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Irish Citizen of the Year

(Shown to the Right)

Robert Sullivan

Robert (Bob) William Sullivan was born January 15, 1923.  He celebrated his 85th birthday in January.  Bob grew up in Holy Cross Parish and was the youngest of six children.  On November 28, 1953 he married his wife, Mary Rita Hughes, at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church.  They are the parents of seven children, Julie, Bob, Pat, Anne, Mary, Sally, and Katie and grandparents of 29 grandchildren.  Bob and Rita recently celebrated 55 years of marriage.

Bob went to Tech High school to pursue carpentry.  He graduated at the age of 18 and enlisted in the Navy.  While in the Navy, he was a head of the carpentry division.  Bob served in the South Pacific on the Montpelier Ship in WWII, as well as serving in the Korean War in 1950.

After returning from the war, Bob was a contractor and carpenter.  In 1954, he opened his first hardware store on East Washington Street.  Ten years later he expanded his business to 7206 North Keystone Avenue, and eventually moved to the store’s existing location in 1981.  Sullivan Hardware celebrated 50 years of service in 2004 and has continued to grow to four stores around Indianapolis.  Bob spent much of his time starting and growing Sullivan’s Hardware.  He is extremely proud of the continued expansion of the stores.

Bob has been an active member of St. Pius X Catholic Church for 40 years and he is a member of Knights of Columbus.  Throughout his life he has been a football fan, but mostly Bob enjoys working for the hardware store, doing odd carpentry jobs, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.