Arthur A. Angotti Jr.

(Sept. 25, 1944–Mar. 6, 2019). A decorated Vietnam War veteran, Indianapolis entrepreneur, and broadcasting executive, Arthur Angotti was the founder and president of Indianapolis Arrows, Inc., the city’s most serious attempt to secure a Major League Baseball franchise, during the 1980s. He created four successful broadcasting companies, including Indianapolis Cablevision (see Cable Television), Heritage Venture Group Inc., University Broadcasting Company, and Artistic Media Partners, earning him induction into the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame.

Born in Gary, Indiana, Angotti grew up in an Italian American family. His parents, Art Sr. and Pauline (Jannott) Angotti, owned and operated Art’s Quality Bakery and a catering business in Gary. His brother, Joseph Angotti, later served as executive producer of NBC Nightly News.

Angotti graduated from Gary Horace Mann High School, where he was an outstanding athlete. As quarterback, he led the school’s football team to a city championship and the Northern Indiana Conference championship in 1961. He won the mile event at the Indiana State Track and Field State Finals in 1962 (see Indiana High School Athletic Association).

His talent on the track earned him a scholarship to Indiana University (IU), where he lettered in track and field. While at IU, Angotti set indoor school records in the 1,000-meter run. He was also president and treasurer of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity; and, as a member of the school’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program, he earned a Distinguished Military Student Award. Angotti graduated from IU with a business degree in 1966.

Upon graduation, Angotti was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. In 1967, while serving in the Vietnam War, he was wounded in a rocket attack, resulting in significant vision and hearing loss. Angotti received a Bronze Star for Valor, a Purple Heart, and the Army Commendation Medal for his heroic service and valor in combat.

Angotti returned to IU in 1968 to pursue an MBA. During graduate school, he married Barbara Weihmiller. The couple moved to Philadelphia, where Angotti worked for a venture capital firm. They returned to Indianapolis in 1972, where he took a job with Indiana National Bank in its mergers, acquisitions, and financial services division. Angotti left this position to form Heritage Management Inc., a financial consulting firm. Later, he formed Heritage Venture Group and four venture capital funds, which provided start-up financing for high-tech companies and other businesses.

Amid a local push to secure a Major League Baseball (MLB) team, Angotti incorporated Indianapolis Arrows Inc. in December 1983. As president of the organization, Angotti assembled an ownership group of Indianapolis businessmen and philanthropists, including Thomas Binford. The group worked alongside Mayor William Hudnut and the Indiana Major League Baseball Committee to pursue an MLB franchise. Angotti left the organization in 1988, after Indianapolis’s quest for an MLB team had been met with failure.

In 1987, Angotti founded University Broadcasting Company. This group acquired college radio stations in Indiana and Colorado, including the Purdue University Sports Radio Network and Indiana University Radio Sports. The latter station became the first radio outlet to broadcast a full season of women’s basketball. Through his company, he gained broadcast rights to IU basketball coach Bobby Knight’s weekly television program. Angotti later wrote two books about the coach. In 1997, he created Artistic Media Partners, which owned and operated 20 radio stations around the country as well as the flagship sports radio stations for IU, Purdue University, and the University of Notre Dame.

Alongside his business ventures, Angotti became involved in numerous civic organizations. He served in board or officer roles for the United States Auto Club for 17 years, the Washington Township School Board for eight years, the Washington Township Foundation (see Washington Township), Northminster Presbyterian Church (see Presbyterians), The Children’s Museum, and the Indiana Broadcasters Association. In 1986, Angotti and his wife, Barbara, started the Angotti Foundation to fund medical research, education, civic engagement, and public media projects. Angotti’s contributions to Indiana broadcasting were recognized in 2008 with his induction into the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame. He was the recipient of three Sagamore of the Wabash awards. At different periods in life, he also taught finance at Butler University.

Angotti Jr. died after a ten-month battle with cancer. His widow, Barbara, continued to manage the philanthropic activity of the Angotti Foundation.

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