(Jan. 19, 1915-Nov. 30, 1992). Born in Indianapolis, Edwin K. Steers was the son of Edwin M. S. Steers, former treasurer of the Indiana . Graduating from Indiana University Law School in 1937, he was admitted to the bar and became associated with his father’s law firm. He served four years as Marion County deputy prosecutor (1940-1942, 1947-1949) and was in charge of the grand jury for two years.
After serving in the Navy in World War II from 1943 to 1946, Steers returned home to resume his law practice and work with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office before being recalled to active duty during the Korean War. He served from 1951 to 1953 as defense counsel, General Court Martial for the Great Lakes area, during which time he became the Republican candidate for Indiana attorney general.
Elected in 1952 despite his absence, Steers eventually served three consecutive terms as attorney general, being reelected in 1956 and 1960. His administration was uncontroversial except when he opposed the 1963 state sales tax. Governor Matthew Welsh accused Steers of deserting his legal responsibility to the state in favor of politics, but Steers claimed that imposing a sales tax and a use tax on certain retail transactions and making certain changes in the gross income tax was a violation of the Indiana State Constitution.
Steers returned to private practice in 1964 and, in 1969, was appointed general counsel for the Shrine of North America in Chicago. Other major clients included the State Automobile Insurance Group and Statesman Insurance Group. At the time of his death, he had been a partner of Steers, Sullivan, McNamar, and Rogers for 55 years.
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