Reads named Sagamores: Herb and Charlotte Read of Westchester Township have been named Sagamores of the Wabash by Gov. Frank O’Bannon. The honor is the highest citizen award the governor can bestow. The award was presented to the Reads by Indiana Department of Environmental Management Commissioner Lori Kaplan (at left).  (Photo provided)

Herb and Charlotte Read

awarded top citizen honor

By VICKI URBANIK

Herb and Charlotte Read thought they were going to the offices of the Save the Dunes Council a week ago today to talk about local environmental issues.

To their complete surprise, they were about to be presented with the top citizen award in the state.

Gov. Frank O’Bannon named the Reads “Sagamores of the Wabash,” the highest citizen honor an Indiana Governor can bestow. The term Sagamore was used by Native Americans to describe someone in the tribe whom the chief would turn to for wisdom and advice.

The Reads, of Westchester Township, are long-time environmentalists who played a key role in the establishment of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and who have continued to work for dunes preservation and other environmental issues.

On hand at the reception to present the award on behalf of O’Bannon was Lori Kaplan, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

In a letter, O’Bannon expressed his appreciation to the Reads “for your commitment to making Indiana a better place to live and raise a family.”

“You have distinguished yourself by your humanity in living, your loyalty in friendship, your wisdom in council and your inspiration in leadership,” the letter says.

Both Reads said the award was a shock.

“I was totally blown away,” Charlotte said.

Herb said he was going over maps at the Barker House, the home of the Save the Dunes Council offices, when more and more people began coming in. “I wasn’t paying any attention to them,” he said, before he realized that a good crowd, including Kaplan, was on hand.

“I was speechless,” Herb said. “For me, that was unusual.”

Herb said it appears that the award was prompted by a Chesterton Tribune article last year about the Reads’ 50th wedding anniversary, which coincided with the Save the Dunes Council’s 50th anniversary. Someone apparently sent the governor’s office the story, he said.

Herb said he isn’t sure, but he believes this is the first time that the Sagamore of the Wabash has been given to a married couple dedicated to the same cause.

He is more certain that this the first time the award was given “to someone who has spent the better part of the last 50 years criticizing Indiana politicians.”

He hastened to add, though, that he isn’t critical of present-day politicians, only ones that used to hold office.

The Reads were given a round of applause at Thursday’s Porter County Park Board meeting in honor of their award.

Posted 2/7/2003