Passed Senate Resolution 0001

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION to honor Senator Harold "Potch" Wheeler for his 19 years of distinguished service to the Indiana General Assembly and to congratulate him on his retirement from the Indiana State Senate.

Whereas, Senator "Potch" Wheeler, elected to the Indiana Senate on September 14, 1983, is retiring from the General Assembly upon the completion of his current term of office after serving 19 years in the Indiana State Senate;

Whereas, Senator Wheeler has been a champion for the people of Northwestern Indiana and has honestly and faithfully served his constituency in Senate District 17 throughout his tenure in the Senate;

Whereas, as Majority Caucus Chairman, Director of Caucus Operations, Chairman of the Committee on Appointments and Claims, and a member of the Legislative Council, Senator Wheeler has been a commanding presence in the Senate and has made a significant mark on the public policy of this state;

Whereas, as ranking member of the Committee on Natural Resources, Senator Wheeler has been committed throughout his service in the Senate to preserving and improving Indiana's invaluable natural resources;

Whereas, being an avid golfer and fisherman, Senator

Wheeler has often enjoyed those very natural resources in his spare time outside of the Senate;

Whereas, outside of the Senate, Senator Wheeler has been a leader in every area of his endeavor and has held a position of high trust and responsibility in every governmental or public service organization in which he has participated. Serving the State of Indiana and his community in many capacities, he has been a County Commissioner, the Etna-Troy Township Trustee, the first President of the Bowen Center and a member of the Masonic Lodge. In addition, he has also served as a member of the Board of Independent Colleges, the Whitley County Hospital Board, and the Columbia City Joint High School Board;

Whereas, Senator Wheeler has been and continues to be a successful businessman, playing an integral role in his family business, M.C. Wheeler & Sons, Inc., founded by his great- grandfather in 1884 and carried on today by his son;

Whereas, his nickname, "Potch," has been with him since youth, when as a young boy he was famous for professing his strength to everyone he knew and as a result was nicknamed "Popeye" by friends and family. His baby sister, too young to say "Popeye," converted the nickname to "Potcheye," which a local barber in turn shortened to "Potch," and that name has been with him ever since;

Whereas, Senator Wheeler is a committed husband to his lovely wife of 52 years, Darlene, a devoted father to their three children, Johnna, Kim and Tara, and a loving grandfather to their seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren;

Whereas, during his service in the Indiana Senate, Senator Wheeler has always been known for the common sense he has brought to legislative issues and the time he has spent listening to the concerns of both his fellow Senators and the Senate staff; and

Whereas, most of all, Senator Wheeler, with his wit, charm and easy manner, is beloved, admired and respected by

everyone in the Senate, and his retirement from this body will be sorely felt by all for years to come: Therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly

of the State of Indiana, the House of Representatives concurring:

SECTION 1. That on behalf of the people of the State of Indiana, we hereby extend our sincere respect, appreciation and affection to Senator Harold "Potch" Wheeler for his dedicated and distinguished service to the people of Indiana, the Indiana Senate and the Indiana General Assembly.
SECTION 2. That the Secretary of the Senate is hereby directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to State Senator Harold "Potch" Wheeler, and to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.