Dillon grateful for community support and the opportunity to serve District 17
(Talk of the Town file photo by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Dr. Gary Dillon, below, retired early this morning from his position as State Senator for District 17, which serves Whitley County.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
Election night was no doubt a poignant one for retiring State Senator Gary "Doc" Dillon who, at 12:01 a.m. this morning, left the seat he held in District 17 for the past 8 years.
Jim Banks, a Whitley County resident, awoke this morning as the new senator, departing for Indianapolis.
Dillon, however, is already looking forward to a life of leisure. Oh, he'll still be busy with life outside of politics -- friends, family and continuing his dermatologic career.
We talked with him late Tuesday afternoon as he traveled through Utah enroute to visit family in California. While he'd check in on the election results, he said he was looking forward to focusing energy on his family now and in the future.
"It really makes me feel good Jim (Banks) is taking it over," Dillon said. "I think his motivation is to serve the people. I believe he'll do his homework and that he'll do well. I'm happy to see him get it."
While he's pleased with his replacement, there are some elements of the position he'll miss. "I'll miss some of the things about doing it," he said. "I leave with mixed emotions, but believe I have a good replacement who will do a fine job."
Ever humble in his role, Dillon's gratitude for the people of District 17 continues.
"It has been an honor to do this. When people trust you to do something like this, it is an honor," he said. "A humbling experience."
Dillon is likely to become a more frequently seen familiar face in Whitley County now that his role as a state senator is ending.
"I have three counties and part of three others," he said of his area of representation in District 17. "By the time I got around to all the things I needed to go to, I wasn't in Whitley County near as much as I'd like to be. My friends are there!"
With many close friendships here and more time available in his schedule, he's hoping to begin spending a lot more time with those friends and with his family too.
Dillon's career included time on the local school board, three 2-year terms in the Indiana House of Representatives and his two 4-year terms as in the Indiana State Senate.
Dillon graduated with a bachelor's degree from Wabash College and earned his doctorate from Indiana University School of Medicine.
His career has include work as a dermatologist, a clinical professor of Dermatology at the IU Medical Center and service in the Indiana Air National Guard.
While serving in the Senate, Dillon on the appropriations, energy and environmental affairs, ethics, tax and fiscal policy committees. He also served as vice-chair of the National Standing Committee on Health with the National Conference of State Legislators.
Dillon and his wife, Ann, currently live in Pierceton, but lived in Whitley County for many years. They attend Trinity Presbyterian Church in Columbia City.
His civic activities have included past president of the Whitley County Health Department, past president of the Whitley County School Board, past president and member of the Indiana Dermatological Society, past president and member of the Whitley County Memorial Hospital staff and past Whitley County Hospice medical director.
Last fall, Dillon was honored with a Sagamore of the Wabash Award for his public service.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
Election night was no doubt a poignant one for retiring State Senator Gary "Doc" Dillon who, at 12:01 a.m. this morning, left the seat he held in District 17 for the past 8 years.
Jim Banks, a Whitley County resident, awoke this morning as the new senator, departing for Indianapolis.
Dillon, however, is already looking forward to a life of leisure. Oh, he'll still be busy with life outside of politics -- friends, family and continuing his dermatologic career.
We talked with him late Tuesday afternoon as he traveled through Utah enroute to visit family in California. While he'd check in on the election results, he said he was looking forward to focusing energy on his family now and in the future.
"It really makes me feel good Jim (Banks) is taking it over," Dillon said. "I think his motivation is to serve the people. I believe he'll do his homework and that he'll do well. I'm happy to see him get it."
While he's pleased with his replacement, there are some elements of the position he'll miss. "I'll miss some of the things about doing it," he said. "I leave with mixed emotions, but believe I have a good replacement who will do a fine job."
Ever humble in his role, Dillon's gratitude for the people of District 17 continues.
"It has been an honor to do this. When people trust you to do something like this, it is an honor," he said. "A humbling experience."
Dillon is likely to become a more frequently seen familiar face in Whitley County now that his role as a state senator is ending.
"I have three counties and part of three others," he said of his area of representation in District 17. "By the time I got around to all the things I needed to go to, I wasn't in Whitley County near as much as I'd like to be. My friends are there!"
With many close friendships here and more time available in his schedule, he's hoping to begin spending a lot more time with those friends and with his family too.
Dillon's career included time on the local school board, three 2-year terms in the Indiana House of Representatives and his two 4-year terms as in the Indiana State Senate.
Dillon graduated with a bachelor's degree from Wabash College and earned his doctorate from Indiana University School of Medicine.
His career has include work as a dermatologist, a clinical professor of Dermatology at the IU Medical Center and service in the Indiana Air National Guard.
While serving in the Senate, Dillon on the appropriations, energy and environmental affairs, ethics, tax and fiscal policy committees. He also served as vice-chair of the National Standing Committee on Health with the National Conference of State Legislators.
Dillon and his wife, Ann, currently live in Pierceton, but lived in Whitley County for many years. They attend Trinity Presbyterian Church in Columbia City.
His civic activities have included past president of the Whitley County Health Department, past president of the Whitley County School Board, past president and member of the Indiana Dermatological Society, past president and member of the Whitley County Memorial Hospital staff and past Whitley County Hospice medical director.
Last fall, Dillon was honored with a Sagamore of the Wabash Award for his public service.