ELKHART, Ind. -- Elkhart Mayor Rod Roberson released a statement Thursday afternoon following news of former Elkhart Mayor Dick Moore's passing.

Roberson stated in part, "The City of Elkhart is in a state of shock and mourning as we learned of the passing of Dick Moore this morning."

Moore served as the city's Street Commissioner and Fire Chief before becoming mayor.

"He spent much of his life serving the City of Elkhart. He had a work ethic that couldn’t be duplicated, and he believed in Elkhart and loved the upper Saint Joseph River. He even owned the Elkhart River Queen at one point and was a fundamental figure to the Elkhart community. He was a lover of his country and his city. He and his wife Nancy will be sorely missed," Roberson stated.