County Council President Sanders Dies At 69
May 15, 2017 at 8:06 p.m.
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Prior to the Pledge of Allegiance, Sanders took a few moments to critique the words of the pledge, breaking down nearly every phrase as a way to recap the importance it carried for him and what it should mean to others.
The United States Air Force veteran choked up as he underscored the patriotic themes embedded in the pledge, and the presentation brought several people to tears.
Sanders died Sunday at Lutheran Hospital of Indiana in Fort Wayne following a heart attack a week earlier. He was 69.
While there was much to remember about Sanders, his comments that day stood out as something special for numerous people who attended the meeting.
“That was something he really wanted to share, truly what the pledge meant to him,” said County Auditor Michelle Puckett. “It was incredibly emotional. That’s Bob’s heart.”
Sanders heard a similar dissection in his childhood and Puckett said she believes it always stayed close to him.
“He was a very emotional gentleman,” she said. “He wore his heart on his sleeve. If you were important to him and he cared for you, you knew what his morals and his values were and the things he held high,” she said.
County Commissioner Ron Truex, who was at the March meeting, was also stuck by the moment.
Looking back, the timing takes on more significance, he said.
“It’s something he wanted to leave with us when he was gone, but I don’t think he had any plan on leaving at that time,” Truex said.
Sanders was remembered as a leader who brought the council and the commissioners closer together and was a guiding hand in helping set county policy.
Sanders was elected to the council in 2005 and had served as council president the past four years.
Truex said they built a friendship through their roles in county government over the years.
He said Sanders brought a lot of energy to the job.
“I thought he did an amazing job of making contact and being involved. I thought he was probably one of the most proactive council presidents we’ve had in years,” Truex said.
He credits Sanders for bringing the two boards closer together and more in line with what needed to be done.
Truex recalled the time Sanders mentioned that he would like to see the commissioners begin attending council meetings more regularly and vice versa. From there on, Truex began a tradition of inviting the council to their meetings and Sanders did the same with the commissioners.
In recent years, board members from each panel began watching and attending each other’s meetings more regularly.
Another thing that changed in recent years was a better understanding among the boards early in the budget process about priorities – especially when it came to salary increases for county employees.
An improved sense of cooperation was also seen when the two boards agreed to establish a wheel tax so that road conditions could be improved, Truex said.
Sanders and his wife, Sharon, were longtime owners of Bodkin Abstract Co., which was sold to Metropolitan Title Co. late last year.
Kosciusko County’s Republican leaders are expected to announce plans for a caucus to replace Sanders. No details had been announced early today.
McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
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Prior to the Pledge of Allegiance, Sanders took a few moments to critique the words of the pledge, breaking down nearly every phrase as a way to recap the importance it carried for him and what it should mean to others.
The United States Air Force veteran choked up as he underscored the patriotic themes embedded in the pledge, and the presentation brought several people to tears.
Sanders died Sunday at Lutheran Hospital of Indiana in Fort Wayne following a heart attack a week earlier. He was 69.
While there was much to remember about Sanders, his comments that day stood out as something special for numerous people who attended the meeting.
“That was something he really wanted to share, truly what the pledge meant to him,” said County Auditor Michelle Puckett. “It was incredibly emotional. That’s Bob’s heart.”
Sanders heard a similar dissection in his childhood and Puckett said she believes it always stayed close to him.
“He was a very emotional gentleman,” she said. “He wore his heart on his sleeve. If you were important to him and he cared for you, you knew what his morals and his values were and the things he held high,” she said.
County Commissioner Ron Truex, who was at the March meeting, was also stuck by the moment.
Looking back, the timing takes on more significance, he said.
“It’s something he wanted to leave with us when he was gone, but I don’t think he had any plan on leaving at that time,” Truex said.
Sanders was remembered as a leader who brought the council and the commissioners closer together and was a guiding hand in helping set county policy.
Sanders was elected to the council in 2005 and had served as council president the past four years.
Truex said they built a friendship through their roles in county government over the years.
He said Sanders brought a lot of energy to the job.
“I thought he did an amazing job of making contact and being involved. I thought he was probably one of the most proactive council presidents we’ve had in years,” Truex said.
He credits Sanders for bringing the two boards closer together and more in line with what needed to be done.
Truex recalled the time Sanders mentioned that he would like to see the commissioners begin attending council meetings more regularly and vice versa. From there on, Truex began a tradition of inviting the council to their meetings and Sanders did the same with the commissioners.
In recent years, board members from each panel began watching and attending each other’s meetings more regularly.
Another thing that changed in recent years was a better understanding among the boards early in the budget process about priorities – especially when it came to salary increases for county employees.
An improved sense of cooperation was also seen when the two boards agreed to establish a wheel tax so that road conditions could be improved, Truex said.
Sanders and his wife, Sharon, were longtime owners of Bodkin Abstract Co., which was sold to Metropolitan Title Co. late last year.
Kosciusko County’s Republican leaders are expected to announce plans for a caucus to replace Sanders. No details had been announced early today.
McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
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