Gov. Holcomb honors West Lafayette mayor with Sagamore of the Wabash Award

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Two good friends of West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis managed to keep a big secret from him − that he'd be the latest recipient of high honor.

Gov. Eric Holcomb and Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarksi, self-proclaimed longtime friends of Dennis, surprised the West Lafayette mayor with the announcement he would receive the Sagamore of the Wabash Award.

The award goes to an honoree who is "distinguished by his (her) humanity in living, his loyalty in friendship, his wisdom in council, and his inspiration in leadership."

Previous award winners include: David Letterman, Gus Grissom, John Wooden, Ryan White and former J&C journalist Dave Bangert.

In the closing moments of the Greater Lafayette Commerce annual luncheon Monday, Holcomb presented Dennis with one of the highest honors bestowed by a sitting governor of Indiana.

“It’s an enormous sense of professional pride to recognize someone here today that has meant, I trust just as much to you all and to this collection of cameras, he has to me over the years. Fortunate to not only have been on the sideline watching him work, making it look easy. It’s been refreshing, but to also have become a friend and really a dear friend,” Holcomb said.

“Someone who approaches the difficult challenges with a chin up and with kind of a smile that is the energetic and infectious force behind it.

“Someone who has really blazed a trail. That phrase is often tossed around, but this individual is not just blazing the trial and is off to another job, but he’s brought people behind him. Brought people to follow him and that’s the only real prerequisite for leadership is to turn around see who’s following you and where you’re going.

“We’re not at this moment right now by accident, we’re here because of the leadership in this room because of my friend and your friend Mayor John Dennis.”

The moment Holcomb presented Dennis with the award, the West Lafayette mayor was overcome with joy and emotions, tearfully falling into the arms of one of his best friends, Roswarski.

“As a public servant, this is servant leadership the epitome of it. And folks don’t just here locally look up to you for the model of it. It goes far outside of your city limits, or this county border, or our state border. We’re proud of you brother and it’s my privilege to honor you with the Sagamore of the Wabash,” said Holcomb as he handed the award to Dennis.

At that moment, the joy on Dennis’ face seemed to fill the room, not because he was being recognized as the mayor of West Lafayette for the past 16 years, or as a Lafayette police officer who served the community for decades, but as the young West Lafayette native who believed he could help change this city for the better.

That’s the version of Dennis who greeted the audience at that moment. The small-town kid who fulfilled his dream and was recognized by the governor of Indiana for doing so.

“This is an unbelievable honor,” said Dennis.

“I’m probably the most shocked person here… I can’t even put it into words. You know I was the typical underachiever as a kid… OK, and as an adult. I spent more time having fun than what I should have been doing.

“I was lucky enough to get elected the mayor of my hometown and then just listened to people who were smarter than me and do the right thing.

“I’m shocked beyond words, and I’m proud beyond tears,” Dennis said.

The Journal & Courier asked Dennis what were highlights of his life and career he'd like etched into a legacy.

Although the list could be endless, there were two that came to mind. One was the 2014 annexation of Purdue University into West Lafayette city limits; and the second were the relationships he cultivated with Greater Lafayette leaders.

“The city of West Lafayette really didn’t have that much identity. You know, we were either confused of being a suburb of Lafayette or a housing complex for Purdue. But I think with working with President (Mitch) Daniels and finally getting annexation done, and Purdue within the city limits, it's something that will live on forever and it forces collaboration,” Dennis said.

“The second thing is the relationship with Lafayette. You know, having one of your best friends being your co-mayor, for greater Lafayette, is something that is just been an honor.

“Tony and I have been together like I said on stage about 40 years. And I know a lot of marriages that don’t last that long. We’ve spent midnights together, spent time in the squad cars together and now, we have the honor to serve our respective communities together.

“But it’s that intuitive understanding of each other that allows our communities to be so close. We really do have a collaborative friendship and a loving friendship.”

This award was kept a secret from Dennis, who noted that Roswarski is terrible at keeping secrets and was shocked that he didn’t mention it before the event.

But for Roswarski, the moment of seeing his best friend receive this award was worth every moment of keeping it secret.

“I couldn’t be more happy for him and it’s so well deserved. He has done a fantastic job as mayor of West Lafayette and, as the governor said, he has blazed trails with the annexation of Purdue, the rebuilding of State Street and so many things they’ve done together with discovery park and the Purdue research foundation,” Roswarski said.

“To see him receive this and also with the way he’s dealing with his personal challenge, right? He’s kept a great attitude and he’s working hard, he’s doing all the things he needs to do, and he’s kept his marvelous attitude.”

Last year, Dennis announced he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, which is progressive dementia that affects memory and other cognitive abilities.

Although diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Dennis told residents that he would complete his term in office and prepare the city for new leadership following the next election.

“The bar is high, but John cleared it with ease, and he is a perfect representative. When you think about the purpose of this recognition, I could personally attest that he has counseled me on the way," Holcomb said. “And the momentum of the Greater Lafayette area, this region is experiencing doesn’t happen by accident, it happens because of the collaboration, and those three on stage were a perfect example of it.

“But I think on any stage John will always be there. It's bittersweet to think about the years ahead, however, I am comforted knowing that he has always thought ahead and then planting the seeds along the way to make sure that West Lafayette continues on its current trajectory.”

Noe Padilla is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email him at Npadilla@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter at 1NoePadilla.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Gov. Holcomb honors Mayor Dennis with Sagamore of the Wabash Award