[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 194 (Thursday, December 5, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1543-E1544]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING JOHN DITSLEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 5, 2019

  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize John 
Ditslear on his retirement from the Office of Mayor of Noblesville, 
Indiana. A well-respected public servant, Mayor Ditslear's career has 
been defined by his steadfast leadership of Noblesville. His many 
decades of public service in a number of different roles has greatly 
impacted the community and its citizens.
  A native son of Dublin, Ohio, Mayor Distlear graduated from my alma 
mater, Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with a degree in finance. 
After graduation, Mayor Ditslear chose to serve his country by joining 
the United States Navy. Serving in the early 1960s, at a time of 
tumultuous international relations, Mayor Ditslear and his fellow 
sailors were tasked with transporting their Marine and Army 
counterparts to active theaters in Vietnam. During this time in the 
United States Navy, Mayor Ditslear rose to the rank of lieutenant while 
developing his leadership and situational management skills.
  After completing his naval service, Mayor Ditslear moved to 
Noblesville in 1966, where he invested a great deal of time in his 
community as a volunteer. He served as a board member for many 
community organizations including the Chamber of Commerce, Noblesville 
Boys & Girls Club, Riverview Hospital Foundation, Hamilton East Public 
Library and the United Way of Hamilton County. Ever the leader, Mayor 
Ditslear is also a past president of the Indiana Association of Cities 
and Towns, the Noblesville Redevelopment Commission, the Life 
Underwriter's Association and the Indianapolis chapter of Chartered 
Life Underwriters. It is clear that Mayor Ditslear's service to the 
citizens of Noblesville has reached far beyond his time in public 
office.
  After his service in the Navy, Mayor Ditslear entered into the 
business world joining the American United Life Insurance Company in 
Indianapolis. His success in the insurance business led him to start 
his own company Ditslear Insurance, with offices in Indianapolis and 
Noblesville. After many prosperous years, Ditslear Insurance merged 
into the Ditslear Elmer Group, where success continued.
  Mayor Ditslear made his initial foray into elected office with three 
terms on the Noblesville School Board, from 1984 to 1992 and then again 
from 2000 to 2004. This experience helped to prepare Mayor Ditslear for 
the rigors of serving in higher public office. When the opportunity 
presented itself in 2003, he chose to run for mayor of Noblesville, a 
race that he would go on to win against four general election 
opponents.
  After assuming the Office of Mayor of Noblesville in 2004, and later 
joining the Republican Party, Mayor Ditslear would lead the city in 
continued growth over his four terms and became the longest tenured 
mayor in the history of Noblesville. His successful stewardship of the 
local economy has had major impacts on both the operations of the city 
and its citizens. Since 2004, the assessed value of the taxable 
property increased 134 percent from $2.4 billion to $6.04 billion 
today. By 2016, the population of Noblesville grew by over 10,000 
people to more than 60,000 residents. This growth led to the school 
system adding additional schools to support the younger population and 
helping to improve access to education.
  Mayor Ditslear led several quality of life initiatives, resulting in 
the development of Hamilton Town Center, and Federal Commons in 
addition to four new parks. Mayor Ditslear also worked to increase the 
amount of outdoor walking trails 183 percent by extending the Midland 
Trace Trail from Westfield to the center of Noblesville. His focus on 
the heart of the city also included renovating the downtown area 
through facade grants and road improvements and a focus on the White 
River. The Riverwalk Trail project provides a walkway down to the White 
River and provides citizens

[[Page E1544]]

the opportunity to enjoy nature. Mayor Ditslear was also instrumental 
in attracting SMC, a Japanese pneumatic technology company, to make a 
massive investment in the Noblesville community creating over 600 new 
jobs by locating their North American headquarters to the city.
  As Noblesville continued to grow and expand to new heights under 
Mayor Ditslear's leadership, the Mayor and his team also led 
initiatives with fellow civic leaders and local business owners to 
maintain the vitality and attractiveness of downtown Noblesville. A 
long-time sector of commerce in the city, and the location of the 
Hamilton County Seat since 1824, downtown Noblesville has been the 
epicenter of Hamilton County since its inception. Working with groups 
such as Noblesville Main Street and various local businesses, Mayor 
Ditslear was able to encourage continued growth and revitalization of 
downtown Noblesville. Initiatives such as First Fridays, Jazz on the 
Square, and Small Business Saturdays, helped to build a sense of 
community that has made downtown Noblesville the focal point of life in 
the city once again.
  By focusing on the infrastructure of the city, improving parks and 
community spaces, promoting quality education, and even playing a role 
in founding the Roots of Life Community Church with his wife, Head 
Pastor Teri Ditslear, Mayor Ditslear has impacted his city as both a 
government official and a committed, longtime resident.
  On behalf of all Hoosiers, I thank Mayor Ditslear for his many years 
of service to the city and people of Noblesville, Indiana. I wish him, 
his wife and fellow civic leader, Pastor Teri Ditslear, and his family 
the best in a well-deserved retirement.

                          ____________________