Leroy K. New

It has been said that, "Man is what he believes." This was certainly true of Leroy K. New. He believed dedication and commitment are vital rungs on the ladder to success and that "belief" is work. Leroy believed there was great virtue in a good education, a good family, and a good community - and that is exactly the story of his life.

Husband, father, mentor, citizen - Leroy fulfilled every one of those roles with conviction, love and honor. His training for these roles started early in his life in Cherrydale, Virginia, where his father served in many different capacities in their community, including as a barber, teacher, lawyer and pilot. Leroy's parents, Edward and Edna (Buntain) New, instilled in him their values and started him on the path of commitment to family and community. His mother, especially, was a great influence in his life and, as a homemaker, she made sure to teach her sons the value of strong work ethics, which became one of Leroy's most defining traits.

Leroy was born in Cherrydale, Virginia, on February 29, 1920, a Leap Year. He was the youngest of his family; his brother, Edward, was 2 years his elder. In 1923, the New family moved to the Midwest, settling in Indiana, where his father started his law practice. It was obvious from a young age that young Leroy was a bright boy. He enjoyed learning, particularly through memorization and reciting. At the age of 4, little Leroy astounded a crowd of thousands of people at the Arlington National Cemetery, where he recited the Gettysburg Address verbatim to commemorate a special occasion. He spent much of his leisure time singing, playing saxophone, shooting hoops with his brother and at the age of 5, was the YMCA basketball mascot. Both Leroy and his brother had the pleasure of attending Miss Blaker's Kindergarten class before entering 1st grade at Benjamin Harrison School. Leroy was such a gifted child that he was sent right to 3rd grade, skipping 1st and 2nd grade.

Aside from excelling academically, Leroy was also very musically inclined and had a love for music in his soul. At the age of 6, he was performing "The Early Bird Gets the Worm" and "I'll Wear a White Flower for Mother Dear" on stage, which always elicited an encore by the audience. He also took piano lessons at the Metropolitan School of Music, though he (and his brother) already played the saxophone on his much-prized C-Melody sax given to him that same year. The brothers, along with their friend Wilbur, formed a child dance band called the Junior Melody Boys and performed together. In addition, Leroy and Edward also had a weekly radio program called "Lullaby Time" on WKBF (later known as WFBM) sponsored by L. Strauss & Co. Their radio show aired every Friday at 6 p.m., traditionally opening with them singing "Come on all you kiddies, it's lullaby time" and ending with the solemn prayer "Now I lay me down to sleep."

In the summer of 1930, Leroy and Edward went to spend a year with their Aunt Cecil and Uncle Ben in Nampa, Idaho, working as ranch hands. After their return to Indy, Leroy enrolled in Shortridge High School at the age of 12, where he played in the school band and had a paper route, delivering the Indianapolis News for $.12 a week. During this time, he also played with the Gertrude Butz Orchestra. In 1936, at the age of 16, Leroy graduated for Shortridge, enrolled at Butler University and joined the Louie Lowe's Orchestra Band at the Indianapolis Athletic Club. A year later, he also joined the Musicians' Union and eventually served as president, during which time he negotiated grants for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

In 1939, after 3 years at Butler, Leroy and his brother Edward went on to attend Stetson University together in Florida. Here, Leroy played tennis and was involved with the Sigma Nu fraternity, playing baseball on their intramural team, which went on to win the championship. During the summer of that year, Leroy joined a band in Bloomington, Indiana, which traveled around to various cities, playing at vaudevilles as well as playing in the opening band in the renowned movie "The Wizard of Oz" starring Judy Garland. Although still in college, Leroy and his brother followed a patriotic calling and enlisted in the U.S. Navy's officer program called the V-7. This program ultimately allowed the brothers to complete law school and they both graduated from Stetson in 1942, with Leroy on the Dean's list. They then resigned from the V-7 program and enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard. The brothers were stationed at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, where Leroy joined the U.S. Coast Guard Dance Band.

Although Leroy was busy with school and his music, he couldn't help but notice a pretty young lady on campus named Joyce Stoerk, a freshman from Wilmette, Illinois. Head over heels in love, Leroy believed Joyce was heaven sent. After pinning his Sigma Nu pin on her sweater and serenading her under her dorm window with "For You", their hearts were forever bound together. The couple was married on March 21, 1943, at the Roberts Park Methodist Church in Indianapolis, marking the beginning of a happy marriage that would last 62 years. United as one, Leroy believed that "having someone to love doubles our joy and divides our sorrow."

Since Leroy was in the Coast Guard, the newlyweds made their first home in the suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland, until his honorable discharge in 1945. Although the couple suffered a great loss when their baby boy died at birth, they were later blessed with two beautiful daughters, Marcia Ann and Stacy, who brought great joy to their lives. Leroy and Joyce raised their girls in a farmhouse in Carmel, where they boarded their horses, Beauty and April Star. The family loved to vacation together, visiting places like Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Nassau, and sharing many wonderful memories as a family.

Leroy's greatest achievements and accomplishments came while working as an attorney. After receiving his law degree from Indiana University School of Law, Leroy was admitted to practice law in Indiana in 1946, and in Florida in 1947. He became the first attorney in the town of Carmel, Indiana, and went on to be the Chief Trial Deputy Prosecutor in Marion County for 18 years, winning many high profile cases. Although his family and business kept him busy, Leroy valued his community and was always actively involved. He was the first president of the Carmel Chamber of Commerce and served on the board of the Carmel Symphony. He also worked with Richard Lugar on the Veteran's History Project and was recognized for his devoted and outstanding services to the Carmel community for over ten years. Some of his other accomplishments included receiving the Distinguished Fellows from the Indianapolis Bar Foundation in 1982; Certificate of Appreciation by the Board of Examiners, State of Indiana in 1981; Appreciation Police League of Indiana in 1979; Carmel-Clay Chamber of Commerce - 1989; 50-year Certificate in Masons - 1998; Distinguished Alumni Award from Stetson University in 1996; and Indianapolis Bar Association for 50 years of practice.

Leroy understood commitment and demonstrated that understanding in many ways throughout his life. Besides being a devoted husband, father and attorney, he was a caring friend to many. He was known to leave encouraging notes, take friends to lunch or simply call to see how they are doing. His reputation, his accomplishments and his convictions will live on in the hearts of all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Leroy K. New, 85, of Carmel, IN, passed away on Sunday, September 18, 2005, in St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Joyce Stoerk New; daughters, Marcia (Chuck) Bracken and Stacy New; grandchildren, Scott and Jody Bracken, and two great grandsons. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Judge Edward New.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, September 22, at 10:00 a.m. in the Carmel United Methodist Church, where he had been an active member since 1950, with calling following in the church parlor until 2:00 p.m. You are invited to visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may read Leroy's Life Story or share a personal memory. You may make a memorial contribution to the Carmel United Methodist Church, 621 S. Rangeline Road, Carmel, IN 46032. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Leppert Life Story Funeral Home, Smith Carmel Chapel.