Hoosier education, business and community leaders from across the state were recognized for their accomplishments at the Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration Governor’s Reception.
“I look forward to this event every year as it heralds the arrival of one of the great occasions of our state, the Indiana Black Expo,” said Gov. Mitch Daniels. “This is a great time to pay homage to the best among us, to people who have led lives of excellence and example, both professional and moral.”
Award recipients were selected by the governor in collaboration with the Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises division of the Indiana Department of Administration. Gov. Daniels, Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman and IBE Chief Executive Officer Tanya Bell presented the awards at a ceremony at the Statehouse.
Twenty-eight individuals received the Governor’s Award for Achievement for excellence and service in the fields of education, business, technology, health and religion. Five individuals received specialized awards for leadership and community service.
Governor’s Award for Achievement in Military Service recipients:
• Arthur Carter (Indianapolis), member of the Tuskegee Airmen and recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal.
• Dr. Gohar Azam Salam (Fort Wayne), Army Major with the Army Reserve Medical Corps.
• Quentin Smith (Gary), WWII Army Air Corps pilot and former president of the Gary Regional Airport Authority.
Governor’s Award for Achievement in Education recipients:
• Pamela Decker (Connersville/Evansville), executive director of the Joshua Academy.
• Dr. Willie Reed (Lafayette), dean of the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine.
• Dr. R. Drew Smith (Indianapolis), director of the Public Influences of African-American Churches Project at the Leadership Center at Morehouse College.
• Hana Stith (Fort Wayne), co-founder of the African/African-American Historical Society.
Governor’s Award for Achievement in Technology recipients:
• Donte Adams, Cornelius Harper and Clarence Lyles, co-owners of IGS Distributing of Indianapolis.
Governor’s Award for Achievement in Health recipients:
• Dr. Hilton Hudson (Munster), founder of the Health Literacy Foundation and co-founder of Hilton Publishing Co.
• Dr. Sophia Janjua Khan (Valparaiso), physician and civic leader.
• Dr. Steve Simpson (Gary), founder of Midwest Health Associates.
• Clara Walton (Terre Haute), former president of Women in NAACP (WIN).
Governor’s Award for Achievement in Religion recipients:
• Rev. Raymond C. Dix Jr. (East Chicago), senior pastor of Berean Fellowship Baptist Church in Gary.
• Rev. Fitzhugh Lyons (Indianapolis), pastor of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church and president of the Interdenominational Ministers’ Alliance.
• Imam Mikal Saahir (Indianapolis), imam of the Nur-Allah Islamic Center.
• Brother Roy Smith (South Bend), former director of Catholic Charities of South Bend.
• Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith (Indianapolis), executive director of the Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis and host of “Faces of Faith” on the PAX Television Network.
Governor’s Award for Achievement in Business and Entrepreneurship recipients:
• Maurice E. Coates Jr. (Evansville), founder of CK United Sheet Metal & Mechanical Inc.
• Roosevelt Haywood III (Gary), founder of Haywood and Fleming Associates.
• Adell Means (Indianapolis,) founder of ROI Marketing Co.
• Deb Oatts (Indianapolis), co-founder of Nubian Transport Management.
Governor’s Award for Achievement in Motion recipients:
• Bill Brooks (Indianapolis), executive director of administration for the Indianapolis Colts.
• Anthony Calhoun (Evansville), lead sports anchor for WISH-TV in Indianapolis.
• Tamika Catchings (Indianapolis), 5-time WNBA All-Star for the Indiana Fever.
• Tarik Glenn (Indianapolis), former offensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts and founder of D.R.E.A.M. Alive Inc.
• Milton Thompson (Indianapolis), president and CEO of Grand Slam Companies.
Rev. Charles R. Williams Community Service Award recipients:
• Reginald and Tracey Jones (Indianapolis), founders of McMiracle on 38th Street.
• Sister Jane Nesmith (Evansville), pastoral life coordinator of St. John the Apostle Catholic Church
Sam Jones Trailblazer Award recipients:
• Alpha Blackburn (Indianapolis), president and CEO of Blackburn Architects Inc. and chairperson of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission.
• Don Thompson (Indianapolis), president of McDonald’s USA, responsible for the strategic direction of 13,700 restaurants.
