By Jason Wille, IHSAA Sports Information Director

INDIANA -- The presentation of a mental attitude award following a state championship event is a long-running, cherished tradition in Indiana high school sports.

For decades, the first honor given during a post-game awards ceremony is announced by a member of the IHSAA Executive Committee, now via wireless microphone.

A senior student-athlete participating in the state finals, nominated by his or her principal and coach, is selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee for demonstrating excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability during their high school career. After the name is read, his or her parents are invited to join them in the presentation, oftentimes in front of thousands of spectators. That student is then presented a plaque made of walnut in the shape of the state of Indiana and - depending on the sport - a $1,000 scholarship from one of the IHSAA’s presenting sponsors - Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers, or Indiana Fever.


During the awards presentation, a member of the IHSAA Executive Committee announces the name of the mental attitude award recipient. | Double Edge Media @demllc

Many long-time Indiana high school basketball fans are familiar with the Trester Award, named for Arthur L. Trester, the first commissioner of the IHSAA who served from 1922 until his passing in 1943. He designed Indiana’s famous boys basketball tournament which rose to national prominence under his leadership. His name was attached to the award beginning in 1945 as the United States and its allies were about to win WWII.

But the award dates back even further. The year 1916 to be exact.

That’s when Jacob (Jake) Gimbel, a Vincennes businessman and philanthropist approached the IHSAA Board of Control with his idea.



Born in 1876, Gimbel was the nephew of Adam Gimbel, a Bavarian immigrant, who settled in Vincennes in 1842 and established a trading post that over decades grew into the famous Gimbel Department Store, a family business with the help of his seven sons, his brothers and neices and nephews. Over time, the department store expanded and eventually grew into a retail empire and a rival of Macy’s with stores in New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee. Family members learned every aspect of running the business from wrapping parcels to employing help.

Gimbel’s father Seleman (Solomon) Gimbel owned several businesses at the same time, and, for his part, Jacob took over the store located at Second and Main streets in Vincennes following the death of his mother, Mary.

Early in adulthood, Gimbel became interested in philanthropies. Hundreds of boys from poor families in Vincennes were encouraged to save their pennies and nickels and open savings accounts with the local bank. Gimbel promised and delivered that for every first dollar they saved, he would match with another dollar.

He also became well known for assisting many young men in financing their college educations, some of whom went on to become prominent citizens.

The late Curtis G. Shake was one such citizen. After earning his degree from Vincennes University, Shake decided to attend Indiana University to study law. Gimbel paid for his schooling asking for nothing in return other than for Shake to help another student in a similar manner in the future if he had the means. Shake graduated in 1910.

Shake would “pay it forward” by serving 52 years as a Vincennes University trustee, held the position of Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court three times, and also was a presiding civilian judge during the Nuremberg Trials for war crimes following WWII. The Shake Library on the Vincennes campus is named in his honor.

It has been written that Gimbel “conceived the idea of a mental attitude award in the days when Vincennes annually was producing state championship contenders and was riding a crest of hardwood power.”

“ln 1916, Gimbel presented to the IHSAA Board of Control a proposal to give a cash prize and medal each year at the State Basketball tourney to the boy among the teams represented that showed the best mental attitude throughout the tourney. Mr. Gimbel did not have in mind the quality of the playing of any boy on any team but did have in mind the qualities that belong to a real gentleman. He clearly recognized the mental and moral strain under which the players play during the tourney, and he also recognized the numerous opportunities for the players to lose control of themselves and to do something not conducive to true sportsmanship.”

The IHSAA Board of Control meeting on November 17, 1916, included this item in its minutes:

“A proposition presented by Mr. Jake Gimbel of Vincennes, to give a cash prize and a medal to the member of one of the teams at the Final Basketball Tourney who showed the best mental attitude during the tourney, was accepted.”

Another IHSAA Board of Control meeting from later years included this item in its minutes:

The following points were mentioned by the donor of the Gimbel Prize for Mental Attitude when it was first given:

- The winner may be the weakest player on the weakest team in the tourney.
- Poise and calmness in play under any and all conditions.
- Ready acceptance of decisions of officials.
- Attitude toward members of team, opponents, and officials.
- Attitude and conduct as observed on floor, in dressing room, on street, in hotels, etc.
- Briefly, the qualities that go to make a real gentleman are the ones in the mind of the donor.

The first Gimbel Prize was awarded to Claude Curtis of Martinsville High School (photo below), which had lost to eventual state champion Lebanon in the semifinals.



The Gimbel Prize became the highest individual honor the IHSAA presented every year, and each recipient earned a place of honor in Indiana basketball history. Gimbel either presented the award in person or corresponded with the honoree by hand-written letter every year through 1942, before passing away of a heart attack, just weeks before the 1943 state tournament. Gimbel had lived out his later years in Santa Monica, CA until his death on January 28, 1943, at the age of 66.

Beginning in 1945, and following the death of Arthur Trester, the IHSAA Board opted to rename the award in his honor. The Board directed new Commissioner L.V. Phillips to inform Los Angeles attorneys for the Jake Gimbel estate that the IHSAA was waiving all claims to a sum which was provided in the estate for the Gimbel Prize.


The Gimbel Medal presented to Kenneth Brown, Jr. of Muncie Burris in 1942.

Out of Gimbel’s first presentation in 1917, many schools began presenting their own similar awards to recognize the best and brightest student-athletes in their communities.

During the 1960s, mental attitude awards were presented for the first time in sports other than boys basketball. In 1962, a boys track and field recipient was announced. In 1964, it was boys wrestling, and in 1968, baseball was added. And in the 1970s, even more young people were honored with the advent of girls sports.

Today, the Mental Attitude Awards, several of which carry the names of former commissioners, assistant commissioners, and others who devoted many years to high school sports, is awarded to 50 Hoosier student-athletes in all 24 sports every school year.

He never married and had no children but Jacob Gimbel’s idea, along with his generosity and benevolence began a legacy that endures to this day and has become a unique tradition in Indiana high school athletics.


To this day, IHSAA Mental Attitude Awards are presented to 50 Hoosier student-athletes in all 24 sports every school year. Photo credit: Double Edge Media | @demllc

Blomfield Cardinal Blake Neill

BLOOMFIELD, Ind.-- One of the most coveted individual honors a player can win is the scoring title for the state of Indiana. This year's title belongs to Bloomfield's Blake Neill. Check out all scoring champions from years past...

Gods come pretty cheap nowadays, don't they? I mean, you become one by putting a leather ball through an iron hoop. And I hate to tell you this, Mr. Dale, but it's only a game.

Maybe Myra Fleener was right, but gods they were to all those that watched or wrote about them.

Note: Below is the best I have been able to track down for each year. Of all the great lists and collections, this is one that seems to have been surprisingly left out by historians over the years. It is entirely possible that another player may have bested one of these marks, but obviously you have to start somewhere.

If you can offer an addition or correction, please email me at HickoryHuskeratyahoodotcom
As always, Indiana basketball will be better for your contribution!

State Scoring Champions By Year

2026 Blake Neill - Bloomfield Cardinal 28.2
2025 Braylon Mullins - Greenfield-Central Cougar 33.0
2024 Josiah Ball - Maconaquah Brave 30.3
2023 Markus Burton - Penn Kingsman 30.2
2022 Hunter Johnsons - South Decatur Cougar 31.9
2021 Jalen Blackmon - Marion Giant 33.5
2020 Luke Brown - Blackford Bruin 32.3
2019 Luke Brown - Blackford Bruin 35.0
2018 Jalen Moore - Cloverdale Clover 36.8
2017 Romeo Langford - New Albany Bulldog 28.7
2016 Eugene German - 21st Century Cougar 33.5
2015 Eugene German - 21st Century Cougar 32.0
2014 Trevon Bluiett - Park Tudor Panther 35.6
2013 James Blackmon Jr. - Luers Knight 33.3
2012 Kellen Dunham - Pendleton Heights Arabian 29.5
2011 Zach Richie - Oregon-Davis Bobcat 36.6
2010 Deshaun Thomas - Luers Knight 31.8
2009 Deshaun Thomas - Luers Knight 31.7
2008 Tyler Zeller - Washington Hatchet 33.2
2007 Eric Gordon - North Central Panther 29.1
2006 Grayson Flittner - Tri-Central Trojan 29.1
2005 Dominic James - Richmond Red Devil 31.1
2004 George Hill - Broad Ripple Rocket 36.2
2003 Todd Schafer- Wheeler Bearcat 30.3
2002 Kevin Jones- Morton Memorial Tiger 37.0
2001 Seth Colclasure- Bellmont Brave 29.4
2000 Brody Boyd- Union Dugger Bulldog 32.3
1999 Brody Boyd- Union Dugger Bulldog 31.4
1998 Brian Wray- Plymouth Pilgrim 27.1
1997 Jared Odle- Oak Hill Golden Eagle 29.4
1996 Michael Lewis- Jasper Wildcat 31.6
1995 Justin Farley- Brebeuf Brave 28.6
1994 Michael Smith- Indiana Deaf Hoosier 37.6
1993 Toby Madison- Washington Catholic Cardinal 29.9
1992 Brady Adkins- Morristown Yellow Jacket 33.5
1991 Brady Adkins- Morristown Yellow Jacket 36.6
1990 Noah Haynes- Frontier Falcon 33.8
1989 Pat Graham- Floyd Central Highlander 32.0
1988 Woody Austin- Richmond Red Devil 33.3
1987 Kory Fernung- Tri-Central Trojan 31.9
1986 Kirk Manns- North Judson Blue Jay 34.2
1985 Kirk Manns- North Judson Blue Jay 33.0
1984 Troy Lewis- Anderson Indian 35.3
1983 Steve Alford- New Castle Trojan 37.1
1982 Steve Hendershot- Morgan Twp. Cherokee 29.9
1981 Dan Palombizio- Michigan City Rogers Raider 31.8
1980 Troy Neely- Jimtown Jimmie 28.1
1979 Chuck Franz- Clarksville General 32.8
1978 Steve Reish- Union City Indian 27.3
1977 Dan Roberts- Brown County Eagle 33.1
1976 Paul Nicley- Western Boone Star 27.9
1975 Rusty Miller- Switz City Tiger 38.9
1974 Kyle Macy- Peru Tiger 35.8
1973 Pat Manahan - Delphi Oracle 34.9
1972 Ray Bulatovich - Merrillville Pirate 36.2
1971 Rick McCoskey -Hamilton Hts. Husky 34.6
1970 Dave Shepherd- Carmel Greyhound 37.2
1969 Mike Edwards- Greenfield Tiger 36.4
1968 Greg Link -Jackson Twp. Panther 28.3
1967 Billy Shepherd -Carmel Greyhound 31.9
1966 Charlie McKenzie- Claypool Knight 33.7
1965 Rick Mount - Lebanon Tiger 33.1
1964 Terry Smith -Richland Twp. Red Devil 31.5
1963 Gene Milner -Rossville Hornet 31.0
1962 Dave Schellhase- Evansville North Huskie 30.5
1961 Marion Pierce- Lewisville Bear 36.0
1960 Marion Pierce- Lewisville Bear 36.4
1959 Marion Pierce- Lewisville Bear 34.6
1958 Jerry Bass - Morristown Yellow Jacket 30.7
1957 Phil Wills- Grass Creek Panther 42.4
1956 Bob Wilkinson - LaPorte Slicer 28.1
1955 Bill Greve - Waveland Hornet 30.4
1954 Bob Roberson - Birdseye Yellowjacket 32.4
1953 Dick Neal - Reelsville Indian 29.5
1952 Richie Moore - New Harmony Rappite 26.2
1951 Don Schlundt - Washington-Clay Colonial 28.5
1950 Keith (Bud) Stackhouse - Bourbon Comet 25.0, Lefty Jukes - Rosedale Hotshot 25.0
1949 Dee Monroe - Madison Cub 20.7
1948 Clyde Lovellette - TH Garfield Purple Eagle 21.2
1947 Bill Garrett - Shelbyville Golden Bear 18.2
1946 (Jumpin) Johnny Wilson - Anderson Indian 18.95
1945 Keith Monk - Henryville Hornet 20.0
1944 Charles McMillan - New Castle Trojan 27.4
1943 Pete Negley - Lawrence Central Bear 12.0
1942 Don Ritter - Aurora Red Devil 15.5
1941 Carl (Hump) Campbell - Kokomo Wildkat 13.7
1940 Mulford (Muff) Davis - Elwood Panther 15.1
1939 Charles (Splinter) Johnson - Frankfort Hotdog 11.5
1938 Johnny Boyd - Columbus Bulldog 12.8
1937 Forest (Jake) Weber - Plainfield Quaker 16.2
1936 Forest (Jake) Weber - Plainfield Quaker 17.6
1935 Forest (Jake) Weber - Plainfield Quaker 13.8
1934 Robert Massie - Boston Terrier 12.6
1933 Leroy Edwards - Indy Tech Titan 14.7
1932 Leroy Edwards - Indy Tech Titan 9.6
1931 Glenn Hodson - Yorktown Tiger 11.4
1930 John Lamb - Oakland City Acorn 13.1
1929 Lloyd (Bunk) Williams - Goshen Redskin 13.6
1928 Lloyd (Bunk) Williams - Goshen Redskin 15.0
1927 Franklin (Tack) Prentice - Kendallville Comet 14.9
1926 Vic Gibbens - Clay City Eel 18.8
1925 Wilbur Cummins - Frankfort Hotdog 15.7
1924 Wilbur Cummins - Frankfort Hotdog 17.8
1923 Bennie Devol - Lebanon Tiger 15.9
1922 Robert (Fuzzy) Vandivier - Franklin Grizzly Cub 16.9
1921 Roy Burris - Washington Hatchet 20.1
1920
1919
1918
1917
1916 Don Tillson - Lafayette Broncho 13.5
1915 Alfred Smith - Thorntown Kewasakee 24.2
1914 Herman (Suz) Sayger - Culver Indian 40.1
1913
1912
1911
1910

Possibles to research:

Karl “Knobby” Dickerson (Crawfordsville 1925) with 1,020 points
Matt Joris (Muncie Central 1927) with 1,077 points
Elton Christensen (San Pierre 1927) with 1,031 points

INDIANA -- A nationwide coal miners strike in 1946 had far-reaching implications. Activities around the country ground to a halt, and a coal-reliant Indiana was hit especially hard. Virtually all public gatherings nationwide were banned in an attempt to conserve energy. Virtually all.. Except high school basketball in Indiana.

The post-war coal miners strike of 1946 resulted in ground breaking changes for workers including higher wages, a five day work week, medical benefits, and pensions. However, in the short term, it was hell on Indiana communities. Still, these snapshots of newspaper accounts attest that Hoosiers had their priorities.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. Dec. 6 (U.P.) -- South Benders took in a last movie, said goodbye to their favorite bartender, took their last book out of the public library and prepared to sit out the blackout on non-essential activities. South Bend and Mishawaka high school basketball games will be played tomorrow night.

UNION CITY, Ind. -- National shortages of many staple products including paper continue to be aggravated by the crushing coal shortage. Nearly all aspects of daily life have been impacted. Winchester freshman defeat Union City, 32-27. It is the plan to continue freshmen games with other schools in order to give the first-year boys experience.


Union City "Kittens" Freshmen Team circa 1946

LOGANSPORT, Ind. -- All night activities except high school basketball in Logansport schools were banned tonight by Carl Zimmerman, city school superintendent. He said the action was required by the coal shortage.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Ramifications of the coal strike commanded more attention today in Indiana high school basketball than what happened in top games Friday night. All of the top state's prep fives got through Friday night's card without a cancellation, but the coal shortage forced some schools to play in unheated gyms.

ELKHART, Ind. -- A major northern Indiana industrial city is now under an emergency order. Elkhart has ordered all public gatherings cancelled and "froze" coal supplies at midnight. Elkhart's Blue Blazers will travel to Warsaw Friday night for their annual grudge match.


Elkhart Blue Blazer in action vs. FW North Redskins during December 1946

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Virgil Stinebaugh, superintendent of Indianapolis schools, tonight ordered all night activities in school building cancelled because of coal shortage. The ban went into effect immediately on everything but high school basketball games. Stinebaugh said the order was necessary if essential school functions were to be maintained until the Christmas holidays begin December 20.

SUMMITVILLE, Ind. -- Massive shortages of iron and other materials now being blamed on the coal strike. Resources of every variety have been affected. The annual basketball tournament at Summitville is one of the outstanding basketball meets of the year and attracts a capacity attendance at all games. The first game will be played at 7 o'clock, with Fairmount and Gaston meeting, and this game will be followed by the Sweetser-Goblins game at 8:15 o'clock.

MUNCIE, Ind. -- Seven Delaware County games carded despite shortage of coal as the sector teams wind up one of the busiest weeks on the winter's schedule. The current coal shortage resulted in the closing of the Dunkirk schools. The Speedcats home games have been moved to Royerton.

HAMMOND, Ind. -- How much electric power does the Hammond Civic Center use during the three hours necessary for a basketball double-header? Will all those 5000 plus fans who attend tonight's Tigers-Wildcats game leave all the home lights burning while they're away? If as many as a thousand homes turn off a floor lamp or two while the occupants are at the Civic Center, we're actually saving, not wasting, electricity.

MARTINSVILLE, Ind. -- Indiana Red Cross is preparing to house coal-bereft families in public buildings and hospitals. Meanwhile Evansville officials are predicting an industrial blackout within the next few days. An inter-county tilt will be staged at Eminence tomorrow night as the Paragon Panthers invade the goalery of the Eels.


Paragon Panthers circa 1946