Indy attorneys Thompson, Clark selected to receive civic award

Two Indianapolis attorneys will soon receive a local civic award for their efforts to bring together the public and private sectors for civic improvement in the city.

The Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee and Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett announced Friday that attorneys Milt Thompson and Murray Clark would receive the Charles L. Whistler award, named after a Baker & Daniels senior partner who gave his time and abilities to the Indianapolis community.

Two awards are being given instead of one due to the pandemic-related cancellation of the Whistler Award celebration in 2020. Thompson was selected to receive the award last year, while Clark was selected to receive the 2021 award.

“Milt Thompson and Murray Clark, both lawyers but with very different careers, have each worked to create an Indianapolis where everyone can not just survive but thrive,” said Mary Chandler, GIPC board chair.

Milt Thompson, an attorney and of counsel at Bleeke Dillon Crandall, also serves as a sports agent and has a long career of advising businesses, sports teams and athletes, and not-for-profit organizations.

Thompson is a community volunteer and is active with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the Central Indiana Community Foundation. His civic work includes serving on the Capital Improvement Board, Tourism Tomorrow for Visit Indy, Crown Hill Heritage Foundation, General Counsel to the Pan American Games, and the Indiana Sports Corp.

Murray Clark, a partner at Faegre Drinker Biddle and Reath, also served as a former Indiana state senator and is an experienced navigator of government and administrative law.

Clark in private practice provides strategic legal and governmental affairs counsel to help clients achieve their goals. Clark serves on the Riley Foundation, Indianapolis Foundation, Central Indiana Community Foundation, and the Hundred Club.

He also serves on the board of the Indiana Soccer Association, Indy Eleven Foundation, and College Football Playoff Championships Indy Host Committee.

“For nearly four decades, the Whistler Award has given us a way to recognize influential civic minds in Indianapolis,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “Milt and Murray will make great additions to the venerable list of past awardees. For years, they have worked tirelessly in the public and private realms to help Indianapolis become a city that serves all and where anyone can prosper.”

Hogsett will present the award at a breakfast ceremony on Dec. 2 at Ivy Tech Community College Culinary & Conference Center.

More information about attending the event can be found online. www.indygipc.org.