Joseph Bruggenschmidt
Joseph Gervase Bruggenschmidt was a politician and forester from the state of Indiana.
Early life
Bruggenschmidt was born near Tell City, Indiana and graduated from Tell City High School in 1948. He served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War and received a Purple Heart for injuries received in combat.Upon his return home, he graduated from Purdue University and began farming with his father, Herman, and younger brother, John.
Political career
In 1962, Bruggenschmidt was nominated for state representative serving Perry and Spencer counties on the Democratic ticket and was elected in November, defeating the incumbent, Republican William Birchler. Bruggenschmidt would hold the seat for four consecutive terms, until the 1970 election, when he ran for the state Senate. During his time in the House, Bruggenschmidt married Jacqueline Schneider in November 1968 and moved from rural Perry County to Jasper, where he would live the rest of his life.In 1970, Bruggenschmidt ran for and won the District 47 Senate seat. He was re-elected in 1974 but lost his bid for a third Senate term in the May 1978 primary.