Judge John Ax

John Ax was born in Greene County in 1915.  He graduated from Indiana University School of Law. 

He was an attorney in DuBois and Greene counties and argued cases before the Indiana and federal courts and the United States Supreme Court. 

Judge Ax was elected as a Democrat to the Appellate Court of Indiana in 1958 and served one term, from January 1, 1959 to December 31, 1962, including as Chief Judge during the November 1960 session.  In 1962, he was defeated in a bid for the Indiana Supreme Court.

He also unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor in 1964, the same year he was named a U.S. Commissioner at the Crane Naval Ammunition Depot.  Governor Roger Branigin appointed him to the Indiana Stream Pollution Control Board, where he served from 1965 to 1969. 

In addition to his public service, Judge Ax had several business interests, including part owner of radio stations in Dubois County, Clay County, and in Danville, IL; had interests in coal strip mines in Indiana and Kentucky and a furniture factory in Spencer County; and owned farms in Knox, Greene, Clay and Sullivan counties. 

Judge Ax was a president of the Huntingburg School Board, attorney for the Linton-Stockton School Corporation, city attorney for both the Huntingburg and Linton communities, and secretary of Huntingburg Chamber of Commerce.  He belonged to the Greene County, Indiana State and American bar associations, the Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, and the Linton Kiwanis and Rotary clubs.  He was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma fraternity on and the board of the Aeons and Sphinx Club.  He was awarded a Sagamore of the Wabash.

He died on September 1, 1984 at the age of 69.  He was survived by his wife Kathryn, daughters Toni and Kay, and sons John and Michael.