Robert Vincent Welch (May 26, 1927 – September 11, 1992) was an American businessman, politician, and civic leader from Indianapolis, Indiana.
Welch was the seventh of ten children that grew up on the northside of Indianapolis near St. Joan of Arc (SJOA) Church and School.
Welch was honored posthumously by the Indianapolis Junior Achievement chapter as a Laureate to the Central Indiana Business Hall of Fame in 2005.
Welch also ran for mayor of Indianapolis in 1975,winning the Democratic nomination against long odds[15][16] but eventually losing in the general election to William H. Hudnut III.
[17] Welch continued to support the community by serving in his later years as executive director of the White River State Park Development Commission under appointment from Governor Evan Bayh.
One of Welch's largest contributions to the Indianapolis community was his leadership role in helping to keep Cathedral High School from closure.
He funded the payroll when necessary (on his own or by persuading friends to help) and continued to lead the school to survive against long odds.
[21][22] In the mid-1990s, Cathedral constructed a new gymnasium and athletic facility and dedicated it as the “Robert V. Welch Student Activities Center”.
One of the many sparks that helped to build confidence within Indianapolis was the efforts led by Welch to secure an NFL franchise in the city, which he began in the early 1970s.
While Indianapolis in the early 1970s had an ABA/NBA franchise (Pacers) and a AAA baseball team (Indians), it was not apparent that the city could support more.
It was well known that Welch spent a great deal of time and hundreds of thousands of his own dollars throughout these years toward this cause.
In the early 1980s, the NFL indicated to Welch and others that it intended to expand the league with a new franchise and that Indianapolis would be the leading candidate under the condition that the city construct a domed stadium in which the team could play.
[26] As a result, Welch worked with local leaders to help influence the construction of the Hoosier Dome[27] so that the city could lure the new NFL franchise.
The city began plans to construct the Hoosier Dome in 1980 and broke ground in 1982[29] It was a risk for Indianapolis to build an expensive new stadium without a professional team to play in it.
As time passed and construction continued on the Hoosier Dome, Welch and the City waited for the NFL to award the franchise.
[33] Welch persuaded the Chicago Bears to allow one of their pre-season home games (against the Bills) to be played in the Hoosier Dome in September 1984.
[35][26] This was no small task because Notre Dame did not want to give up a home game for the neutral site in Indianapolis against an in-state rival,[36] but Welch was able to persuade all parties.
In late 1983 and early 1984, the city of Indianapolis became concerned that the Hoosier Dome would be complete in 1984 but would not have a team because the NFL was still working on its appeal and would not make a decision on expansion.
The Baltimore Colts were a storied franchise that had fallen on hard times and were looking for a fresh start in a new city with more attractive stadium terms.
[28] The NFL declined to make a decision on franchise expansion and, therefore, on March 29, 1984, the Colts left Baltimore in the middle of the night and moved to Indianapolis.
A 1984 Indianapolis Monthly article quoted Mayor Bill Hudnut "We are grateful to Bob Welch for what he did to nurture the dream of making Indianapolis an NFL city and to help that dream come true by building good relationships with the owners of the various NFL franchises.
[46] He and the other passengers (Mike Carroll, Frank McKinney Jr., and John Weliever) are honored at a memorial at White River State Park.