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Wilson headlines group of local torchbearers for bicentennial relay
Fresh off three state top 10 finishes in her freshman year at Greencastle High School, runner Emma Wilson has been named one of 21 local torchbearers when the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay comes to Putnam County.
The relay, which crisscrosses the state from Sept. 9 through Oct. 15, will come to Putnam County on Thursday, Sept. 22.
Among a number of elected officials, community leaders and other athletes, Wilson stands out not only as the youngest torchbearer but also for her recent accomplishments.
Wilson finished eighth in the state in cross country in the fall, followed by a pair of sixth-place finishes in the 1,600 and 3,200 in the track state finals.
The local organizing committee for the relay revealed the order of the torchbearers through the county.
Runner Lee Stewart will take the torch at the Clay County line on U.S. 40 in Washington Tonwship.
From there, the torch will pass to Jane Best, Rebecka Howard, Ruth Ralph, Jinsie Bingham, Jim "Figgy" Hardwick, a representative of Kappa Alpha Theta women's fraternity, Sue Murray, Darrel Thomas, Jim Baird, Emma Wilson, Darrel Bunten, Beth Tharp, Mark Hammer, Dan Holmes, Clint Maddox, Dan Noel and Darrel Wiatt.
The final torchbearer for Putnam County will be Malcolm Romine, who will pass the torch to a Hendricks County representative on U.S. 36.
The Kappa Alpha Theta representative will be running in memory of Bettie Locke (Hamilton), one of the first women to attend Indiana Asbury University (now DePauw University) and one of the founders of Kappa Alpha Theta.
In addition to these 18 torchbearers, three others have yet to confirm their participation: Drew Christy, Alan Jones and Darrell Wiatt.
Putnam County received more than 30 nominations for torchbearers and those nominations were vetted by the county torch relay coordinating committee.
"We had more people than we were allowed to choose," local committee chairman Tami VanRensselaer said. "We had to purge it down by about nine."
The state provided a scoring technique for choosing candidates and the six-person county committee leaned heavily on this formula.
"It was the fairest way," VanRensselaer said.
Across the state, the torch will be borne by walkers, runners and bicyclists as well as passengers on vehicles, horseback and other modes of conveyance that are symbolic of the history and heritage of Indiana, including watercraft, farm equipment, race cars, horse and wagon, antique automobiles and others.
The exact method each Putnam County torchbearer will be determined at an upcoming meeting with the local committee.
Part of a 37-day, 3,200-mile journey through all 92 Indiana counties, the torch will be in Putnam County from 5-8 p.m. on Sept. 22.
Along the way, the torch will be carried past the Putnamville Church/Restored Doctor's office, Forest Hill Civil War Monument, DePauw University East College, the Putnam County Courthouse, People Pathways, Heritage Lake Dam and Baker's Camp Covered Bridge, among other scenic and historic spots.
The complete route across Putnam County can be found here.
The complete list of torchbearers from across the state was unveiled Wednesday at the Statehouse. Both Hardwick and Baird, a state representative, were present for the ceremony.
Torchbearers were nominated by the public and selected by local committees on a county-by-county basis. More than 4,000 torchbearer nominations were received. Those selected are Hoosiers who demonstrate exceptional public service, excellence in their profession, acts of heroism or volunteer service to their neighborhood, community, region or state.
In addition to the selected torchbearers, the relay will employ other modes of conveyance that are symbolic of the history and heritage of Indiana, including watercraft, farm equipment, race cars, horse and wagon, antique automobiles and others.