Representative Pressel Presents Sagamore to Local Community Leader

Representative Pressel Presents Sagamore to Local Community Leader

State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie) recently presented a Sagamore of the Wabash award to M. Gene Neff for his longstanding efforts to promote traffic safety.

“Gene has dedicated his life to helping others and played an important role in making our community and state a safer place,” Pressel said. “Gene saw a problem, developed a solution and shared it with the world, and it was with great pleasure that I was able to present him with this award.”

According to Pressel, Neff is a former Indiana State Police lieutenant who worked with Gary Ernst of the Michigan State Police force to form Operation C.A.R.E., which is an interstate collaborative effort to reduce the number of highway fatalities and promote safe driving habits. Since being established in 1977, Operation C.A.R.E. is one of the nation’s longest-running traffic safety initiatives.

Dating back to the mid-1940s, the Sagamore award is the highest honor the governor can bestow and is presented to Hoosiers who have rendered distinguished service to the state, contributing greatly to Indiana’s rich history.