Bob Heaton
Quick Facts
Biography
Robert "Bob" Heaton is a Republican member of the Indiana House of Representatives, representing the 46th District since 2010.
While at Indiana State University, Heaton was a prominent member of the college's varsity basketball team that famously reached the final of the 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. Heaton averaged 9 points during the NCAA Tournament, including a buzzer-beating game-winner vs. Arkansas which propelled the Sycamores to the Final Four.
From 1980 - 2003, he worked for Northwestern Mutual (in Terre Haute) as a financial representative and then for Forrest-Sherer Agency. Since 2003, he has been president of his own financial service venture, Heaton Financial Services in Terre Haute.
Basketball career
High School
Heaton led the Clay City Eels to the finals of the 1974 Evansville Semi-state and the finals of the 1975 Terre Haute Regional. During his junior and senior, the Eels had a record of 43-3.
College
Heaton spent two seasons (1975–76 and 1976–77) at the University of Denver, leading the Pioneers in scoring (315 pts, 11.7 avg) as a sophomore. He transferred to Indiana State after the 1977 season as Denver had decided to transition their basketball program from Division I to Division II. Heaton spent the 1978-79 and 1979-80 seasons at Indiana State, helping the Sycamores reach the 1979 NCAA Division I Championship game.
While at Indiana State, Heaton was pictured on a 1979 Sports Illustrated cover with basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson. "I never expected my face to be on the cover," Heaton would later tell Sports Illustrated. "In fact, it wasn't. But friends say the picture shows my best side: my backside."
Political career
District 46
Heaton represents Indiana's House District 46. Which includes the counties of;Clay, Monroe, Owen, Vigo. As of the 2010 census, a total of 64,836 civilians reside within Indiana's forty-sixth state house district.
State Representative
In 2010, Bob Heaton, beat Bionca Gambill by over 4,000 votes. In 2012 and 2014, He defeated challenger James Mann II by a great margin. One of Heaton's greatest achievements during his tenure is securing state money to help renovate the Hulman Center in the 2015 General Assembly Session. Heaton ran but lost his reelection campaign to Bill Breeden in 2016 by a 3% margin.