Malcolm Romine named Sagamore of the Wabash

The Sagamore of Wabash award is presented to Malcolm Romine (right) by Jinsy Bingham (left) and Representative Jim Baird (middle) at the Putnam County Museum as part of Donor Appreciation Day. The "Romine Challenge" encouraged people to donate to the museum, with Romine matching the donations. (Courtesy photo)

More than 90 people gathered at the Putnam County Museum to celebrate Donor Appreciation Day (DAD) with food, music and fellowship as Putnam native Malcolm Romine was designated Sagamore of the Wabash.

The Sagamore of the Wabash is the highest distinction awarded by the Governor of Indiana and celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to life in the state. State Rep. James Baird made the presentation on the occasion of the Museum's event. Fellow Museum donor Jinsie Bingham, also a Sagamore of the Wabash, nominated Romine.

"He has been involved in making the community a better place for more than 70 years, and he ain't done yet," she said.

Many donors in attendance at the Museum's Donor Appreciation Day had contributed to the Romine Challenge established in 2012. The challenge was completed in April with a donation from the Andrew E. and Aura (Sawyer) Durham Family Endowment at the Putnam County Community Foundation.

The challenge raised more than $150,000 to be divided between operating funds and the Museum's endowment at the Putnam County Foundation, where Romine is also active.

Chris Wurster, chair of the finance committee, thanked all of the donors, several of which have lent financial support each year since 2002. He thanked them for continuing to build the endowment even during times when just paying the bills was a challenge.

Donors make the museum possible. The Museum's operations are entirely funded through dues, donations, and disbursements from Foundation endowments. The Museum receives no tax dollars, except one thousand a year from the innkeepers' tax revenues administered by the Putnam County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

After getting involved at the Putnam County Museum in 2010, Romine developed the Founding Family series of exhibits which have brought many people from around the country to trace their ancestry. Last year more than 400 people from outside Putnam County signed the guest book, many came to research their ancestry through the Founding Families exhibits.

When Donor Appreciation Day created, Romine was the first of several major donors to ask not to be singled out during the event,

"When news of his Sagamore award arrived, we had no choice but to single him out," Museum Director Kit Newkirk said.

While the Museum is one of Romine's passions, he is also a volunteer and contributor at the Putnam County Community Foundation. He has written and self published six books about the history of Putnam County. His garden was selected to be on the National Hosta Tour and his hosta Rachel won the National Hosta of the Year award in 2007.

Growing up in Putnam County, Romine said that his father set an example with his active support of the Salvation Army and March of Dimes.

"Volunteering and working for worthwhile causes just seemed the thing for me to do," Romine said.