Paul and the Tea Party Express.
The Clawson family will be all eyes on Southwest Florida on Tuesday, but Curt has not forgot where he comes from.
“If I could move Capitol building in Washington D.C. to Batesville, Indiana, we would all be better off in my view, because they could use some of our values!”
