Last Updated on December 28, 2017 by cassnetwork
The retiring executive director of the Area Five Council on Aging and Community Services was recognized Wednesday with special honors. Mike Meagher, who served the Logansport-based agency for 38 years, was named Citizen of the Week. He also was presented with a key to the city by Mayor Dave Kitchell.
Meagher started at Area Five as nutrition director, then deputy director, before assuming the reins as executive director.
“Mike was able to see the vision of what Logansport could become and to appreciate what our community had to offer,” Kitchell said. “Heads of many organizations could look at community drawbacks and say, ‘It’s not my problem,’ but Mike always took on community needs as personal challenges and he made Area Five a leader in addressing them.”
Meagher was voted best boss in Logansport and is a former young businessman of the year award recipient. In addition to being named a Sagamore of the Wabash, he received the Beacon Award from the Pharos-Tribune and the Frank McHale Award. Meagher was instrumental in bringing the Cass Community Health Center to Logansport and developing Huston Park. He was instrumental in the development of Bend in the Woods Apartments, Chase Crossing and Kechel Towers. The Chase Crossing project was among his favorites because it incorporated the historic barn on the former Chase Farm. One of his early career successes was the construction of a mental health association drop-in center on the site of the former Midwest Plating plant on 12th Street. It was reclaimed for re-use after it was designated a Superfund site by the Environmental Protection Agency. He later secured state funding for the current Area Five building on Smith Street.
He also was a member of the Logansport Memorial Hospital Board, Cass County Board of Health, Logansport Utility Service Board, Memorial Hospital Foundation Board, Logansport-Cass County Economic Development Foundation Board, Chamber of Commerce Board and the Revolution Community Church Board.
He was a founding member of the Cass Community Health Center Board and served on the Indiana University School of Medicine Rural Admissions Committee. He and his wife Connie are the parents of grown children and have 10 grandchildren. Mike currently has the longest continuous streak of playing golf at Dykeman Municipal Golf Course where he intends to remain active.
The Citizen of the Week is sponsored by the Mayor’s Office and recognizes Logansport natives or residents who contribute to the community or are recognized for their achievements. Recipients received a certificate of appreciation from the city and a $20 gift certificate.
SOURCE: News release from Logansport Mayor Dave Kitchell