John Minta
Encyclopedia
John Henry Minta was a politician of Clarksville, Indiana
, where he was involved with the town's government for 32 years and nicknamed Mr. Clarksville. During his time with the town's government he served on the Parks Board, Town Council, and was the Council President.
in the Air Force
and would return home, eventually becoming a banker. He retired from Liberty National Bank. He served as a head basketball
coach for a local church for 35 years. Minta began his involvement with the town's government by serving on the Parks Board from 1974 to 1984.
In 1984 he became elected to the Town Council. In 1997 he served as the Town Council President until his death in June 2006. He was serving in his 19th year on the council and his 9th year as Council President. During his tenure on the council he would be credited with helping revitalize the George Rogers Clark Cabin
, construction of a commercial district known as Veterans Parkway, building a new Town Hall, revitalizing the Lewis and Clark Parkway commercial district, construction of the Clarksville Sewage Treatment Plant, and extensive effort with the Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center
in which they named a room after him for his devotion to the project. Minta also worked on the Clarksville War Memorial project and the Wooded View Golf Course located next to Lapping Park
. He also helped in the planning of the Ohio River Greenway project prior to his death, in which the revitalization of the George Rogers Clark
cabin was a part of the Greenway project.
John Minta was discovered dead after he didn't show up for work at the Town Hall and his neighbor and Town Attorney Sam Gwin decided to check up on him. When the back door was found unlocked Sam Gwin called the police in which the police would discover Mr. Minta deceased in a chair with the TV still on. The same day the local newspaper The Evening News
printed an article titled Mr. Clarksville dies at 65.
After the passing of John Minta, Vice President Councilman Paul Kraft would be named the Council President, Bob Popp would be named Vice-President and Greg Isgrigg would be nominated by the precinct committeemen to finish Minta's term.
Clarksville, Indiana
Clarksville is a town in Clark County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River as a part of the Louisville Metropolitan area. The population was 21,724 at the 2010 census. The town, once a home site to George Rogers Clark, was founded in 1783 and is the oldest American town in the Northwest...
, where he was involved with the town's government for 32 years and nicknamed Mr. Clarksville. During his time with the town's government he served on the Parks Board, Town Council, and was the Council President.
Biography
John Minta was born in Clarksville in 1941 and would remain a citizen of the town for his entire life. He served in the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
in the Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
and would return home, eventually becoming a banker. He retired from Liberty National Bank. He served as a head basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach for a local church for 35 years. Minta began his involvement with the town's government by serving on the Parks Board from 1974 to 1984.
In 1984 he became elected to the Town Council. In 1997 he served as the Town Council President until his death in June 2006. He was serving in his 19th year on the council and his 9th year as Council President. During his tenure on the council he would be credited with helping revitalize the George Rogers Clark Cabin
Old Clarksville Site
The Old Clarksville Site is along the waterfront of Clarksville, Indiana, roughly between the Interpretive Center and Clark Homesite of Falls of the Ohio State Park...
, construction of a commercial district known as Veterans Parkway, building a new Town Hall, revitalizing the Lewis and Clark Parkway commercial district, construction of the Clarksville Sewage Treatment Plant, and extensive effort with the Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center
Falls of the Ohio State Park
Falls of the Ohio State Park is a state park in Indiana. It is located on the banks of the Ohio River at Clarksville, Indiana, across from Louisville, Kentucky.The park is part of the Falls of the Ohio National Wildlife Conservation Area...
in which they named a room after him for his devotion to the project. Minta also worked on the Clarksville War Memorial project and the Wooded View Golf Course located next to Lapping Park
Lapping Park
Lapping Memorial Park is a park located in the town of Clarksville, Indiana. The park is a park that features play grounds, softball fields, golf, tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball space, horseshoe pits, amphitheater, lodge, shelter house, and three hiking trails immersed in a thick...
. He also helped in the planning of the Ohio River Greenway project prior to his death, in which the revitalization of the George Rogers Clark
George Rogers Clark
George Rogers Clark was a soldier from Virginia and the highest ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War. He served as leader of the Kentucky militia throughout much of the war...
cabin was a part of the Greenway project.
John Minta was discovered dead after he didn't show up for work at the Town Hall and his neighbor and Town Attorney Sam Gwin decided to check up on him. When the back door was found unlocked Sam Gwin called the police in which the police would discover Mr. Minta deceased in a chair with the TV still on. The same day the local newspaper The Evening News
The Evening News (Jeffersonville)
The Evening News is a six-day daily newspaper serving Jeffersonville, Indiana, and Clark County, Indiana. It is owned by Community Newspaper Holdings Inc....
printed an article titled Mr. Clarksville dies at 65.
After the passing of John Minta, Vice President Councilman Paul Kraft would be named the Council President, Bob Popp would be named Vice-President and Greg Isgrigg would be nominated by the precinct committeemen to finish Minta's term.