Dr. Beurt SerVaas is one of the most influential people in the city of Indianapolis, whether the arena is politics or business.

A medical scientist, industrialist, business and community leader, Dr. SerVaas is one of the architects of Unigov, Indianapolis’ consolidated city-county government adopted in 1970. A key player in shaping the city’s political and business landscape, he served more than four decades on the Indianapolis City-County Council - 27 years as its president.

An Indianapolis native, Dr. SerVaas grew up during the Depression. His father was out of work and his mother only earned part-time pay as a fulltime teacher. To help out at home, the young SerVaas carried two paper routes, did housework, and helped care for his younger brother and sister. At Shortridge, he played football, was on the debate team and edited “The Daily Echo” school newspaper. He also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts, and won his amateur radio license.

His grades and activities at Shortridge earned him a scholarship to Indiana University Extension Division, where he worked as a janitor to earn his board. Later, he enrolled at the University of Mexico, living with a Mexican family and earning his keep by teaching the children English. He returned to finish at IU with degrees in chemistry, history, and Spanish, along with a teaching certificate.

For a brief time, Dr. SerVaas followed in his educator mother’s footsteps, teaching students at Shortridge. His teaching plans were cut short by World War II, which he spent as a naval officer in China for the Secret Intelligence Division of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS).

After the war, Dr. SerVaas returned to Indianapolis to begin again. Eventually, he purchased and successfully reorganized more than 20 small and medium-sized diversified companies. In 1970, he acquired and became chairman of Curtis Publishing Company, which published more than a dozen magazines, including “The Saturday Evening Post.” His business empire, SerVaas, Inc., now includes 21 companies that specialize in everything from European foreign trade to pharmaceutical licensing and manufacturing.

With an avid interest in health and preventive medicine, Dr. SerVaas entered IU Medical School as a part-time student when he was in his 40s, earning a doctorate in medical science.

 Dr. SerVaas and his wife, Corey, continue to publish “The Saturday Evening Post” and several children's magazines.  They have five children and 19 grandchildren.