Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
COLUMBIA CITY - Third District Democrats celebrated spring with their 19th annual fund-raiser Saturday. The evening, held at Eagle Glen Event Center, was attended by more than 300 area Democrats and featured keynote speaker Jill Long Thompson.
The highlight of the night for local Democrats was the presentation of the J. Edward Roush Lifetime Service Award. The 2005 award was presented to recently retired Kosciusko County Democratic Chairman Steve Haines. Haines served in that position for 13 years before announcing last fall that he would not seek re-election.
In presenting the award, District Chairman Dennis Tropp told the audience that the prospect of adding Kosciusko County to the 3rd District after the 2000 redistricting was not the best news he had ever received.
"But then," he said, "I met Steve, and I quickly changed my mind. He attended every meeting. He brought energy and new ideas. He vigorously supports the other counties, and has been a great asset to the entire district."
In accepting the award, Haines said his only regret was that his two great friends, former Warsaw Mayor Dale Tucker and Democrat precinct committeeman Charlie Cain, could not be present. (Tucker died in 2002 and Cain is in poor health.)
J. Edward Roush was the Democrat congressman who represented most of the current 3rd District, serving under five U.S. presidents, over three decades. The award, established in 1999, is presented each spring to a volunteer whose donation of time, treasure or talent to the Democratic Party deserves special recognition.
