Penny Lukenbill honored during Council meeting
MARSHALL COUNTY — Penny Lukenbill was honored by Marshall County and the State of Indiana for her over two decades of service to Marshall County serving in multiple roles.
Lukenbill was honored by Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb with the State of Indiana Council of the Sagamores of the Wabash award.
John Oliver of U.S. Granules read the letter submitted for her recognition during the presentation of her award:
Penny a. Lukenbill has served the citizens of Marshall County in
elected office for over two decades.
Having been selected by caucus to fill the balance of an expired term as Marshall County Treasurer in 1999, Penny then won a full term as Treasurer serving until 2005.
She was then elected as Marshall County Auditor serving from 2006 until 2013, after which she again served as treasurer from 2014 to 2016.
Since 2017, Penny has served as a member of the Marshall County Council, where she has continued to apply her expertise in local government and local government finance for the benefit of local citizens.
Throughout her time in elected office, Penny has been active in the Association of Indiana Counties (AIC) serving on the Board from 2005 until 2015, as President for the 2013 - 2014 term, and on its Legislative Committee.
Penny was also twice President of the Indiana Counties Treasurers Association.
Penny was honored as Outstanding County Auditor in 2012; and was the 2020 recipient of the AIC’S Arthur R. Himself Service Award. She was also recognized in the Congressional Record on December 2, 2014 at the request of U.S. Representative Jackie Walorski.
Aside from public service, Penny has served on the Plymouth Public Library Board, the Plymouth Park Board, the Session of the First Presbyterian Church in Plymouth, and the Plymouth Industrial Development Corporation (PIDCO) Board. Penny has also been active in the Plymouth Lion’s Club, helping to administer its Kidsight program in area schools and also participating in missions in rural Mexico.
Penny’s dedication to good governance and to service to her community, both local and the broader sense, reflect her character. She would be an excellent candidate for the award of a Sagamore of the Wabash.
Oliver said of Lukenbill, “I want you to know, Penny, and maybe I’m just speaking on behalf of the taxpayer, your integrity, the way in which you have conducted yourself with honesty, and sharing your expertise with your peers and your colleagues here has been enormously reassuring to all of those who pay attention to what’s going on with the financial needs and the disposition of this county.
I hope there will be another you coming along sometime. But, I feel privileged that during your time of serving this county that I’ve been a witness, a privileged witness, to the work that you’ve done and I am very, very grateful.”
Overmyer presented Lukenbill with the award while she was given a standing ovation by all present.
Overmyer read the award while fighting back tears.
Lukenbill said, “Thank you. I have such wonderful friends.”
Lukenbill was also honored by Senator Mike Braun’s Office. That content will be printed in the Wednesday edition of the Pilot News.