7/5/2007
Media Contact:
Margie Smith-Simmons, [317] 327-3690 |
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Nominations currently being accepted for the prestigious Charles L. Whistler Award
Indianapolis – The Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC) is currently accepting nominations for the 23rd annual Charles L. Whistler Award. All applications must be received by 5 p.m., Thursday, July 12, 2007.
The most prestigious honor bestowed by the Mayor’s Office, The Charles L. Whistler Award will recognize one or two individuals who demonstrate visionary and enthusiastic leadership in serving the community and reflect the passion and skill that Charles Whistler displayed for making the Indianapolis public-private partnership work for civic improvement.
“It is most fitting that we honor leaders in Whistler’s memory. They are building on the foundation for success that he so skillfully laid,” said Mayor Bart Peterson.
Charles L. Whister, a lawyer and community leader, gave his time and extraordinary abilities to the Indianapolis community. At the time of his death in 1981, he was a senior partner at Baker & Daniels and chairman of both the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee’s Urban Growth and Revitalization Task Force and the White River State Park Citizen’s Advisory Committee.
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 Uni-Gov. 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."
Award nominations are open to the public and there is no limit on the number of nominations an individual, business or organization can submit. To download a copy of the nomination application and view past Whistler Award recipients, please visit www.indygov.org/mayor. To receive a copy of the application by mail or fax, please contact Terri Downs at 327.5793. Please note that all applications must be received by 5 p.m., Thursday, July 12, 2007. Currently appointed government employees and elected officials are ineligible for the award.
The award recipient(s) – presented by the Mayor through the GIPC – will be recognized at a ceremony on Tuesday, September 18, at the Skyline Club. Award recipients' names will be added to a limestone and granite monument located in the Charles L. Whistler Memorial Plaza at the City Market.
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