By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Niles Daily Star
NILES – "If there ever was a Mr. Niles, it was Larry," said Niles Mayor Michael McCauslin, following Monday's death of the former mayor and Berrien County Commissioner Larry Clymer.
"It was a terrible loss to the city. He was a tremendous friend, supporter and resident – the longest serving mayor. He had the ideals of the city in his heart," McCauslin said.
The last time they were together was at the Memorial Day memorial. "He was Master of Ceremonies. He was Larry – the way Larry always was."
Terry Eull, Niles City administrator, had met Clymer 30 years ago.
"He was always involved in the community – always one to step forward. He was a good person," Eull said.
"Niles truly lost one of our biggest supporters. He was always there when you needed him."
His fellow commissioner, John LaMore, represented District 12, while Clymer was elected to six terms for District 13.
"He was an important man in Berrien County – very well liked by his peers," LaMore said.
When LaMore joined the fire department in Niles Township in 1977, Clymer introduced the concept of "emergency preparedness" LaMore said, "before it was popular.
"He always knew how important it would be, with tornadoes, floods, the nuclear plant nearby – he was always pushing that," he added.
LaMore credited Clymer that "our fire department had a cutting edge county-wide communication trailer."
In case of emergencies Clymer believed, "get ready before it happens – get your ducks in a row – if it happens can handle it 100 times more efficiently," LaMore said.
"He was a pioneer in the county. I am very sad to see him go. He helped me every single week," LaMore said.
"Larry was there to represent not just Niles. He had the interest of everybody. He looked at how it would effect neighboring areas. That was one of the things I admired most," LaMore said.
"We will miss him. He has been a real leader," said Richard Bartz, chairman of the Board of Commissioners.
"They are tough shoes to fill," he said of the open seat on the board. Bartz wasn't sure of the procedure on filling that seat and said he would be checking into how to do so. The primary election for the seat is in August.
Scott Clark, who is running for Clymer's seat on the county board, wouldn't ever run against him.
"I was asked to run against him and I said no way," Clark said. "He talked me into running," after Clymer decided to not seek another term.
"He was a lifetime friend and friend of my dad. He was a great man who was all about doing things for the community.
"He was all for Niles, everything he did. He never wanted anything in return," Clark added.
"He was a good man and will be hard to replace. He can't be relaced," Clark said.
Clark said Clymer visited his wife Eleanor ever day, as she is in a nursing home near the state line.
The Clymers have two sons, Larry James "Jim" and Jeff.
Brown Funeral Home of Niles is handling the arrangements for funeral services for Clymer.