CASSOPOLIS — Recalling his unsuccessful 1998 bid for the 59th District seat in the Michigan House of Representatives, Road Commissioner Robert W. Powers of Marcellus said in hindsight it feels like he won.

Powers, ending 30 years on the Road Commission since January 1981, received a standing ovation Dec. 16 from the Board of Commissioners, of which Johnie Rodebush and Carl Higley Sr. remain from when he started.

“I think I won,” said Powers, accompanied by his wife, Varetta, “because I was able to do more for the people of Cass County as a road commissioner” than as a term-limited state representative.

“Going to work at 8 o’clock on Tuesday morning and coming home at 5 o’clock Thursday evening, you don’t get a whole lot done.”

Commissioners Dec. 2 appointed Pete Fournier of Porter Township to succeed Powers.

Manager Louis Csokasy paused in his presentation to the Board of Commissioners to shake Powers’ hand.

“That’s a good man,” he pronounced.

Powers was born and raised in Marcellus and graduated from Marcellus High School and Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and a vocational education certificate.

After graduation, he served in the U.S. Army during Korea, then returned to Marcellus and co-founded Abbott and Powers Insurance Agency.

He owned and operated the insurance agency for 21 years.

He purchased the Grassland Sod Farm in Decatur, which he operated for nine years.

He returned to the insurance business in 1982, purchasing an agency in Cassopolis.

Other positions Powers has held on governing bodies are: Marcellus Township treasurer; Lewis Cass Intermediate School District board member; Cass County commissioner; Cass County Road Commission chairman; Cass County Parks Commission chairman; and member and past president of Tri-County Child Development.

He also contributed his time and effort to various building projects in Cass County, including chairing the building committee for Cass County Medical Care Facility, serving on the panel that rebuilt the Cass County courthouse, chairing a building committee for Marcellus Community Schools and, while serving on the Cass County Department of Public Works, the Marcellus sewer system and Edwardsburg water system were completed.