December 13th, 2021, INDIANAPOLIS – The Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC) and Mayor Joe Hogsett are pleased to announce that Murray Clark is the recipient of the 2021 - Charles L. Whistler Award this year. The annual award recognizes individuals who, outside the regular duties of their chosen professions, have brought together the public and private sectors for civic improvement in Indianapolis.
“Murray Clark has worked to create an Indianapolis where everyone cannot just survive but thrive,” said GIPC Board Chair Mary Chandler, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at Cummins and CEO of The Cummins Foundation. “Murray’s work reflects a deep understanding of the power of public-private partnerships to bring about real and lasting impact,” continues Chandler. “He is a fitting recipient of an award named for his former law partner. GIPC is delighted to honor Murray with the Whistler Award.”
“For nearly four decades, the Whistler Award has given us a way to recognize influential civic minds in Indianapolis,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “Murray will make great additions to the venerable list of past awardees. For years, he has worked tirelessly in the public and private realms to help Indianapolis become a city that serves all and where anyone can prosper.”
“Murray was instrumental in the re-structure and guidance of the Indiana Soccer Association. His leadership has allowed the organization to thrive over the past decade. His contributions to the 100s of thousands of Indiana Soccer players is and continues to be immeasurable” stated Dave Guthrie, the current Executive Director of Indiana Soccer.
Murray Clark, government and regulatory affairs partner at Faegre Drinker and former Indiana State Senator is a proud, lifelong Indiana resident who has committed his time, wisdom, and experience to the success of the City of Indianapolis. In the Indiana State Senate, Murray was active in a wide range of issues and recognized repeatedly as an outstanding legislator. In his private practice, he provides strategic legal and governmental affairs council to help clients achieve their goals. In addition to his career, Murray is an extraordinary philanthropic leader, serving on the Riley Foundation, Indianapolis
Foundation, Central Indiana Community Foundation, and the Hundred Club. He is also known for his leadership in the sports community, having served as the president of the Indiana Soccer Association, Indy Eleven Foundation, and College Football Playoff Championships Indy Host Committee.
Mayor Joe Hogsett presented the award at a breakfast ceremony on Thursday, December 2, 2021, at Ivy Tech Community College Culinary & Conference Center. This year’s Title Sponsor is Faegre Drinker.
About the Charles L. Whistler Award:
Charles L. Whistler understood working for the future. To ensure Whistler’s legacy lives on, GIPC instituted the Charles L. Whistler Award—the most prestigious award given annually to a community volunteer. The Charles L. Whistler Award continues to honor the legacy of Whistler, a lawyer and community leader in the grand tradition, who 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 Faegre Baker Daniels and chair of both GIPC’s Urban Growth and Revitalization Task Force and the White River State Park Citizen’s Advisory Committee.
Clark’s name will be added to a limestone and granite monument containing past award recipients’ names and located in the Charles L. Whistler Memorial Plaza at the City Market in downtown Indianapolis.
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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
1991: 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 G. Browning
2011: Samuel L. Odle
2012: David Shane
2013: John M. Mutz
2014: Martha Lamkin
2015: Thomas A. King
2016: Sarah & John Lechleiter
2017: Andre B. Lacy
2018: Marianne Glick
2019: Bill Shrewsberry
2020: Milton O Thompson
2021: Murray Clark