Deepest Sympathies to the Souder Family September 27, 2022 Report The Huntington County Economic Development Corporation (HCUED) offers its deepest sympathies to the family of former U.S. Congressman Mark Souder, IN/3, as the family announced his passing yesterday, September 26, 2022. Souder lost the battle to pancreatic cancer. He was 72. "Our deepest sympathies and thanks go to his family, friends, and former employees," said HCUED executive director Mark Wickersham, who was Souder's first employee and served 11 years on his staff. "While he was truly committed to serving the entire district, Huntington County was very key to his first election and early days in Congress. He counted other prominent Huntington County natives as staff early staff members as well. He delighted in visiting here," Wickersham added. Souder's daughter and son-in-law graduated from Huntington University. "She taught for a time in the Huntington County Community School Corporation," Wickersham added. Souder was very active with the early campaigns of Huntington's Dan Quayle, contributing to the idea of using an image of a bird in campaign literature to be sure the public properly pronounced the name "Quayle." He offered early support to the creation of the Dan Quayle Center and donated historic items to the organization. Some Huntington County projects of the Congressman, included the extension of the runway at Huntington Municipal Airport, the re-naming of the reservoir to Roush Lake, in honor of former Huntington Democrat J. Edward Roush and regulatory support for then Huntington Memorial Hospital. Souder was also a key supporter of what was then known as the "COPS Program" which created a police resource officer in the Huntington County Community School Corporation. "Huntington County has been touched by the Souder Family and we offer our sincerest thanks and sympathies at his passing," Wickersham concluded.