Adam Benjamin , Jr . Adam Benjamin Jr . ( August 6 , 1935 – September 7 , 1982 ) was an American politician and a United States Representative from Indiana ' s 1st congressional district , serving from 1977 until his death in 1982 . Benjamin was the first Assyrian - American to be elected to the United States House of Representatives in American history . Benjamin served in the Indiana Senate from 1971 to 1977 , the Indiana House of Representatives from 1967 to 1971 , and was a member of the Democratic Party . Early life and career . Born to an Assyrian father , Adam Benjamin and Armenian mother , Margaret Marjanian , in Gary , Indiana on August 6 , 1935 , Adam Benjamin , Jr . graduated from Kemper Military School in Boonville , Missouri in 1952 . Benjamin joined the Marine Corps in 1952 , and served as a Corporal in the Korean War until he was honorably discharged in 1954 . After serving in the Marine Corps , he gained an appointment to the United States Military Academy , West Point , New York , earning a B . S . degree in engineering in 1958 . Following three years in the 101st airborne division the " Screaming Eagles " , and ranger training in the U . S . Army , in 1961 Benjamin left the Army as a First lieutenant . After his service in the Military , Benjamin returned to Gary in 1961 and began teaching math and physics at Edison High School . Two years later , he entered public service as Gary ' s zoning administrator from 1963 to 1965 , and gained further experience in local government acting as Gary Mayor A . Martin Katz ' s executive secretary from 1965 through 1966 . During his work in public service , Benjamin worked on his law degree from Valparaiso University , he graduated with his Juris Doctor and was admitted to the Indiana Bar Association in 1966 . Shortly after Benjamin was admitted to the Indiana Bar , he ran for a seat in the Indiana House of Representatives , winning two consecutive terms in 1966 , and in 1968 . Benjamin served in the Indiana House until he won a seat in the Indiana Senate in 1970 , winning reelection in 1974 , and served in the Indiana Senate from 1971 to 1977 . During his time in the Indiana Senate , Benjamin was named Outstanding State Senator by newsmen assigned to report on the Indiana General Assembly . As a state legislator , Mr . Benjamin developed a new code of ethics for legislators , worked on a new state medical malpractice act , and facilitated court reform for the Lake County Superior Court system . Two years after Benjamin won a seat in the Indiana Senate , he challenged incumbent 12 - term Congressman Ray J . Madden for the Democratic nomination for Indiana ' s 1st congressional district , but eventually lost the hotly contested primary . By 1976 , having gained significant name recognition as an Indiana legislator , Benjamin again challenged Madden in the Democratic primary , this time defeating him with 56 % of the vote , compared with Madden ' s 34 % . In the general election Benjamin beat evangelistic Christian educator , and co - founder of Moral Majority , Robert J . Billings , with a 40 % margin of victory . United States House of Representatives . Adam Benjamin , Jr . served in the 95th , 96th , and 97th Congresses from 1977 until his death in 1982 . Benjamin sat on the House Appropriations Committee , and served as the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation , aiding Northwest Indiana with projects such as improved Amtrak facilities , new South Shore Railroad commuter cars , and funding for an I - 94 interchange to provide access to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore as well as improvements in Gary ' s bus system and municipal airport . In addition , Congressman Benjamin chaired the executive committee of the Congressional Steel Caucus , a bi - partisan coalition of congressman that promotes the health and stability of the domestic steel industry . To encourage the Calumet Region ' s economic recovery , Mr . Benjamin worked to establish the Calumet Forum , with representatives of labor , industry , banking , publishing , education , politics , transportation , and the religious community seeking to promote the economic resurgence and development of the Region . Regarding the importance of the Forum , Mr . Benjamin commented , " I ' ve put myself on the line for this . . . I ' ve got to do it . It just has to be done . " Adam Benjamin continued to gain a reputation for hard work , dedication , effectiveness , and loyalty among both his colleagues and his constituents . He retained his seat in the 1978 and 1980 elections , and was seeking a fourth Congressional term when he died suddenly from a heart ailment in September 1982 . He is buried in Merrillville , Indiana ' s Calumet Park Cemetery . The Veterans Affairs clinic in Crown Point , Indiana is named in his honor .