Curtis Hill

This week, Dan charts with Curtis Hill - a conservative candidate for governor of Indiana. Curtis is a lifelong Hoosier, born and raised in Elkhart, Indiana, who has spent his entire life serving his community and state.

The youngest of five children, Curtis grew up in a working-class family. His father served in the U.S. Army before working as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service and as a successful insurance agent. His mother was a licensed beautician and designed her own clothing company.

Curtis’ parents embody the American experience, and they played an instrumental role in making Curtis the leader he is today. In the 1960s, Curtis’ family was the first to integrate their neighborhood. His father was a civil rights activist and president of the local NAACP. His father’s activism influenced many of Curtis’ childhood experiences. Growing up in a community hesitant to change, Curtis witnessed attacks against the Hill family that became increasingly personal and violent, including an attack during which a Molotov cocktail was thrown onto the roof of their home. One of Curtis’ earliest memories is from the following day — when his father brought home a brand new shotgun, taught his children how to use it, and placed the loaded gun behind his bedroom door, where it remained until the day he died. Curtis’ father did not live in fear and did not let the threats deter his family or force them to move.

These experiences instilled in Curtis a fighting spirit and a dedication to the rule of law. Curtis’ father influenced his life and taught him about courage, conviction, and leading by example. His mother was a testament to strength and independence. Despite adversity and obstacles, Curtis’ parents stood firm in their beliefs and instilled in him a zeal for life, liberty, and the pursuit of justice.

After graduating from Elkhart Central High School, Curtis enrolled at Indiana University Bloomington, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Marketing and, immediately after, his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Indiana University School of Law. It is also where Curtis met and fell in love with his wife, Teresa. Fate brought them together, and faith bound them to one another for the rest of their lives. After law school, Curtis moved back to Elkhart to begin practicing law. Not long after, he and Teresa, a schoolteacher, were married. Together, they are the proud parents of five children.