STATEHOUSE (Dec. 27, 2022) – State Rep. Michael Aylesworth (R-Hebron) recently presented a Sagamore of the Wabash award to former State Sen. Dennis Neary for his longstanding devotion to serving Hoosiers.
Neary was first elected to the Indiana Senate in 1976 and became Democratic caucus chairman in 1980. He rose to the top Democratic leadership position in the Senate in 1988 and decided to retire to devote more time to his family in 1992. During his time as a lawmaker, Neary worked to improve education and human services issues for Hoosiers throughout the state.
Aylesworth said Neary was instrumental in forming the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, which helped subsidize service and keep the South Shore Line open across the Region.
"Dennis dedicated a large part of his life to serving the state and he provided a cherished voice to the constituents in all of the communities he represented," Aylesworth said. "I'm happy to call him a friend and have enjoyed getting to know him through the years. It's truly a great honor to have the opportunity to present him with Indiana's top award."
According to Aylesworth, Neary is a native of La Porte and was an elementary school teacher for 24 years at Long Beach Elementary School. He also worked as director of legislative affairs for the Indiana Health Care Association for over 15 years.
"It's a real honor to be selected for this prestigious award because many people seek it, but very few are able to get it," Neary said. "It feels good to get recognized for working hard because in my opinion that's what legislators should be doing for their communities."
Dating back to the 1940s, the Sagamore of the Wabash award was created by former Gov. Ralph Gates. It is the highest honor the governor can bestow and is presented to distinguished Hoosiers who have made significant contributions to the state of Indiana.
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State Rep. Michael Aylesworth (R-Hebron) represents House District 11,
which includes portions of Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
PHOTO CAPTION: State Rep. Michael Aylesworth (R-Hebron) (left) presents a Sagamore of the Wabash award to former State Sen. Dennis Neary (right), in the House Chamber at the Indiana Statehouse on Dec. 21, 2022. Neary served as a state senator from 1976-1992 and worked as the director of legislative affairs for the Indiana Health Care Association from 2005 to 2021.
