WARSAW — Warsaw Mayor Dr. Joseph Thallemer has been named the 2019 Optometrist of the Year.

The Optometrist of the Year award was presented at Indiana Optometry’s meeting, the 122nd annual convention of the Indiana Optometric Association, on April 12 through 14 at the French Lick Springs Hotel in French Lick. This prestigious annual award is presented to a member who has demonstrated not only contributions to the profession, but also service on behalf of the visual welfare of the public and service to the community at large.

Dr. Thallemer established his optometry practice in 1980 and currently works with two associates, Dr. Rachel Johnson and Dr. Mitch Reinholt. He has been involved in community and municipal service for many years, is a 30 plus year member of the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club and spent seven years on the YMCA board of directors. He is currently serving his second term as mayor of Warsaw, having been elected in November of 2011 and 2015. Previously, he served three terms as city councilman at-large, serving as city council president during his last term. He was first appointed to the Warsaw Plan Commission in 1995 by then Mayor Jeff Plank, serving there for 13 years, the last eight as plan commission president.

Dr. Thallemer is a graduate of Warsaw Community High School; Ball State University, pre-optometry; and Indiana University, doctor of optometry. He and his wife, Jill, have four children and four grandchildren.