The group text would go out each morning like clockwork.
An invitation from Jim Troutman, asking his colleagues working in local government who was in for lunch. Sometimes the crowds were large, other times more intimate.
But regardless of the size of the group, the conversation was always lively. And that was due in large part to Troutman.
The former Berks County clerk of courts was a well-known instigator. He was bold and blunt, never shy about sharing his opinions — often with quite colorful language — or opposed to listening to those of others.
“It was an hour each day where we would try to solve all the problems of the world,” said state Rep. Eric Weaknecht, who served as county sheriff prior to being elected to the state Legislature.
Those lunches became a staple in the world of Berks government during Troutman’s nearly four decades in office. They brought people together; they created friendships.
And as news of Troutman’s passing on Tuesday spread, those who ate, shared and laughed with him remember them fondly.
“We had a lot of good times,” said Berks Prothonotary Jonathan Del Collo, who attended these lunches with Troutman and Weaknecht almost every day from the time he was elected in 2018 until Troutman retired from his county post two years ago.
Del Collo said that most days the lunch group would gather in the conference room inside the clerk of courts office on the fourth floor of the Berks County Courthouse. Some days they would venture to a nearby restaurant like The Dog House or Russo’s Pizzeria.
“The thing about Jim is that he was very frugal,” Del Collo said. “Weaknecht and I would always give him the business about packing his own lunch because he was so cheap. But those are the kind of things that I remember most.”
A proud veteran
Troutman, who was 79 at the time of his death, spent his entire life in public service.
It began when he served in the Navy Seabees during the Vietnam War.
Del Collo said that first and foremost, Troutman was a proud veteran.
“It was clear to all who knew him that he loved his country,” he said. “He had a passion to serve and I think that is why he took such an interest in local government.”
In addition to his 36 years as clerk of courts, Troutman was a district judge, a president of the Hamburg School Board, a member of the Berks County Prison Board and, most recently, a member of Hamburg Borough Council at the time of his passing.
“He cared deeply about public service,” Berks County Deputy Chief Operations Officer Larry Medaglia said as he remembered his close friend.
Their friendship began in 1987 when Troutman was running for clerk of courts for the first time. Medaglia was involved in the Berks County Republican Committee and helped to get him elected.
Troutman would return the favor by endorsing Medaglia for register of wills.
Medaglia, who served as register of wills from 1996 until he took his current position with the county in December 2022, said he was a regular attendee at the infamous lunches back in the day when they would gather at the now shuttered The Square Deal, which was located across from the courthouse.
“It was a safe place where we could talk about the issues of the day or air our grievances,” he said. “It was just a fun way to break up the day, and Jim was the ringleader who would usually toss out the topic of the day.”
Up for debate
Medaglia said Troutman was the kind of guy who liked to argue and would often instigate debates with those gathered around the table. He was also not afraid to use colorful language to get his point across.
“He was in the Navy and he swore like a sailor,” he said. “That was one commandment that he disregarded with impunity. I probably have a dozen voice messages that I still have on my phone that are real dandies.”
Weaknecht, who served as sheriff for 17 years, met Troutman in the early 1980s. Troutman was serving as a district judge in Hamburg and hired Weaknecht to be a constable — his first job in law enforcement.
“He never let me forget that he was the one who gave me my first job,” Weaknecht said with a chuckle. “And then he went on to help me throughout my campaigns for sheriff. He was just an amazing guy and we got along so well.”
Weaknecht said he and Troutman would talk on the phone late into the night, as they were both prone to staying up well past midnight.
“He and I would talk about everything,” he said. “He was a tell-you-like-it-is kind of guy who was not afraid to hurt your feelings if he had something to say. And I appreciated him for that.
“He will be deeply missed in my household for sure.”
And, like Medaglia, Weaknecht still has some voice messages that will serve as a reminder of the humorous man Troutman was. But there are only a few that are suitable for others to hear.
“I played one for my wife and daughter the other night that was pretty graphic,” he said, explaining that Troutman had left it after he thought Weaknecht had not shown up to a morning meeting that the sheriff had talked Troutman into attending. “I purposely did not pick up so he would leave a voice message, and he was not happy at all.”
Along with the debating and provoking, there was also another side to Troutman.
His friends said he was a devoted husband to his wife, Patricia, whom he was married to for 56 years, and carried a deep love for his dogs.
“His dogs were his everything,” Del Collo said. “He loved them and was a big supporter of the Animal Rescue League of Berks County.”
Del Collo said he remembers how heartbroken Troutman was the last time he had to say goodbye to one of his furry companions and how happy he was when he welcomed another dog into his life.
“It was like a light went back on,” he said. “In fact, a bunch of us were concerned that if his current dog, Cowboy, passed before him that it would send Jim over the edge.”
Proud of his legacy
While his friends said they will remember Troutman for who he was as a person, they said his work is a legacy to be proud of.
Medaglia pointed out that Troutman had victories within his office. They included bringing attention to a statute outlined in the state Public Employee Relations Act known as the 1620 Right that gives elected row officers the authority to hire, fire and supervise employees within the office — even over the objections and direction of the county commissioners.
He filed a case against the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees shortly after taking office calling for county commissioners to make a sincere invitation to row officials to participate and provide input in negotiating union contracts.
“It made some waves with organized labor, but Jim believed very strongly that elected row officers should be able to have the same rights as the courts to hire, supervise and manage their employees,” Medaglia said.
The case made it all the way to the state Supreme Court and was decided in his favor.
“He will be forever enshrined in that case,” Medaglia said.