Text and Photos
By David Slone
Times-Union

WINONA LAKE — Craig Allebach’s health may affect his future as the Winona Lake town manager, but Thursday, July 18, he was shown how much he’s appreciated and loved for everything he’s done for the local communities over more than four decades.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb surprised Allebach, 69, with the Sagamore of the Wabash at the Winona Heritage Room, with dozens of family and friends in attendance.

In introducing Holcomb, Indiana District 22 state Rep. Craig Snow, who was involved in nominating Allebach for the honor, said, “If you don’t know, we’ve got a lot of good things happening in our community, our county, our city, our town. We have a lot to be grateful for, and I am honored to represent you all.”

Snow talked about how Holcomb mentored him when he became a state representative. “But today, we’re asking him to help us do something very special, and we’re very grateful to have people like somebody here very astute in our community.”
Holcomb said he likes to stay in perpetual motion and not stay in any one of the 92 Indiana counties for very long.

“It’s been a personal privilege to be able to learn every day and get to know the people who really make this state special — folks who are in the trenches and building it from the ground up, attracting more folks to come live in our hometowns and visit and hopefully come back,” he said. “And, when you think about these leaders around the state of Indiana, obviously, you are beyond blessed to have the epitome of someone who has the intellect, has the instincts, has the experience to see around corners and bring people together to truly collaborate and have something coming out that’s progress, that’s a positive influence. It really is something that needs to not just be recognized but held up. Frankly, it’s inspirational to others.”

Every time Holcomb is here, he said he always jokingly asks where the Hallmark movie set is because it’s just so manicured and the quality of life offered here is special.

“And leadership matters. When it comes right down to it, leadership is often the difference. And not just ‘a’ difference, but ‘the’ difference,” Holcomb continued. “And when I think about the leadership on full display here – someone who has been involved for decades. Someone who … is a common denominator on such, for sure, progress, but being such a positive influence, I think of Craig.”

Holcomb told Allebach his service is not just to Winona Lake, Warsaw and Kosciusko County, but “you bring great pride to Indiana. We can bring anyone here at any hour of the day and they would be flat-out impressed.”

He said he knows it because he’s brought people with him to Winona Lake and they were flat-out impressed.

“Governors get a lot of attention. I don’t seek it, I don’t deserve it. It’s people like you who make our state look so good. This is a gem in our crown, and for that I just wanted to make a point to personally say thank you. It’s not just made a difference over the past decade, it’s going to make a difference for decades to come, and that’s what community is all about. One of the most powerful words there is, is home. It’s where memories are made that last forever. It’s where new memories are brought out,” Holcomb said.

He told Allebach he has manufactured memories for years to come.

“So, for that, and many, many, many more, I want your friends and family and peers to award you the Sagamore of the Wabash as one of the best among us. Congratulations,” Holcomb said as everyone gave Allebach a long standing ovation.
Allebach was visibly overcome with emotion.

After some pictures were taken, Allebach told Holcomb how much he appreciated him and the work he’s done for the state of Indiana, especially for Winona Lake and Kosciusko County.

“Because if you weren’t there, it would look a lot different today here than it does. Even today,” he said. “… We appreciate all you’ve done.”

Continuing, Allebach said, “It was a complete surprise to me. I know that Craig had contacted me – it was probably last week – and so I had a Chamber dinner that was at 1 o’clock today, but I had to run late. I’ve been having some health problems lately, and so Rob Parker encouraged me to come up to the chamber thing, and I said I’ve got to be at the doctor’s for radiation.”

Parker told Allebach he could be late. Snow called him and told him there was a meeting at 3 p.m. about the $30 million Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative. When Snow invited him to the Winona Heritage Room, Allebach said he thought it was going to be another project that he was going to be involved in.

“So, kind of with all the health things going on and just general other health things, too, it’s been a struggle. Probably looking at retiring later this year, which is hard because I love this community,” Allebach said.

He thinks about slowing down a little bit and maybe making an exit, but then another project comes up.

“Eventually, got to make that transition and I’m worried about the future of Winona Lake, and so, to keep things moving forward, moving up, so we’ll see what the year holds, but I’m doing well in my treatments. First anyone’s known about that,” he said, thanking everyone for being there.

“I want to thank you all for your involvement in my life. I see a lot of familiar faces that I deal with every single day … I do appreciate your support for me and your support for the town of Winona Lake as, these last 24 years now, we’ve been moving this thing forward and we’ve been moving thing upward,” he said.

Allebach started as a police officer in Winona Lake, moved to the Warsaw Police Department and then went to Winona Lake in 2000 as the town manager.

“So I know more about streets and sewers and stormwater and all the grant stuff than I ever thought I would. And so that’s kind of what the challenge is as we move forward and kind of bring somebody on board that can hopefully handle that. I’ll be here so I’ll work alongside them. So stay tuned for more future announcements, but I don’t think anything will be as special as (this award),” Allebach stated.

After the award presentation, explaining how the award came about, Snow said, one Saturday morning earlier this summer at the Winona Lake Market, a couple people suggested a Sagamore of the Wabash for Allebach. Snow wrote up a submission and asked others to give some ideas on what they wanted to say to Holcomb.

“When I think of Craig Allebach and I think of a lifetime of service, he’s kind of the epitome of that,” Snow said. “Started out as a patrolman and going to be a captain of our police force, and then the last 25 years running our town. We’re blessed to have servant leaders like Craig Allebach and I’m very grateful that I was able to be a part of his career and his journey and he’s a very good friend.”

Winona Lake Town Council President Jim Lancaster, who’s known Allebach for about 20 years, said Allebach provides the town with stability.

“Craig’s a very stabilizing – he’s very deep in knowledge and experience. Across the town, the city of Warsaw, Kosciusko County, he knows who to talk to when something needs done or who to collaborate with. So he brings a ton of stability,” Lancaster said.

One of Allebach’s hidden treasures, he said, is his grant-writing ability. Lancaster guessed Allebach has probably gotten millions of dollars in grants for the town of Winona Lake, given his grant-writing for things like the greenways, art projects and roundabouts.

Retired officer Chuck Hodges said in 1985 when he came on the police department, Allebach was a “tall, lanky guy who could run like a rabbit, and we called him the Animal for a reason because whatever came up, he would tear into it.

“For what he’s done, not just as an officer — because he went from a patrolman to chief and then back to captain — he did so much. And when he ran for mayor — and I don’t know what year it was — we were hoping he was going to get it because we knew what he could do. If there was money to be found, he could find it. If there was equipment he thought his guys needed, he got it,” Hodges said.

When Allebach came over to Winona Lake, Hodges said one can see the blessings that Allebach has a been a part of.

“What a great man. And I just told him, there’s nobody that I know in my circle of contacts that deserves this award more than he does. He’s not only a great man, but just a great person. Just phenomenal.”