James L. Bradford

(Feb. 28, 1903-Apr. 26, 1960). Bradford graduated from Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis in 1921. He became involved in Republican politics working as a volunteer at the polls in 1924. A year later he was elected a precinct committeeman. Bradford later served as secretary of the 7^th district committee, head of the Republican registration committee, and ward chairman. In 1940, he ousted Carl Vandivier as county chairman and gained control of the Marion County organization.

Following the defeat of his mayoral candidate, Henry E. Ostrom, in the 1942 primary, Bradford resisted pressure from hostile GOP officials to step aside. He agreed to do so only after his opponents accepted Ostrom as his successor as county chairman in 1944. In 1942, Bradford served as Marion County Auditor for six months, filling an unexpired term.

From 1944 to 1946, he turned his interests to the state organization of the Republican Party by serving as district chairman. He worked as a service area inspector of the Indiana Toll Road Commission from 1957 until his death. Bradford was a member of the Mystic Tie Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, Murat Shrine, and the Columbia Club.

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