Ron Truex

WARSAW — Warsaw resident Ron Truex formally announced his resignation as a Kosciusko County commissioner earlier this month after discovering that a recent move put him outside the boundary lines of the district he represented.

Although many have expressed sorrow and disappointment regarding Truex’s early departure from his position as a commissioner, Truex himself seems at peace.

“I’m fine with the way things worked out,” said Truex.

“You do it because you want to. You see that there’s a need and you want to make a difference,” Truex explained, “Over those 17 years we made big moves that were controversial, but you have to do what you think is right.”

“Eli Lilly Road, Milford Industrial Park, the Dreyfuss Plant, the wheel tax – all of those had strong opposition, but you have to decide what’s best for the community,” said Truex, “The wheel tax is getting these roads fixed. You can argue no new taxes, but it’s either that or dirt roads.”

“We work hard to be conservative with that money,” said Truex, “We’ve got great school systems. The roads are better than any surrounding county. I’m pretty proud of that.”

Truex was serving on approximately 11 boards related to his position as a commissioner, including the Drainage Board of Kosciusko County, KedCO, Solid Waste Management District Board and Citizens’ Action Committee among others.

“Once I resigned as commissioner, I cancelled something like 70 meetings that I had on my calendar between now and a year from now,” Truex said, as he jokingly contemplated what he would do in his newly acquired “free time.”

Regarding his position as general manager at Creighton Brothers, Truex immediately responded, “I love it.”

Truex joined the company in 1970. “I’ve done every job this company has on my way through the ranks,” he said, “I started by being one of the best manure haulers they ever had. I worked in the hatchery, delivered feed and sold eggs. Every job we’ve had, I’ve done.”

When he was initially offered a job at Creighton Brothers, Truex said he was hesitant.

“I wasn’t sure about it, but they made a deal with me. They said, ‘If you don’t like it here, you can quit – and if we don’t like what you’re doing, we’ll get rid of you’,” he recalled with a smile.

Truex, the father of two daughters, also has two son-in laws, four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

“Some things really make you reflect,” Truex said, appearing a bit choked up, “While this situation with the district was going on, my daughter, Tracy, posted on Facebook, ‘It’s neat to watch what your parents teach you happen in real life. My dad always said it’s okay to make a mistake as long as you own it and fix it. I’m watching my dad do exactly what he taught us’.”

“Once you realize you messed up, it’s simple. You have one choice – you apologize,” said Truex, “I truly didn’t know. Who would have thought that Crystal Lake Road, which is in the center of our county, wasn’t in the center district?”

“We’ve been together for 12 years,” Truex said, referring to working with fellow commissioners Bob Conley and Brad Jackson, “It’s been fun. It went fast. I wasn’t planning to run again. It just happened three years sooner than expected.”

Truex said his viewpoint while he was a commissioner was, “I’m not there to run the county – I’m there to help the county run.”

“I wanted to know the people we were working with. I tried to make it a point to stop by the courthouse offices and the highway department, and I think they appreciated that.”

When Truex turned 50, he acted upon a lifelong dream of obtaining his pilot’s license and signed up for flying lessons, along with Jackson.

“We took lessons and both got our instrument ratings,” Truex noted. He had to quit flying later, though, due to health issues.

“I believe God has a plan,” Truex said, “Maybe it was time I quit flying. Maybe it was time I quit being a commissioner. These were decisions that were made for me. I didn’t decide to quit flying and I didn’t decide to quit being a commissioner, but I guess God thought it was time.”

“Bottom line. I enjoyed it. The county will be just fine. I don’t have a worry in the world. Brad’s there, Bob’s there. There are good people on the Kosciusko County Commissioners and the Kosciusko County Council.”