INDIANAPOLIS (September 27, 2019) – The Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC) and Mayor Joe Hogsett are pleased to announce that Bill Shrewsberry will receive the 2019 Charles L. Whistler Award.
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.
“Bill Shrewsberry’s contributions to our city are a testament to the progress that comes from strategic public-private collaboration,” said GIPC Board Chair Mary Chandler, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at Cummins and CEO of The Cummins Foundation. “Bill has dedicated much of his life’s work to creating an equitable and vibrant Indianapolis full of opportunity, and GIPC is delighted to present him with this year’s Whistler Award.”
“Since 1983, the Whistler Award has helped us recognize leaders who have made a lasting impact on our community,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “This important tradition continues as we celebrate Bill Shrewsberry, whose commitment to civic leadership epitomizes Charles Whistler’s vision, talent, and energy. Bill’s innovation and service have shaped the landscape of Indianapolis in very real ways, and it is an honor to commemorate his many contributions.”
“Bill Shrewsberry epitomizes Chuck Whistler’s grand legacy of selfless, humble, quiet, impactful leadership that has made such a meaningful difference in this city,” said Murray Clark, Chair of the award selection committee and partner at Faegre Baker Daniels. “He is an exceptional addition to the lineup of past award winners who have contributed mightily over the last many decades in making our city the outstanding, progressive, and welcoming place it is today.”
Bill Shrewsberry founded Shrewsberry & Associates LLC in 2001 and served as President for 17 years. He previously retired from Indiana Bell/Ameritech after 27 years in management. In his career, Mr. Shrewsberry has also held several public offices, including Executive Director of the White River State Park, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Administration, Executive Assistant to Governor Evan Bayh, and Deputy Mayor of the City of Indianapolis for Mayor Bart Peterson. Mayor Peterson appointed Mr. Shrewsberry as the first Chair of the Mayor’s Charter School Board, a role he held under both Mayors Peterson and Ballard. Mr. Shrewsberry has served on the boards of The Mind Trust, IUPUI, IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs, IU Methodist Health Foundation, Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, Indiana Sports Corp, and GIPC. He has also served as a Trustee for Hanover College, as Chairman of the Operations Division for Super Bowl 2012, and as Co-Chair of the Plan 2020 Work Committee. Mr. Shrewsberry received the 1998 Distinguished Alumni Award, 1996 Chancellor’s Medallion Award, and 2019 Doctor of Humane Letters from IU Southeast. He was named a Sagamore of the Wabash by Governors Evan Bayh, Frank O’Bannon, and Joe Kernan.
Mayor Joe Hogsett will present the award at a breakfast ceremony on Wednesday, December 4, 2019, at Ivy Tech Community College Culinary & Conference Center. This year’s Title Sponsor is Faegre Baker Daniels. For information on tickets, tables, and sponsorships, visit www.indygipc.org.
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.
Mr. Shrewsberry’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.