Senator Gary "Doc" Dillon named Sagamore of the Wabash Saturday night
(Talk of the Town photos by Jennifer Zartman Romano) District 17 State Senator Gary “Doc” Dillon, above at left, stands silently as he learns he is the recipient of the Sagamore of the Wabash award presented to him by Governor Mitch Daniels. Daniels was unable to present the award in person and so Senator David Long, above at right, presented the award. Below, Ann Dillon stands nearby as her husband, Dr. Gary Dillon, voices his appreciation for the award.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
The Sagamore of the Wabash that carries with it a sense of importance and honor – and in recent years, it has become a rare honor bestowed by the office of the Governor.
On Saturday night, as State Senator Gary “ Doc” Dillon stood on the worn wood floors of his round barn in rural Pierceton, surrounded by long-time friends, political allies and supporters, the award was presented to him.
Rumors of the awards’ presentation had been circulating for the past week in Whitley County and beyond, but the presentation was a complete surprise for Dillon Saturday night during an informal party at his home. Staring quietly at the floor as kinds words were read about his career and his future plans, Dillon was as he is often described – humble. 
The award was presented by President Protempore Senator David Long of Fort Wayne.
Dillon, now living in rural Pierceton, was a former Columbia City resident and is a dermatologist and a clinical professor of dermatology at Indiana University Medical Center.
Dillon announced his plans to retire from the State Senate in 2010 to spend more time with his grandchildren. He has served as a State Senator since 2002 and was a State Representative from 1998-2002. While in office, he has served on the appropriations, energy and environmental affairs, tax and fiscal policy committees and was chairman of the ethics committee. He has also served as vice chair of the national standing committee on health.
Dillon is a former Columbia City Rotary club member, past president of the Whitley County Health Department, past president of the Whitley County School Board, past president and member of the Indiana Dermatological Society, past president and member of the Whitley County Memorial Hospital staff and past hospice medical director for Whitley County.
Dillon and his wife, Ann, are members of Trinity Presbyterian Church.
Numerous Whitley County public officials and many Indiana officials were present for the award presentation Saturday evening, including Senator David Long, Senator Marlin Stutzman, Senator Tom Wyss, State Representative Dan Leonard, State Representative Phyllis Pond, State Representative William Ruppel, Columbia City Mayor Jim Fleck, Huntington Mayor Steve Updike, County Councilman Jim Banks, County Councilman Tom Western, Township Trustee Gene Heckman and many others.
The distinguished Sagamore of the Wabash award was created by former Governor and Whitley County native, the late Ralph Gates in the 1940s. The award is among the highest honors bestowed by the Governor, second only to the Sachem award which was revived by Governor Mitch Daniels in 2006 and that is limited to only one per year. The award is given in recognition of an individual’s notable service to the state or to the Governor.
The most recent presentation of a Sagamore of the Wabash award to an individual with Whitley County connections was in 2008 when the award was given to Elmer Heinley of rural Columbia City.