Gary L Neale

Retired NiSource Chairman and CEO Gary Neale, who grew the utility into a Fortune 500 company and the country's third-largest national gas distributor, died Oct. 18 2023 in Colorado at the age of 83. Neale was a South Dakota native who moved at an early age to, and grew up in, Port Angeles, Washington. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Washington in Seattle, served in the Navy and became CEO of the consulting firm Planmetrics in Illinois. He was recruited by Merrillville-based NIPSCO to take over as president and chief operating officer in 1989 and became president, chairman and CEO in 1993. He retired from NiSource as CEO in 2005 and chairman in 2006. He led a bid to move the Chicago Bears to Northwest Indiana, pitching a lakefront stadium on Lake Michigan in Gary that ultimately resulted in the last round of renovations to Soldier Field. Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Modine since April 1, 2008. Prior to January 2007, Mr. Neale was Chairman of NiSource, Inc., Merrillville, Indiana, a holding company for gas and electric utilities and other energy-related subsidiaries. Mr. Neale served as Chief Executive Officer (1993 – July 2005) and President (1994 – November 2004) of NiSource, Inc. Mr. Neale serves as a director of Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V.