Rev. Dr. T. Garrott Benjamin, Jr. and Michael S. Maurer receive highly esteemed Whistler Award
The Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee presented Rev. Dr. T. Garrott Benjamin, Jr. and Michael S. Maurer with the Charles L. Whistler Award. The annual award recognizes one or two individuals who, outside the regular duties of their chosen professions, have brought together the public and private sectors for civic improvement in Indianapolis.
Thomas Benjamin has been the Senior Pastor of the historic Light of the World Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for the past 31 years. He is also the Presiding Bishop and founder of the Christian Ecumenical Covenant Fellowship (CECF). Bishop Benjamin is president of the Celebration of Hope, Inc., a city-wide movement to transform the city of Indianapolis by building bridges of racial respect. Dr. Benjamin is the founder of Project Impact Indianapolis and resides on the National Board of Directors of Project Impact International. Pastor Benjamin has been the recipient of several awards in recognition of his positive impact on the city of Indianapolis. He is the past recipient of the Morehouse College Distinguished Preacher’s Award as well as the Dr. Robert Briggs, Sr., Humanitarian Award. In 1998 Bishop Benjamin received the “This is your Life Award” from the Boy Scouts of America, making him the only pastor in the history of the organization to receive this award.
Michael S. (“Mickey”) Maurer is the President of Maurer/Shaw Productions, Inc. as well as Chairman of the Board of Mystar Communications and IBJ Corporation. Mickey also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Bank of Indianapolis. In addition to these duties, he has made a substantial contribution to Indianapolis as an active leader and participant in numerous business, civic, educational, and philanthropic organizations. In recognition of his service to the city of Indianapolis, Mickey has received numerous awards including the L.L. Goodman Award and the David M. Cook Memorial Award. In 1994 he received the B’nai B’rith Isidore Feibleman Man/Woman of the Year Award and the National Multiple Sclerosis Hope Award. The University of Indianapolis awarded him the Honorary Degree, Doctor of Laws, April 1995. Mickey was named one of the winners of the 1996 Indiana Jefferson Awards given annually by the Indianapolis Star and was inducted into the Indiana University School of Law Alumni Fellows. In 1997 he was presented with the Americanism Award of the Anti-Defamation League.
