I realize this blog centers on Fishers, Indiana, but as the blog publisher, allow me a point of personal privilege to extol the virtues of my former News Director.  When I arrived at WCSI Radio in the late 1970s as the morning news anchor and reporter, it was Sam Simmermaker that took me under his wing and helped me find my way in a new city.

Sam started at Columbus Indiana’s WCSI in the early 1960s and became news and sports director of the station.  We shared the same newsroom for four years.

When you work with someone every day for a number of years, you begin to appreciate their strengths.  It didn’t take me long to see that Sam is someone special.

Sam still works for WCSI, but only contributes sports news and does live play-by-play of local athletic events.  Sam is a treasure for WCSI and Columbus, Indiana.

Several former employees of WCSI have been gathering the last couple of summers at a downtown Columbus restaurant to get together and share our many stories of working at the radio station.

This year, another top-notch radio professional, Larry Henry, was at the reunion.  Larry and I were the morning team on WCSI for several years.

Mr. Henry was able to see Governor Mike Pence recently.  The governor is from Columbus and is very familiar with Sam’s work.  Larry Henry had a big surprise for Sam Simmermaker at this year’s reunion.

Sam was awarded one of the top honors any Governor can bestow on a resident of Indiana.  Sam is now a Sagamore of the Wabash.  My thanks to Governor Pence for his recognition of Columbus Indiana’s most revered broadcaster.

Congratulations to Sam Simmermaker for being deservedly honored for his long service to the state and the people of Columbus.  And kudos to my former colleague Larry Henry for helping to make this happen.