Sagamore of the Wabash winner receives replacement award

Saturday, August 16, 2008

The highest distinction in Indiana is the designation of Sagamore of the Wabash presented by the state governor. Greencastle resident James Huter received his second Sagamore Award recently during a ceremony at Greencastle's City Hall with Mayor Sue Murray and State Senator Connie Lawson.

Huter received his first Sagamore in 1994. It was destroyed in a tragic fire in 2006, which destroyed his home. Thursday, he received a new Sagamore of the Wabash signed by current Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels.

Huter, a Kentucky native also earned a Kentucky Colonel Ward in 1970 for his achievements coaching one of four High School Basketball Coaches to win consecutive State basketball titles in Kentucky. He coached the Male High School team in 1970-71 where his team reached State Finals three of six times in the school's history.

He also coached the Kentucky All Star basketball team in 1971. Huter's name is even mentioned in the movie "Hoosiers" by one of the men at the scoreboard during a ballgame.

He came to Greencastle in the 1970s, where he taught and coached basketball.

He moved to South Putnam High School where he taught, coached and was athletic director for a number of years. He retired from SPHS as Athletic Director in 1994. All together he taught for 46 years.

Huter has received numerous awards besides the Sagamore and Kentucky Colonel. In 1991 he received the KHSADA Don Conner Memorial Award; in 1993 he was named District III Outstanding A.D. of the year by IHSAA.

As a young man he attended St. Xavier High School in Kentucky, graduating in 1943. He played basketball all four years including two-and-a-half as a varsity starter. He played baseball for four years and started as second baseman.

He went from Xavier to Western Kentucky University where he received a Masters in Education and Bachelors degree in biology and Physical Education, graduating in 1948.

While in college he played basketball and was a varsity starter for three years. He was also team captain. He was All Ohio Valle Conference 1945 baseball and was second base starter for two years.

He served in the military for 18 months from 1946-47 achieving first Army champions in 1947 in baseball. He was also on the Baseball First Army Tourney team and First Army Champions in 1947.

He is, and has been very involved in community activities locally for a number of years. Huter belongs to St. Paul Catholic Church Council, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, American Legion Post -58 Greencastle, Loyal Order of Moose #1592, Greencastle, Fraternal Order of Eagles, AERIE #4388, the Indiana interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, and the Board of Zoning Appeals, Greencastle.

He and his wife Mary have six children: Mary J. Stevens, James J. Huter, Jo Marie Corbitt, John M. Huter, Judith M. Huter and Jill McCammack. They also have seven grandchildren.

Most states have a special way of recognizing their favorite sons and daughters. The Sagamore of the Wabash award honors those who have made a significant contribution to life in the Hoosier state.

The designation was created in the late 1940s during the administration of Governor Ralph Gates. When the governor discovered that he was to be made a "Kentucky Colonel" during a tri-state meeting, Gates quickly devised the award as way of reciprocating the honor.

The award has been bestowed upon ordinary people who have shown outstanding service as volunteers, veterans or educators, for example, along with presidents, astronauts, entertainers and entrepreneurs.

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