INDIANAPOLIS – Nominations are currently being accepted for the Charles L. Whistler Award – the most prestigious award given annually to a community volunteer in Indianapolis. This year, the award will again recognize one or two individuals who have brought together the Indianapolis public and private sectors for civic improvement. A subcommittee of the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC) selects each recipient, and the Mayor of Indianapolis personally presents the award. The deadline for nominations is Friday, September 28, 2012.
A lawyer and community leader in the grand tradition, Whistler gave his time and extraordinary abilities to the Indianapolis community without asking for power or position in return. At the time of his death in 1981, he was a senior partner at Baker & Daniels and chairman of both the GIPC’s Urban Growth and Revitalization Task Force and the White River State Park Citizens’ Advisory Committee.
This is the 28th year for the award in Whistler’s honor. Mayor Greg Ballard and the board of the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee invite community members to nominate a current leader who exemplifies this vital Indianapolis tradition. Award nominations are open to anyone, except currently appointed government employees and elected officials. Candidates should reflect the passion and the skill that Whistler displayed for making the public-private partnership work for the overall betterment of the community. It’s also expected that many of each nominee’s efforts, like Whistler’s, have occurred in volunteer roles that far exceed what is simply expected of an individual through his or her employment. The recipient(s) of the award – presented by the Mayor through the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee – will be recognized at a reception later this fall. Award recipients’ names will also be added to a limestone and granite monument located in the Charles L. Whistler Memorial Plaza at the City Market.
Nomination forms are available online at indygipc.org Completed forms must be returned by Friday, September 28, to the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, 1901 City-County Building, 200 East Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204; or by e-mail to matt.hendrix@indy.gov.
For more information, call Matt Hendrix at the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee at (317) 327-3820.
Past Whistler Award Recipients:
1983: Thomas H. Lake
1984: Thomas W. Binford & David R. Frick
1985: Frank P. Lloyd
1986: Phillip R. Duke & Thomas W. Moses
1987: Mattie M. Coney
1988: Donald W. Tanselle
1989: Ramon L. Humke & Henry C. Ryder
1990: Richard O. Morris 1
991: Eldon Campbell
1992: Michael A. Carroll
1993: William W. Mays & James T. Morris
1994: Fred C. Tucker, Jr.
1995: Robert H. Reynolds
1996: Thomas M. Miller & Sam H. Jones
1997: Dr. Gene Sease
1998: Jack Shaw & Dan & Lori Efroymson
1999: Andrew Paine & Yvonne Shaheen
2000: Rev. T. Garrott Benjamin & Michael Maurer
2001: Jerry Semler & Fay Williams
2003: Alex Carroll & Rev. Charles Williams
2004: Dr. Beurt Servaas & Gerald Bepko
2005: Joseph D. Barnette, Jr. & G. Frederick Glass
2007: P.E. MacAllister & Marge Tarplee
2008: Patrick J. Early
2009: John T. Neighbours & Sallie W. Rowland
2010: Michael Browning
2011: Samuel L. Odle
More about Charles L. Whistler: “As an Indianapolis Star editorial noted shortly after his death in 1981, Charles L. Whistler was a visionary, talented and energetic prime mover who had a leading role in shaping the Indianapolis of today and its modern political structure. He loved the capital city and the Hoosier state, town and county, urban scenes with beauty and character, and the great outdoors. He had the persuasive ability often associated with the authors of constitutions, and used it to win strong support and positive contributions from others, often representing diverse interests, for the array of projects and programs that he helped conceive and bring to fruition. He wrote much of the legislation consolidating city and county governments under UniGov. He also had a leading role in the modernization and beautification of downtown Indianapolis and the creation of the City Center on Monument Circle, the adaptive reuse of the Indiana Theater, the downtown retailing mall concept, and the planning of the White River State Park.”
2012 Charles L. Whistler Award Criteria:
• Demonstrates visionary and enthusiastic leadership in serving the community
• Provides outstanding service in bringing together the public and private sectors for civic improvement, while serving in volunteer roles that far exceed what is simply expected of the individual through his or her employment
• Ineligible: Currently appointed government employees and elected officials
Nominations:
• Nomination forms may be photocopied
• Letters of support may be included (quantity is not a factor in judging)
• Mail completed forms to: Charles L. Whistler Award c/o: Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee 1901 City-County Building 200 East Washington Street Indianapolis, IN 46204
• Forms also may be e-mailed to matt.hendrix@indy.gov
• Forms must be received in the GIPC office by Friday, September 28.
• For questions about nominations, call (317) 327-3820.
