Long-time Johnson County election official named ‘Distinguished Hoosier’

A long-time Franklin and Johnson County official was honored for his years of service to residents Wednesday.

Franklin resident Phil Barrow received the Distinguished Hoosier Award during a community event at Otterbein SeniorLife Community in Franklin on Wednesday. The award is one of the highest honors that can be given to Indiana citizens by the governor. It is awarded to those who distinguish themselves by significant contributions to their communities and whose qualities and actions endear them in the hearts and minds of Hoosiers, according to a description of the award.

“I want you to know this is not easy to get. This comes from the state of Indiana, Office of the Governor Eric J. Holcomb,” said Franklin Mayor Steve Barnett, who presented the award on Holcomb’s behalf.

Barrow resigned from the Johnson County Election Board on June 1 after 16 years, many of which he served as chairman. Because of his service to the board, Johnson County Clerk Trena McLaughlin decided to honor Barrow in her own way as well by giving him an award for his years of service to the election board as well.

Along with Barnett and McLaughlin, Johnson County Election Board Democratic Representative Kevin Service, Franklin City Council member Josh Prine, Johnson County GOP Chair Beth Boyce and State Rep. Robb Greene, R-Shelbyville, were in attendance as Barrow received the honors Wednesday.

Though the Distinguished Hoosier Award was signed at the end of July, it was not presented to Barrow until Wednesday. He was completely surprised by the honors and had no idea what was happening until after they began to say a little about his past work — albeit without saying his name at first.

“I had no idea. I’m shocked,” Barrow said after the event. “I don’t feel deserving. I haven’t done that much, I just did all that I needed to do.”

Before being appointed to the election board in 2007, Barrow served on the Franklin City Council from 2001 to 2007. After leaving the city council, he served on the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals from 2008 to 2022, Barnett said.

At the same time he was an election board member, serving from 2007 to April of this year.

But Barrow’s service didn’t stop there. He also spent time helping Dr. William “Ted” Murphy, a former, long-time city council member, by driving him around and bringing him to city council meetings as his eyesight began to fail, Barnett said.

Barrow told the crowd of officials and his neighbors that he served several positions because he wanted to and because it needed to be done. He recalled how sometimes people would ask why he served on the election board.

“People said, ‘Why do you do that? You get old. You need to get out,’” he said. “And I’d say, ‘Well, when I’m involved, I know it’s done right — and it is because we have a great system in Johnson County. You can rely on the elections in Johnson County, especially as long as we have Trena.’”

Before Barrow could walk away from the podium, he was stopped by Barnett who said McLaughlin had another surprise for him. McLaughlin then presented Barrow with an award of appreciation for his 16 years of dedicated service to the election board.

“Thank you for everything that you did,” McLaughlin said.

Barrow and McLaughlin then hugged and Kevin Service, the election board’s Democratic representative, spoke of his relationship with Barrow. Though they were of different parties, they never sparred or had problems, Service said.

In fact, they had fun — especially during downtime on Election Day.

“We sat around and talked about things in the county,” Service said.

“And history,” Barrow interjected.

Service added, “And history. I love history, you love history, and we’ve always had a good time. So congratulations, you’re deserving. I’m glad to call you my friend.”

Receiving both awards is a great culmination of all the things Barrow has participated in, he said after the event.

“I’ve enjoyed doing it. It’s been service,” Barrow said. “Nothing that I did, but just participating and making sure things were what I thought were right. It’s been great.”