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Stewart, Wildman receive MHAPC annual awards
The Mental Health Association of Putnam County recently conducted its annual meeting and awards presentation at the Lifebuilder Community Center in Greencastle.
MHAPC presented its Person of the Year and Educator of the Year awards to the "Heroes in the Fight" against mental illness.
The MHAPC Person of the Year Award recognizes an individual in the community who has shown outstanding dedication to improving mental health and wellness of individuals and families and who tirelessly promotes the mission of Mental Health America of Putnam County.
The winner this year is Lee Stewart.
"Lee has been a generous contributor of his time and talents in projects to improve our community," MHAPC board member Carol Emery said. "It has been said that if you have an idea and want something done, contact Lee Stewart. Lee is a master at gathering volunteers with just the right skills for the job and he finds contacts for raising funds for the project."
Among his many accomplishments, Stewart not only volunteers his time to better the Putnam County community, but has been instrumental in several fundraisers, including a number of fundraiser runs for numerous organizations such as People Pathways, Mental Health America of Putnam County and The Putnam County Museum.
Stewart, a retired educator, was also project manager for the building of Emerald Palace at Robe-Ann Park and has helped with several other park projects over the years. He has also been a strong supporter and volunteer in developing, maintaining and expanding People Pathways.
"The list of Lee Stewart's community contributions goes on and on," Emery explained. "Lee Stewart's interest in the community and his enthusiasm for getting community people working together for the betterment of the community is contagious. His love of a challenge, his boundless energy and many contributions to our community makes Lee Stewart the perfect and deserving candidate for the MHAPC Person of the Year."
The MHAPC Educator of the Year Award recognizes an educator in Putnam County who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the mental health and wellness of children, families and fellow education professionals. The winner this year is Mark Wildman.
Mark Christy, whose son Drew was a former football player for Wildman, had the honor of introducing him.
Christy described Wildman as a person who has helped countless people over the past 40 years not only as a teacher and coach but as a counselor and friend.
Wildman, a 1974 graduate of Indiana State University and a 1983 graduate of Indiana University, spent much of his teaching career coaching both football and wrestling at South Putnam High School.
Wildman spent eight years as the program's assistant football coach and 21 years as South Putnam's head coach, with a 140-99 varsity record and the 1986 state championship in Class A and 2002 state runner-up..
Among the honors Wildman has acquired are six regional championships, eight sectional championships, three West Central Conference championships in 1987, 1988 and 1999 along with several other coaching honors.
Wildman was also inducted in the Wabash Valley Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006 and received the Legacy of Commitment Award in the same year as well.