This, apparently, is a significant accolade, and was given to Michael Dunn, founding dean of the Indiana University School of Informatics by state governor Mitch Daniels
"Michael Dunn has distinguished himself by his humanity in living, his loyalty in friendship, his wisdom in council and his inspiration in leadership," IU President-elect Michael McRobbie said in reading from the award.
Presentation of the Sagamore capped a series of events that day honouring Dunn's career as an academician and researcher at IU.
Dunn will retire on 30 June 2007 as university dean of the IU School of Informatics.
Dunn came to IU in 1969 to teach philosophy and rose through the ranks at the College of Arts and Sciences to become its executive associate dean.
He is credited with building the School of Informatics - the first of its kind in the USA - into an internationally recognized education and research center in information technology.
The Sagamore of the Wabash award was created during the term of governor Ralph Gates, who served from 1945 to 1949.
It is a personal tribute usually given to those who have rendered a distinguished service to the state or to the governor.
The term 'sagamore' was used by the American Indian tribes of the northeastern United States to describe a lesser chief or a great man among the tribe to whom the true chief would look for wisdom and advice.
