INDIANAPOLIS - Tables were turned Tuesday when Sen. Ron Alting (R-Lafayette) - a former restaurant owner who has dedicated himself to public service for many years - was "served" with a unique honor by the Indiana Restaurant Association during its 75th anniversary celebration.

Alting became one of the first-ever recipients of the organization's "Legislator of the Year" award during the event, hosted at the Skyline Club in downtown Indianapolis.

"Year in and year out, Sen. Alting has shown that he understands the problems faced by the restaurant industry," said John Livengood, president of the association "He has championed issues that we support such as alcohol server training, and opposed legislation that would hurt small businesses such as menu labeling. As a former restaurateur he understands the practical side of how proposed legislation would affect the state's largest private sector employer."

For Alting, the award was "very special," because it came from people in a profession he credited with shaping his life. Brad Cohen of Arni's Restaurant and Greg Ehresman of Triple XXX Family Restaurant, assisted in the award presentation.

"When he sees legislation coming down that has long term effect, he stands up for us all the time," Ehresman said. "He's unbelievably passionate about it. It's a tight-knit family when you're in this type of business."

It was an emotional night for Alting, who once owned a nationally known restaurant called "Patout's" with his late wife, Liz, in New Orleans. He said it was the restaurant business that brought them together. Their success led to widespread acclaim and publication of a best-selling cookbook.

"The restaurant business helped prepare me to be a better person," Alting said. "Because your customers come from all walks of life - black, white, rich, poor, CEO or ordinary Joe - you learn to appreciate everyone and treat them equally. It prepares you to have no prejudices and to appreciate all people."

Alting lost his wife six years ago to cancer, but says the years they spent together in the restaurant business still nourish him today.

"It proved to me spouses can work together and have a great relationship," Alting said. "It also prepared me for hard work, taught me how to handle stress and has helped me be a better single parent of two teen-agers."

Alting occasionally shares lessons learned from his restaurant experience in at motivational seminars.

"I'm not so sure it shouldn't be a prerequisite for all in public life," Alting said of working in the restaurant field.

The Indiana Restaurant represents over 1,600 member restaurant properties and industry-related services companies, which it calls "the cornerstone of the Indiana communities and the economy." Livengood said the restaurant industry was the largest private sector employer in the nation.

Sen. Ron Alting (c) accepts congratulations on his award from the Indiana Restaurants Association from Greg Ehresman (l) of Triple XXX Family Restaurant and Brad Cohen of Arni's Restaurants (r).

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