Judge Harry L. Crumpacker

Harry L. Crumpacker, nephew of Indiana Appellate Court Judge Edgar D. Crumpacker, was born in Valparaiso on May 6, 1881.  He attended public school in LaPorte before enrolling at the University of Michigan, where he earned both his bachelor’s and law degrees, the former in 1903 and the latter in 1905.  He was admitted to practice law in LaPorte County in 1905 and opened a law office in Michigan City. 

In 1907, he married Blanche Bosserman, with whom he had three children, John, Helen and Marjorie.  Blanche Crumpacker died in 1914.  In 1920, Judge Crumpacker re-married in Chicago to Mrs. Harriet Bray Manny, a Michigan City widow.  Together they raised a third daughter.

Soon after his admission to the bar, Judge Crumpacker practiced with S.J. Crumpacker and later as a solo practitioner.  He was City Attorney of Michigan City, a post from which he resigned to enter the race for LaPorte Superior Court judge in the fall of 1914.  He was elected that year and re-elected to the office five more times.  In 1935, he retired from the LaPorte bench and resumed his law practice.

In 1942, Judge Crumpacker ran as a Republican for the Indiana Appellate Court and won.  He was re-elected in 1946, 1950, and 1954, serving on the court for 16 years.  He was Chief Judge five times – during the November Term in 1943, 1946, 1948, and 1953, and for the May Term in 1957.  He served as Presiding Justice for the May Term in three sessions:  1950, 1952, and 1956. 

He was a member of the Michigan City, LaPorte County, and Indiana State bar associations.  He served as Vice-Chairman of the Indiana State Judicial Council and authored a two-volume book on Indiana Evidence. 

In addition to his legal and judicial activities, Judge Crumpacker was deeply involved in the Michigan City community.  He was a director of the Michigan City Trust & Savings Bank, a trustee and former president of the Michigan City Library Association, a director and former president of the Board of Advisors of St. Anthony’s Hospital, and a director of the Michigan City Chamber of Commerce.  He joined Masonic (Acme) Lodge No. 83 and the Elks Lodge.  He belonged to the Pottawattomie Country Club, the First Methodist Episcopal Church, and later St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.  He enjoyed fishing and golf. 

Judge Crumpacker died at home in Michigan City on June 25, 1969 at the age of 88.