TheGovernor of theU.S. state ofIndiana can bestow five types of awards: theSagamore of the Wabash, theCircle of Corydon, theDistinguished Hoosier, theHonorary Hoosier, and theSachem Award. Given at the Governor's discretion, these awards celebrate individuals who have significantly impacted their communities or the state at large. The Sachem Award stands as the state's highest honor and is granted only once a year. An additional award that has been given in the past was the Governor's Heroism Award.
TheSagamore of the Wabash is an award of theU.S. state ofIndiana created in the 1940s byGovernorRalph F. Gates when the Governor of Kentucky bestowed on him theKentucky Colonel award and Governor Gates decided that the Hoosier State should have a similar recognition. The term "sagamore" was used by theAlgonquian-speakingAmerican Indian to describe a lower chief or a leader among the tribe to whom the true chief would look for advice and wisdom. TheWabash is the "State River" of Indiana and majortributary of theOhio River.
TheSagamore is the highest honor the Governor regularly bestows on individuals, and each Governor issues the award in his own way. The Governor reserves theSagamore for those who have gone "above and beyond" and contributed to their communities or to the State in an extraordinary manner. Anyone may make a nomination for the Sagamore, but the Governor issues only a very limited number each year, in their judgment and discretion.
Among those who have receivedSagamores have been astronauts,presidents, ambassadors, artists, musicians, politicians and citizens who have contributed greatly toHoosier heritage. There is no official record of the total number presented, as each governor has kept his own roll, just as each has reserved the right to personally select the recipients. Some individuals have received the award more than once; for example, current Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has received the award twice andIndiana UniversitychancellorHerman B Wells was honored six times.
The Sagamore of the Wabash Award does not have an official list of the number of Sagamore of the Wabash awards presented,[1] but several notable individuals have received the award:
Ryan White, 1987 by Gov. Robert Orr;[2] American teenager from Kokomo, Indiana, who became a national poster child for HIV/AIDS in the United States
John Gregg, 1989, 1996, 2002 and 2003[3] Democratic Speaker of the Indiana House from 1996 to 2003
When a Sagamore of the Wabash is given to a recipient it is accompanied by other artifacts. It's uncertain if the contents of the award vary by year or by recipient. The gallery below shows the contents of a specific award given on January 9, 2005.
TheCircle of Corydon was created by Governor Holcomb to honor Hoosiers together with the recipient's State Representative or Senator. TheCircle is the only award issued and signed jointly by members of both the Executive andLegislative branches. The award's name pays tribute to theTown of Corydon, which played a pivotal role in Indiana's history as the first State Capital where state founders drafted Indiana's first Constitution.
TheCircle is meant for those who, like the State's founders, have made remarkable contributions that have bettered Indiana, and who have demonstrated the qualities exemplified by the state's greatest citizens. Only members of the General Assembly may make a nomination for theCircle. Annually, each Representative and Senator may nominate two constituents, and the Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore, and Minority Leaders may each nominate five individuals statewide.
TheDistinguished Hoosier has been awarded by Governors for more than fifty years to recognize outstanding Indiana residents. The Distinguished Hoosier is meant for those who distinguish themselves by significant contributions to their communities, and whose qualities and actions endear them in the hearts and minds of Hoosiers. Anyone may make a nomination for the Distinguished Hoosier, and members of the General Assembly may make five nominations each year. The Governor issues the award in his judgment and discretion.
TheHonorary Hoosier is similar to the Distinguished Hoosier, though it is meant for those not from Indiana who have made outstanding contributions to our State. Anyone may make a nomination for theHonorary Hoosier, and the Governorissues the award in his judgment and discretion.
In 2005,GovernorMitch Daniels designated another state honor, named theSachem Award. He determined it would be awarded to only one person each year. It is Indiana's highest honor, and a plaque listing recipients is posted on the first floor of theIndiana Statehouse.
In 2008,GovernorMitch Daniels designated another state honor, named theGovernor's Heroism Award. He determined it would be awarded to only those persons that had shown exceptional heroic conduct especially as exhibited in fulfilling a high purpose or attaining a noble end.Recipients of the award;
2008 -Curtis M. Jones (Mike) - Chief Deputy of the Swayzee Police Department for saving three children from a fully engulfed house fire.
2009 - Mike Hubert - Maintenance at Branchville Correctional Facility for injuries sustained in a prison escape.
2009 - Robert Skaggs and Lonnie Hood for rescuing a semi truck driver from a burning propane tanker before it exploded.
2010 - Nolan Sturch and Michael Brooks for pulling a driver from a burning vehicle.
