From left: Indiana State Police Superintendent and LaPorte County native Doug Carter, State Rep. Jim Pressel, Gene Neff and his wife Gloria. (Photo provided)
State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie), on behalf of Gov. Eric Holcomb, has awarded M. Gene Neff of Rolling Prairie as a Sagamore of the Wabash. The title, the highest honor the governor of Indiana can bestow, is presented to Hoosiers who have rendered distinguished service to the state.
Neff, a former state police lieutenant, was awarded 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.”
Neff worked with Gary Ernst of the Michigan State Police to form Operation C.A.R.E., 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.
Pressel presented Neff with the award at the Purdue Northwest campus in Westville.