Elwood Hillis

Elwood Haynes "Bud" Hillis (March 6, 1926 – January 4, 2023) was an American politician and lawyer from Indiana. He was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, serving Indiana's 5th congressional district for 8 terms from 1971 to 1987.

Personal life and early career
Born in Kokomo, Indiana, Hillis attended Kokomo public schools. He graduated from Culver Military Academy, 1944. B.S., Indiana University Bloomington, 1949. J.D., Indiana University School of Law, 1952.

Bud Hillis was a younger brother to renowned choral director Margaret Hillis. Their father, Glen R. Hillis, was the Republican nominee for Governor of Indiana in 1940, losing by less than 4,000 votes. His maternal grandfather and namesake, Elwood Haynes, was an inventor and automobile pioneer.

Hillis was a resident of Windsor, Colorado. He died on January 4, 2023, at the age of 96.

Military career
Hillis served in the United States Army in the European Theater with the rank of first lieutenant from 1944 to 1946. He retired from the Reserves in 1954 with rank of captain in the infantry.

Political career
Hillis was admitted to the Indiana bar in 1952 and commenced practice in Kokomo.

Hillis served as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives, Ninety-fifth and Ninety-sixth General Assemblies.

Hillis also served as a delegate, Indiana State Republican conventions from 1962 to 1970.

Congress
Hillis was elected as a Republican to the Ninety-second and to the seven succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1987). He was not a candidate for reelection in 1986.

Later career
Hillis resumed the practice of law.

On March 17, 2010, Bud Hillis was honored for his years in public service at the Howard County Lincoln Day Dinner, held at the Kokomo Country Club in Kokomo, Indiana.