WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Braun recognized the upcoming 200th anniversary of the founding of Montgomery County, Indiana, in a letter he submitted to the Congressional Record. He did so to acknowledge the unique contributions that the county has contributed to both the state of Indiana, and the rest of the nation.
The letter reads in part:
“This December, Montgomery County celebrates the bicentennial of its foundation. Montgomery County is a place one could characterize as quintessentially “Indiana:” the mellow bends of Sugar Creek crossed with covered bridges; the buzzing hometown feel of Crawfordsville; and the ambitious energy of Wabash college; all hallmarks of Indiana that make my state such a wonderful place to live.”
Senator Braun’s alma mater, Wabash College, resides in Crawfordsville, to which the Senator pays tribute. The rest of the letter pays homage to the other all-American trademarks that make Montgomery County so special.
You can read the letter in its entirety here or below
BICENTENNIAL OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Mr. BRAUN. Mr./Madam President, I rise today to recognize the two-hundredth anniversary of the founding of Montgomery County, Indiana, and the unique contributions that the Montgomery County community has made to the United States.
This December, Montgomery County celebrates the bicentennial of its foundation. Montgomery County is a place one could characterize as quintessentially “Indiana:” the mellow bends of Sugar Creek crossed with covered bridges; the buzzing hometown feel of Crawfordsville; and the ambitious energy of Wabash college; all hallmarks of Indiana that make my state such a wonderful place to live. Over two centuries, this county has steadily grown from a handful of log cabins into a historic community, contributing greatly to American history and culture.
Consider, for instance, Lew Wallace, a highly accomplished citizen who spent much of his life in Crawfordsville. Wallace left his career as a lawyer to fight for the Union in the Civil War, rising to the rank of general. Later, he served as governor of the territory of New Mexico. After completing his service to the United States and returning to Crawfordsville, Wallace published his highly acclaimed and influential novel, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. It soon became the bestselling novel of the nineteenth century, and is still adapted for stage and film today.
Now, I could not commemorate Montgomery Country without mentioning its important role in the story of Indiana’s favorite sport, basketball. Indeed, according to many historical sources, Montgomery County served as the launch pad for the sport of basketball in Indiana. The first Indiana High School Athletic Association basketball championship was won by Crawfordsville High School in 1911, and the following eight Indiana high school basketball champions were located within thirty miles of Montgomery County. Piggy Lambert, one highly influential basketball coach from Purdue University, played basketball at Crawfordsville High School and Wabash College. Even scenes from the legendary movie Hoosiers were filmed in New Richmond, cementing Indiana’s relationship with basketball in American culture.
Finally, I want to address Wabash College, my alma mater. The time that I spent at Wabash College impressed upon me the qualities that make Montgomery County not only special, but representative of Indiana. Founded in 1832, on what was then our Nation’s western frontier, Wabash College has produced thousands of influential graduates across many fields. As president of the student body at Wabash College, I had plenty of experience to prepare me for my careers in business and public service.
Mr./Madam President, in closing, I am delighted to honor Montgomery County, and I want to congratulate the communities of Montgomery County for two hundred years of meaningful contributions to American history and culture. Thank you.
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