Elkhart Chapter of Indiana Black Expo honors community leaders

VIDEO: The Elkhart Chapter of Indiana Black Expo hosted the 2025 Men of Honor Gala on Saturday night with a theme of โ€œPast, Present, and Future.โ€ The chapter awarded dozens of recipients, including two lifetime achievement awardees โ€” former U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly and former Elkhart Fire Chief Tony Johnson.

Current Elkhart Fire Chief Rodney Dale presented the award to Johnson, thanking the former chief for inspiring him to become a firefighter and eventually another Black fire chief of the city.

โ€œWe just want to say, man, keep pouring into your community. Keep giving help, man. And like they said, man, throw a rope to somebody who may need a rope,โ€ said Robert Taylor, president of the Elkhart Chapter of Indiana Black Expo. โ€œAnd together, we all can make this community better.โ€

Two high school students received awards with scholarships during the event.

WNDU-TV NBC 16 South Bend

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