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When James "Choppy" Saunders resigned as president of Middfest International's board, "it was simply because I've gotten so doggone old," he said.

Now that Middfest has prepared a dinner in honor of the 89-year-old leader, Saunders said, "This is really unexpected. I hadn't any idea that they were attempting to show their appreciation for all I had done."

Saunders is particularly proud he was the first black man elected to the Middletown City Commission (now council) in 1970. He served for 16 years, finishing his time as chairman, the equivalent of a ceremonial mayor, from 1982-86.

"I guess what was most important to me was that there had never been a black on city commission. In the late '60s and early '70s, the city seemed to be falling apart, with a lot of demonstrations going on. I had to quiet the city down, and fortunately, I was able to do that," Saunders said, giving credit to his fellow commissioners as well.

Saunders' many other roles include a career at the former Armco plant, now AK Steel, where he worked from 1939-85, retiring as the corporate supervisor of government and community affairs.

He has served the United Way, YMCA and Rotary International, and was president of the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional planning authority.

Of course, Saunders' greatest loyalty has been to his hometown. Many people have credited Saunders for leading Middletown with a quiet but powerful grace.

Put simply, Saunders said, "I saw my role as a person to do things that needed to be done and do it quietly," he said.

Reservations for the dinner will be accepted through Monday, April 21.

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