Steve Leonard, right, talks with U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, at Arrowhead Golf Course in Greenfield in 2021.
Submitted photo
HANCOCK COUNTY – Those who worked with the late leader of the county’s GOP and most populous township remember his devotion to his leadership roles, political party and the people he cared about most.
Steven “Steve” Leonard, Hancock County Republican Party chair and Center Township trustee, died Wednesday at age 62 after a battle with cancer.
Leonard led the party’s presence in the county since 2021 after serving as its vice chair for eight years. He was caucused into the Center Township trustee position in that same year after serving on the township advisory board. He ran unopposed for re-election in this year’s primary and general contests, the latter concluding just hours before his death.
Leonard was the county Republican Party’s vice chair for most of the decade that Janice Silvey served as chair.
“We worked well as a team,” said Silvey, currently the party’s vice chair, adding she’ll remember his friendship and affinity for talking politics. “He was a great friend, and I’ll miss him.”
Silvey said the county GOP will follow state party rules for determining Leonard’s successor. Those include having a caucus during which county Republican precinct committee representatives will vote for those seeking the position.
Guy Titus, president of the Center Township Advisory Board, knew Leonard since high school.
“He’s one of the most honest, sincere individuals you could ever meet,” Titus said. “He did such a good job with the township. He was so organized, he cared about the people he was in contact with; when the citizens came in to see him and needed his help, he took care of things.”
Leonard always put his church, family and friends first, Titus continued.
“We’re all heartbroken,” he said.
Last week, the township board appointed deputy township trustee John Woods as acting trustee after accepting a leave-of-absence notice from Leonard. Titus said Leonard was hoping to return to the helm soon, a sentiment shared by his colleagues with the township.
“That was our hopes and prayers and wishes,” Titus said.
County Republicans will have a caucus to select a new township trustee as well.
“He’ll be hard to replace,” Titus said.
Republican Greenfield Mayor Chuck Fewell called Leonard “Mr. Dependable.”
“He ran a good ship,” Fewell said, adding Leonard will be missed as leader of the county GOP and as Center Township trustee. “He was one of those who had a genuine interest in what he did, and we just enjoyed working with him more than anything.”
Fewell said Leonard’s family is in his prayers.
“Hate to lose good people like that,” he said. “I just know he’s in a better place.”
Indiana Sen. Michael Crider, R-Greenfield, mourned the loss of Leonard as well.
“He was just a gentleman I think in every sense of the word,” Crider said. “Very collaborative with his leadership style, did a great job organizing events and pulling volunteers together. It’ll be a loss for our party and a loss for the community.”
Crider agreed Leonard will be difficult to replace.
“We’ll do what we can to try to find somebody that’s willing to step into that role,” he said. “They don’t come much finer than Steve Leonard. It’s going to be a big spot to fill.”
Indiana Rep. Bob Cherry, R-Greenfield, called Leonard “a true public servant.”
“He always wanted to make things better, and he certainly cared about people,” Cherry said. “He was a great man, husband, dad, grandpa. It’s so sad when something like this happens. I know the pain his family must be going through right now.”
Leonard cared about the Republican party, Cherry continued.
“Very enthusiastic,” he said. “He was vice chairman for a number of years, then he became chairman, then he ran for township trustee, which he was proud of that accomplishment, and he was just for all Republicans. He’ll be missed.”
Republican Hancock County Commissioner Bill Spalding said he did not know Leonard well but that whenever he interacted with him, he was always kind, helpful and insightful.
“I never heard anything negative said about Steve, it was always positive,” Spalding said. “I believe that he was a true patriot, and while he helped with the Republican Party in Hancock County, he did a fantastic job that was only limited by his recent illness.”
Leonard is remembered fondly by leaders of rival political parties as well.
Linda Genrich, chair of Hancock County Democrats, said Leonard was always very gracious to her and that she enjoyed working with him.
“At my first election board meeting as county Democratic chair, he made a point to introduce himself and offer any help he could in navigating election laws or anything else he could provide his experienced help with,” Genrich told the Daily Reporter in an email. “Whenever we saw each other at shared events, there was a genuine smile and greeting from him. To be able to feel so comfortable with each other seems rare, compared to stories in other counties, and I will always appreciate the ease of navigating leadership in politics because of him. He will be missed.”
The Libertarian Party of Hancock County also expressed its condolences over Leonard’s death.
“While we may disagree politically, we all work tirelessly to make our communities great places to live, and we reach across the aisle to extend a hand of friendship and grieve with those who are grieving,” the party said in a statement. “Our prayers are with Steve’s family and friends and with those in the Hancock County Republican Party.”
