A well-deserved round of congratulations is in order for Sam Simmermaker.
Simmermaker, who is beginning his 56th season as a broadcaster for radio station WCSI-1010 AM in Columbus, was presented with a "Sagamore of the Wabash" award by Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Saturday (Aug. 8).
A graduate of Star City High School, Simmermaker attended Indiana University and earned a bachelor's degree in telecommunications.
Simmermaker worked for the A.C. Nielsen Co. in Chicago for a short time after he completed college. He began his radio career at WKAM in Goshen, and he broadcast Indianapolis Indians baseball games for WTTV from 1958 to 1963, working as a full-time employee of WTTV for three of those years.
He joined WCSI in Columbus in January 1960 and has completed 55 school years at the station, calling play-by-play on thousands of local and regional sports events as well as giving daily sports updates throughout his decorated career.
Simmermaker has been honored by the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association as well as the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. He was inducted to the ISSA Hall of Fame in 1998 and was enshrined in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame as a Silver Medal winner in 2006. Simmermaker also was inducted into the Indiana Broadcasters Association's Fairbanks Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2008.
In 2010, a scholarship was established in Simmermaker's name for graduating seniors each year at Columbus North High School. The Samuel P. Simmermaker Journalism & Communications Scholarship is a non-renewable award of $1,000 open to all CNHS seniors planning to pursue a college degree in journalism or communications.
Simmermaker hails from Star City, Ind., a town north of Logansport near Winamac. Star City High School is now part of Winamac High School.
Simmermaker and his wife, Fran, have two adult children -- Jeff and Joan -- and five grandchildren.
Sagamore of the Wabash
The highest distinction in Indiana is the designation of Sagamore of the Wabash by the state governor. "Sagamore" was a term used by native American tribes of Indiana to describe a lesser chief or a great man among the tribe whom the chief consulted for wisdom and advice.
The Sagamore of the Wabash award was created during the term of Gov. Ralph Gates, who served from 1945-49. Gov. Gates was to attend a meeting with officials from Ohio and Kentucky in Louisville, where the Kentucky governor was presenting Kentucky Colonel certificates for the visitors. Gates decided that Indiana should have an appropriate award to present in return.
Each governor since Gates has presented certificates in their own way, and the award is the highest honor with the Governor of Indiana bestows. It is a personal tribute usually given to those who have rendered distinguished service to the state or to the governor.
The is no record of the total number which have been presented, as each governor has kept his own roll and reserved the right to select the recipients.
Simmermaker, who is beginning his 56th season as a broadcaster for radio station WCSI-1010 AM in Columbus, was presented with a "Sagamore of the Wabash" award by Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Saturday (Aug. 8).
A graduate of Star City High School, Simmermaker attended Indiana University and earned a bachelor's degree in telecommunications.
Simmermaker worked for the A.C. Nielsen Co. in Chicago for a short time after he completed college. He began his radio career at WKAM in Goshen, and he broadcast Indianapolis Indians baseball games for WTTV from 1958 to 1963, working as a full-time employee of WTTV for three of those years.
He joined WCSI in Columbus in January 1960 and has completed 55 school years at the station, calling play-by-play on thousands of local and regional sports events as well as giving daily sports updates throughout his decorated career.
Simmermaker has been honored by the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association as well as the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. He was inducted to the ISSA Hall of Fame in 1998 and was enshrined in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame as a Silver Medal winner in 2006. Simmermaker also was inducted into the Indiana Broadcasters Association's Fairbanks Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2008.
In 2010, a scholarship was established in Simmermaker's name for graduating seniors each year at Columbus North High School. The Samuel P. Simmermaker Journalism & Communications Scholarship is a non-renewable award of $1,000 open to all CNHS seniors planning to pursue a college degree in journalism or communications.
Simmermaker hails from Star City, Ind., a town north of Logansport near Winamac. Star City High School is now part of Winamac High School.
Simmermaker and his wife, Fran, have two adult children -- Jeff and Joan -- and five grandchildren.
Sagamore of the Wabash
The highest distinction in Indiana is the designation of Sagamore of the Wabash by the state governor. "Sagamore" was a term used by native American tribes of Indiana to describe a lesser chief or a great man among the tribe whom the chief consulted for wisdom and advice.
The Sagamore of the Wabash award was created during the term of Gov. Ralph Gates, who served from 1945-49. Gov. Gates was to attend a meeting with officials from Ohio and Kentucky in Louisville, where the Kentucky governor was presenting Kentucky Colonel certificates for the visitors. Gates decided that Indiana should have an appropriate award to present in return.
Each governor since Gates has presented certificates in their own way, and the award is the highest honor with the Governor of Indiana bestows. It is a personal tribute usually given to those who have rendered distinguished service to the state or to the governor.
The is no record of the total number which have been presented, as each governor has kept his own roll and reserved the right to select the recipients.
