Representative John Patrick Hiler

John Patrick Hiler (born April 24, 1953) is an American politician and businessman who served five terms as a United States Representative from Indiana from 1981 to 1991. A member of the Republican Party, he represented his northern Indiana district in the U.S. House of Representatives during a significant period in American political history, contributing to the legislative process over the course of a decade in Congress.

Hiler was born in Chicago, Illinois, and spent much of his formative years in the Midwest. He graduated from La Lumiere School in La Porte, Indiana, in 1971. He then attended Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1975. Pursuing advanced studies in business, he received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business in 1977, preparing for a career that would combine private-sector experience with public service.

Following completion of his education, Hiler entered the business world, serving as a marketing director for a business based in Indiana. His early professional experience in the private sector informed his later interest in economic and small business issues. At the same time, he became increasingly active in Republican politics in Indiana. He served as a delegate to the Indiana State Republican conventions from 1978 to 1980, and in 1978 he ran for the Indiana House of Representatives in the 7th district, though he was unsuccessful in that general election. In 1980, he was selected as a delegate to the White House Conference of Small Business, reflecting his engagement with business policy and entrepreneurship.

Hiler’s congressional career began with the 1980 election, a year marked by a major national political realignment. Running as a Republican, he was elected to the 97th Congress and unseated 22-year Democratic incumbent and House Majority Whip John Brademas in a widely noted upset. The victory was driven in large part by the national political climate and the presidential contest between Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter, which helped propel Republican gains across the country. Hiler took office on January 3, 1981, and was subsequently reelected to the four succeeding Congresses, serving continuously until January 3, 1991.

During his five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, Hiler participated fully in the democratic process and represented the interests of his Indiana constituents through a period that encompassed much of the Reagan and George H. W. Bush administrations. As a member of the House, he contributed to the legislative process on issues important to his district and party, including economic policy, business regulation, and federal spending, while navigating a political landscape shaped by Cold War tensions, tax reform debates, and shifting domestic priorities. His reelection campaigns were often hard-fought, reflecting the competitive nature of his district. In 1990, after a decade in office, he was narrowly defeated for reelection to the 102nd Congress by Democrat Tim Roemer, a former staff member of John Brademas.

After leaving Congress in January 1991, Hiler continued his service in the federal government. He was appointed deputy administrator of the General Services Administration, serving from 1991 to 1993. In that role, he was involved in the management and oversight of federal properties, procurement, and administrative services, applying both his legislative experience and business background to the operations of a major federal agency.

Following his tenure at the General Services Administration, Hiler returned more fully to the private sector. He became a business executive with Hiler Industries, maintaining his long-standing ties to Indiana’s business community. A resident of South Bend, Indiana, he has remained associated with the region he represented in Congress, carrying forward his combined experience in business and public service.