STEPHEN (Steve) MELCHER – NAMED VETERAN OF THE YEAR
By Don Counts, reporter
The Veterans Day program at Oak Hill Cemetery held a surprise for this Veteran. Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel said that this ceremony was bitter sweet for him, having the pleasure of making this presentation and being his last as Mayor. The Mayor told of the many accomplishments Melcher had performed while in the Army and National Guard as well as the many years Steve had worked with him during his career.
After the program Steve said that he has turned in his resignation at CAPE as of December 8, 2011. He wants to spend more time with his family and to devote more time and energy to Veteran issues, Non-Profit and Community Service Organizations such as Lakeview Optimist and Right to Life. He plans to continue as County Commissioner and in January 2012 he will file for Re-election and be a full time County Commissioner.
Steve is currently serving his fifth year as Commander of the Vanderburgh County Veterans Council. It is believed that he has served more terms than any other Commander. He is a Life Member of the American Legion Post 354, VFW Post 1114 and Amvets Post 84. He has held leadership roles in the veteran’s organizations.
During the three years he served in the Army he was deployed to a tour in Germany. He said he could see the Russian tanks in the distance. He was a Specialist 5 when he was discharged. After his discharge he joined the National Guard for seven years. During his time of service many times he held billets of higher rank than he held. He was discharged at the rank of Sgt First Class E7 (7th enlisted rank). In order to be promoted to E8 (next promotion) he would have had to have served 14 years or to have been an E7 for 7 years. He decided it was time to end his military career.
After his service in the Military, he got a job at Ohio Valley Sound, which continued for 27 years, starting at the bottom in shipping and receiving. He progressed up the ranks to Vice President, Operations Manager. He has always been interested in community service and when the opportunity arose he took the job at CAPE and is currently Facilities Manager. He had to take a cut in pay but wanted to work helping people.
He served on City Council starting in 1992 where he had been elected President or Vice-President seven times with the bipartisan support of City Council members. While working at CAPE he ran for and was elected as a Commissioner of Vanderburgh County. He is currently serving as County Commissioner District 3 and has held the position of President and Vice-President. Steve considers himself a vital link to his community and is actively involved in neighborhood associations and United Neighborhoods of Evansville. He serves as President of Lakeview Optimist Club (life member), and is a member of the Evansville State Hospital Committee, Fraternal Order of Police Association, Indiana Right to Life and Right to Life of Southwest Indiana (Board member).
Steve attends Grace and Peace Lutheran Church.
Congratulations to Stephen Melcher, the newest member of a growing list of distinguished Veterans of the Year.
Does anybody have even the first clue what Whiny-Zapple will do when he slithers out of office on December 31?
You know, Mr. Chronic Whiner, this is an article about Stephen Melcher and an honor bestowed on him. Can’t you put your poison pen back in it’s stinky inkwell and take a pass on this one?
Well earned congratulations to Mr. Melcher.
Thanks Steve for all the work you do to help Veterans and congratulations on receiving the “Veteran of the Year Award”
Thanks to all Veterans for a job well done!
Wayne Parke
Two class men here that will likely be embarrassed by this true post. Mr. Parke is the Vanderburgh County Republican Chairman. He supported all Republican candidates for office. He had a tough primary battle of sorts to be Chairman, but when elected he worked to unify the party without any grievance or retribution against those who worked against his election. Mr. Melcher served his Country and other veterans while holding office as a County Commissioner. He refused to participate in the disloyalty of the corrupt Central Committee “leadership” against their own Mayoral candidate. This is the type of leadership that should make both parties regular voters proud. Again, well deserved honors for Mr. Melcher. Does anyone other than me think he’d be a great Democratic County Chairman that could heal the giant divide of the insiders against their rank and file voters?
Given your statement above, a question or two, if Tornatta would have won the primary the DCC would have fully supported him in the election, given that fact could Winnecke have even gotten elected without the support of the DCC running against Davis? if the DCC would have fully supported Davis he would have lost the election, with the number of votes he won by it would appear he would have been crushed by the DCC and Tornatta would be our mayor elect had Tornatta won the primary.
I do agree Mr Melcher would make a good replacement for Owen.
JMHO
Your Christmas tree comments will not set well with the community. I will never vote for you again. You misled me thinking you were an honest, Christian man with morals and honor to represent what is good for our city. What a disappointment you are. If you want the Christmas tree moved somewhere else, perhaps you should consider placing it where the sun does not shine.
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