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Indiana State Awards

Indiana has long honored exceptional Hoosiers and contributors to the state. The Governor can bestow four types of Hoosier Awards: the Sagamore of the Wabash, the Circle of Corydon, the Distinguished Hoosier, and the Honorary Hoosier. Given sparingly at the Governor's discretion, these awards celebrate individuals who have significantly impacted their communities or the state at large. A fifth accolade, the Sachem Award, stands as the state's highest honor and is granted only once a year.

Sagamore of the Wabash

The Sagamore of the Wabash is an award of the U.S. state of Indiana created in the 1940s by Governor Ralph F. Gates when the Governor of Kentucky bestowed on him the Kentucky Colonel award and Governor Gates decided that the Hoosier State should have a similar recognition. The term "sagamore" was used by the Algonquian-speaking American Indian to describe a lower chief or a leader among the tribe to whom the true chief would look for advice and wisdom. The Wabash is the "State River" of Indiana and major tributary of the Ohio River.

The Sagamore is the highest honor the Governor regularly bestows on individuals, and each Governor issues the award in his own way. Governor Eric Holcomb reserves the Sagamore 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 his judgment and discretion.

Among those who have received Sagamores have been astronauts, presidents, ambassadors, artists, musicians, politicians and citizens who have contributed greatly to Hoosier 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 and Indiana University chancellor Herman B Wells was honored six times.

Recipients of the Sagamore of the Wabash Award

The Sagamore of the Wabash Award does not have an official list of the number of Sagamore of the Wabash awards presented, but several notable individuals have received the award:

Harold Zisla, 1985, by Gov. Robert D. Orr; abstract expressionist painter and arts educator
Ryan White, 1987 by Gov. Robert Orr; 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 Democratic Speaker of the Indiana House from 1996 to 2003
Tommy John, 1989 by Gov. Evan Bayh, 288-game winner in Major League Baseball and first pitcher to have Tommy John surgery
John Morton-Finney, 1990 by Gov. Evan Bayh
Bob Kevoian and Tom Griswold, 1994 and 2008
Patricia Roy, 1994 by Governor Evan Bayh; Indiana High School Athletics Association, Assistant Commissioner.
Arie Luyendyk, 1999 by Gov. Frank O’Bannon; 1990 and 1997 Indianapolis 500 winner
Bob Chase, 2001 by Gov. Frank O'Bannon; Fort Wayne Komets play-by-play broadcaster.
Mir Masoom Ali, 2002 by Gov. Frank O'Bannon; Ball State University George and Frances Ball Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Statistics
Dorothy Runk Mennen, 2003; author and academic.
Thomas McDermott Jr., 2005; Democratic Mayor of Hammond, Indiana (2004–Present)
Mike Delph, January 2005; Indiana State Senator (December 2005 – 2018)
Martin C. Jischke, 2007 by Governor Mitch Daniels; 10th president of Purdue University (2000–2007)
David Letterman, 2007 by Gov. Mitch Daniels; comedian and television host
Jeff Gordon, 2015 by Governor Mike Pence, 1994, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2014 Brickyard 400 Winner
Donald Davidson, 2016 by Governor Mike Pence, chief historian of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and host of The talk of Gasoline Alley.
Seema Verma, 2016 by Governor Mike Pence
Adam Vinatieri, 2017 by Governor Eric Holcomb; placekicker for the Indianapolis Colts (2006–2019)
John Stehr, 2018 by Governor Eric Holcomb; retired television journalist, anchor for WTHR in Indianapolis (1995-2019)
Robin Miller, 2021 by Governor Eric Holcomb; motorsports journalist.

Contents of the award

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.

Circle of Corydon

The Circle of Corydon was created by Governor Holcomb to honor Hoosiers together with the recipient's State Representative or Senator. The Circle is the only award issued and signed jointly by members of both the Executive and Legislative branches. The award's name pays tribute to the Town of Corydon, which played a pivotal role in Indiana's history as the first State Capital where state founders drafted Indiana's first Constitution.

The Circle 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 the Circle. 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.

Distinguished Hoosier

The Distinguished 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.

Honorary Hoosier

The Honorary 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 the Honorary Hoosier, and the Governor issues the award in his judgment and discretion.

Sachem Award

In 2005, Governor Mitch Daniels designated another state honor, named the Sachem 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 the Indiana Statehouse.