Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter presided over his final city council meeting Wednesday evening after serving the citizens of Plymouth for 16 years.
During the meeting he was surprised as City Attorney Sean Surrisi read a statement from Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb. The governor honored Mayor Senter with a Sagamore of the Wabash.
The Sagamore of the Wabash is an award of the State of Indiana that was created in the 1940s. The term “sagamore” was used by the Algonquian-speaking American Indians to describe a lower chief or a leader among the tribe to whom the true chief would look to for advice and wisdom. The Wabash is the “State River” of Indiana and a major tributary of the Ohio River.
The Sagamore is the highest honor the Governor regularly bestows on individuals, and each Governor issues the award in his own way. Governor Eric Holcomb reserves the Sagamore for those who have gone “above and beyond” and contributed to their communities or to the State in an extraordinary manner. Anyone may make a nomination for the Sagamore, but the Governor issues only a very limited number each year, in his judgment and discretion.
Attorney Surrisi read the statement on the award which said in part, “Mayor Senter has endeared himself to the citizens of Indiana distinguished by his humanity in living, his loyalty in friendship, his wisdom in council and his inspiration and leadership.” The governor bestowed upon Mayor Senter the Sagamore of the Wabash which brought tears to his eyes.
Mayor Mark said, “I did not expect that at all. Thank you so much. Good heavens.”
