Richard “Dick” A. Green

SYRACUSE — “I think it’s a great honor,” said Richard “Dick” A. Green, Ogden Point Road, Syracuse, on being chosen the 2017 Wawasee Flotilla Commodore. Being chosen as commodore has been termed a high honor by those named in the past and to Green it is no different.

This year’s Wawasee Flotilla will be held at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, July 2, starting at Wawasee Spink Condominiums and traveling counterclockwise around the lake. The theme for the flotilla is “Disney on Wawasee.”

“Wawasee is such a meaningful part of our lives, it makes it a special honor,” Green said, adding he’s always said “if you can’t be happy at Wawasee you can’t be happy anywhere.” His wife, Sandy added the lake is a great place and her husband was greatly surprised at being chosen.

Many know Green as a local attorney who opened a law office in the community more than 30 years ago. But he is also known as the Indiana attorney involved with a national-interest case in the late 1980s concerning the custody of Phillip Taylor, a 5-month old, left orphaned after his father, Dr. Kenneth Taylor, Staten Island, N.Y., was convicted of killing his mother, Teresa Taylor, in November 1984. The case became a two-night mini series on NBC and can still be seen on cable networks.

Green, a native of Marion, moved to Lake Wawasee in 1978. For eight years he commuted between Wawasee and Marion, where he practiced law, before opening a practice locally. Today he is partner with Beers Mallers Backs & Salin Law Firm, formerly Green, Cates & Grossnickle LLP.

He received his bachelor’s degree in 1964 from Butler University and was a member of the university’s college basketball team that went to the NCAA Sweet 16. He went on to Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, Indianapolis, where he received his law degree in 1970.

He was admitted to practice in Indiana in 1970 and has been admitted in the Northern District and Southern District U.S. District Courts. Prior to moving to Syracuse, he served as counsel for Grant County Area Plan Commission, was first deputy with the Grant County Prosecuting Attorney’s office and the Marion city attorney. Prior to being admitted to the bar, he was employed by and/or represented Marion National Bank, Marion Trust Department, Merchants National Bank and Trust Company Assistant trust officer; Indiana Inheritance tax administrator for the Indiana Department of State Revenue.

After moving to Syracuse he became involved in the community.

He was legal counsel for Barbee Lakes Conservancy (Sewer) District and also the Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District. While not on the TCRSD board, he represented the board for 30 years and took an active role in getting sewer installed around Lake Wawasee in the various stages. That first year he acquired 1,000 easements.

He was a member of the Wawasee Flotilla for 18 years, serving as its chairman for several years.

But his community involvement didn’t stop there. He organized the clean up of the Chinese Gardens area and assisted Harry and Betty Appenzeller in organizing the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum. He has served on the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Cancer Care Fund of Kosciusko County, and assisted with Habitat for Humanity of Kosciusko County.

He served on the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation for seven years, serving as chair of the land management committee and, along with his wife, served on the development and nominating committees. He is a supporter of the Lilly Center for Lakes and Steams.

Green was honored by the WACF with the Cattail Award in 2005 and the Wawasee Property Owners Association Chief Award in 2015. Both highly honored awards recognized his work, time and talents given to the community, helping preserve Wawasee and showing their love and support of the lake.

When announced as recipient of the Chief Award, Kay Young, WPOA president stated “Our chief is a very big guy, not only in stature but in his giving to his community and family.”