Ben Barnes

Ben Barnes (April 5, 1953- September 22, 2003) was a man whose life's work had a lasting impact on the City of Elkhart. In 1974, he became the first black person to be elected to county-wide office when he won a seat on the Elkhart County Council, where he served 4 terms. For most of his time on the council, he was a trailblazer, representing people who had gone unrepresented for a very long time. Barnes' election was groundbreaking for Elkhart's black community and paved the way for more inclusive leadership at a time when racial inequalities were still felt across the county.

Barnes was also a writer. In 1974, the year he won his first election, he co-authored The River Flows Backward with Kathlyn Gay, which told the story of his life and his experiences growing up in Elkhart. His book gave the real experience of growing up black in segregated America, telling stories of discrimination, resilience, and the strength of family. Barnes used the book to speak directly to the younger generation, teaching lessons on how to build a better future.

Barnes’ childhood experience greatly shaped his later work. He grew up on Chapman Avenue in a hardworking family. He was raised by his parents, Syl and Lura Mae Barnes, alongside several siblings. He also attended Elkhart High School. As a young man, he became Indiana's amateur middleweight boxing champion. This sport instilled in him discipline and mental toughness, which were values that he would later pass on to youth in his community.

After stepping away from the city council in 1986, Barnes turned his focus to the betterment of the youth. In 1991, the Tolson Community and Youth Center (then known as the Folsom Center) was opened, and Ben Barnes served as the Tolson Center's first recreation coordinator. In this role, Barnes worked to balance athletics and academics, teaching the youth that “education is just as important, if not more important, than recreation and athletic events.” Barnes was known for running a tight but supportive program. He wanted to see the youth succeed, but didn’t tolerate late arrivals or disrespectful behavior. He believed that discipline and structure saved lives and kept kids off the streets. He looked at the betterment of the youth through programs as an investment, arguing that investing in guidance and mentorship for the kids costs far less than the price of incarceration later in life.

In recognition of Barnes's service to the youth, he was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash in 1992. Barnes also helped to serve the youth through founding the St. James boxing club, where he continued to help kids build life skills through the sport. Through boxing, Barnes taught the same discipline and mental toughness he had learned as a young man. Lots saw Barnes not just as a coach, but as a mentor and even a father figure who encouraged them to believe in their own potential.

Barnes later returned to public service, serving on the Elkhart city council from 1999 until his passing in 2003. His death was felt across the city, and tributes poured in from citizens, politicians, and especially the youth whose lives he had touched. He is remembered as a man who put the needs of the community (especially its young people) first.

The programs he helped establish, and the lessons he taught, continue to shape Elkhart's youth. Barnes’ life reminds us that one person's commitment to serving the community can impact generations, leaving a community stronger, fairer, and inspired than ever before.