By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
The doors were open and lights were on at Bucyrus City Hall early Wednesday morning, but it was anything but business as usual in wake of the unexpected death of Mayor Roger Moore.
Police Chief Dave Koepke said simply, “Everyone is in shock.”
Moore died unexpectedly late Tuesday evening following a Bucyrus City Council meeting. He was visiting a relative in the city when he collapsed and was taken to Bucyrus Community Hospital where he died. The first-term mayor and 1983 Bucyrus High School graduate was 50.
City Council President Sis Love was sworn in as interim mayor by Crawford County Municipal Court Judge Sean Leuthold who said of Moore, “Roger loved this city more than anyone I know.”
“This is a difficult time,” Leuthold said before swearing in Love. “Roger was a great guy. This is going to hurt for a long time.”
Love took the oath of office in a halting voice and fighting back tears.
Referring to a high school English class, Love told the assembled city and county officials in City Council Chambers, “A poet, I don’t know which one, said, ‘Life must go on, I just don’t know why.’”
The dark gray and threatening skies outside hung over the flag flying at half-mast beside City Hall and reflected the mood of those inside.
Eunice Collene serves as administrative assistant in the office of the mayor and service/safety director.
“He had a huge heart,” Collene said.
Love and Moore entered city politics together and the interim mayor shared these thoughts about her friend.
“I taught him to bowl when he was a kid. That’s how long I’ve known him,” Love said. “He’s just been involved for so many years. He loved the city and I think the city gave that love back to him. His vision for the city, absolutely amazing.”
One of Love’s first official acts as mayor was to order that city flags be flown at half-mast in honor of Moore until his internment.
Moore’s passion and vision for the city was a thought shared by many as they remembered him.
“One of things that attracted me here was he had a vision and solutions to problems,” said City Law Director Rob Ratliff. “He was one of those guys, either through force of will or just being bigger than life, who was able to get his vision done.”
Service/Safety Director Jeff Wagner was particularly close to Moore.
“Very passionate,” Wagner said of Moore. “You couldn’t find anybody who loved the city more and what the city needed to represent. He wanted so much done, so much it was impossible some times.”
Love described her job as interim mayor as “just to keep things going, and that’s what I intend to do.”
She acknowledged the challenge of the city needing to mourn while having to continue to operate.
“I think we do that because we have great employees. We have everybody that is stepping up and stepping forward and saying you know, ‘What can we do?’ Because . . . the city does need water, we still need fire protection, we still need police protection. I’m sure the employees will do a great job of that,” Love said. “We’ll work with the family and see what be worked out. We’ll have some kind of memorial or something for Roger for everything he has meant to the city.”
Ratliff said Love will serve as interim mayor until local Republican party officials appoint an interim mayor. That individual will serve through the political process of an election in November of 2015 and swearing in of a mayor for a new full term in January of 2016.
Moore is survived by his wife Fonda, step-children, step-grandchildren and a nephew. Details of public services for Moore will be published when available.