Numerous Fort Dodgers have worked hard during the last few years to make sure this is a town with a great future. Those efforts are generating a booming economy. They are also producing a quality of life that is excellent and on target to get even better.

A state-of-the-art trails system and a standout community college are among the features of our town that are getting rave reviews all across the Hawkeye State. While much of the credit for these success stories belongs to local folks, they would have had a harder time turning their goals into realities without help from the man who represented Fort Dodge in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 until 2013 – Tom Latham. Since then he has served Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District in the southwestern part of the state. The congressman was a tireless advocate in Washington for many projects of importance to Fort Dodge and Webster County. The trails system and Iowa Central Community College got priority attention from him.

That’s why the local leaders who developed the trails game plan and officials from Iowa Central gathered Thursday afternoon to honor Latham and thank him.

Trail markers bearing a picture of the Republican congressman were unveiled during an event that began at 1 p.m. at a trail head in the 600 block of Meriwether Drive.

Leaders of Iowa Central Community College also presented Latham with a plaque to honor him for his service.

Dennis Plautz, the chief executive officer of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, told The Messenger the intent was “to thank Tom Latham for all the help and the vision he provided to us. … He worked with us to find ways to fund trails in Fort Dodge.”

Plautz said a important example of how Latham made good things happen for Webster County was his restoration money to a long-dormant federal program called the Neal Smith Des Moines River Greenbelt. That enabled Fort Dodge to get some of that money to pay for trails along the riverfront.

Dan Kinney, Iowa Central’s president, told The Messenger Latham’s support for community colleges was exceptional. He led a caucus of community college supporters in the House of Representatives.

“Congressman Latham was a wonderful supporter of Iowa Central and really the community colleges all across Iowa,” he said. “He was always a very strong advocate.”

The Messenger congratulates Tom Latham on these well-deserved honors. During his many years representing Fort Dodge in Congress he helped our town, county and state thrive. His dedication to public service is an example we wish more elected officials chose to emulate.