[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 77 (Thursday, May 9, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E570]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF WILLIAM NATHAN SALIN

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                          HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 9, 2019

  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life 
and legacy of former Indiana Secretary of State, William Nathan Salin 
who passed away on May 4th. Bill was born in Anderson, Indiana and was 
a dedicated public servant and lifelong Hoosier who established a 
community bank creating hundreds of jobs in northern and central 
Indiana. In addition, Bill worked tirelessly to improve the lives of 
Indiana students with scholarships he provided to help fund their 
college education.
  Bill's commitment to his community and state was well known. He was 
the two-time recipient of Indiana's highest honor, receiving the 
Sagamore of the Wabash award from both Governor Dr. Otis R. Bowen and 
Governor Edgar D. Whitcomb. Typically, the Sagamore of the Wabash honor 
is given for wisdom, public commitment, and a concern for the well-
being of others.
  After graduation from Indiana School of Business in 1954, Bill went 
on to join the U.S. Army, and the following year married Jane Robertson 
on June 4, 1955. Bill then earned a law degree from Indiana University, 
and he and Jane moved to Kendallville, Indiana where he began his 
professional career as an attorney with the law firm Findlay & Findlay. 
Later, Bill continued his active community involvement serving as 
Kendallville City Attorney.
  In 1962, Bill and Jane moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana where Bill once 
again was an active community leader managing Indiana Bank's trust 
department. In 1968, Bill was elected as Secretary of State serving 
along with Governor Edgar D. Whitcomb. After completing his service as 
Secretary of State, Bill returned with his family to Fort Wayne.
  In Fort Wayne, Bill continued to practice law at the firm of Kennerk, 
Dumas, Burke, Backs & Salin. Bill was a member of the Indianapolis, 
Indiana, and American Bar Associations; Indiana and American Bankers 
Associations; American Business Club; Economic Club of Indianapolis; 
Indiana University Varsity Club and of the Well House Society; The 
Columbia Club; The Indiana Society of Chicago; and The Forum Club of 
Southwest Florida.
  In 1983, Bill founded and was Chairman of Salin Bank & Trust Company, 
a family owned community bank serving Columbus, Delphi, Edinburgh, 
Fishers, Flora, Fort Wayne, Galveston, Gas City, Kokomo, Lafayette, 
Logansport, Marion, West Lafayette, and Indianapolis. Bill and the 
entire Salin family took great pride in serving Hoosiers and their 
banking needs. It was during his tenure at the bank that Bill and his 
wife Jane established the Salin Family Foundation in order to provide 
annual scholarships to students to fund their education at colleges and 
universities in Indiana. In 2018, Salin Bank merged with Michigan City-
based Horizon Bank and today Horizon Bank provides community banking 
services in both Indiana and Michigan.
  In addition to Salin Bank & Trust and Salin Bancshares, Inc., Bill 
served on the boards of several banks and bank holding companies. Bill 
also served on a number of community and education boards including 
serving as a Trustee of Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana; a Trustee of 
the Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary at Northwestern 
University; a member of the Board of the Indiana Historical Society; 
and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
  Bill was an active in the United Methodist Church for many years. 
Together, he and Jane established an endowed scholarship for ministers' 
children attending Anderson University in Indiana's Fifth Congressional 
District. In 1997, Bill and Jane served as co-chairs for the capital 
campaign which raised funds to build the sanctuary at St. Luke's United 
Methodist Church in Indianapolis.
  Bill was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. One of Bill's 
favorite places was with his family at Lake Wawasee where he spent 55 
years enjoying the outdoors and beautiful lake with Jane and their 
children and eight grandchildren. The entire family enjoyed many summer 
days sailing and water skiing at the lake. Bill also enjoyed winter out 
west, and spent many special days snow skiing with his grandchildren in 
Beaver Creek, Colorado.
  Bill was a leader in Indiana who cared deeply for all the communities 
both large and small served by Salin Bank. He will be missed by many. I 
want to extend my most heartfelt condolences to his family in their 
time of mourning. Bill is survived by his wife of 63 years, Margaret 
Jane (Robertson); his children Bill II (Peggy), and their children Bill 
III (Julie), Sophie and Sam; daughter Sherri (Curt) Fritsch and their 
children Bob and Will; and daughter Susie (Garth) McClain, and their 
children Charlie, John and Margaret.

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