Indiana Historical Society awards Dan McCain received the Eli Lilly Lifetime Achievement Award, and Phyllis Moore received the Willard C. Heiss Family History/Genealogy Award at the Indiana Historical Society Founders Day Dinner Monday night in Indianapolis. Photo provided Two Carroll County residents were presented awards from the Indiana Historical Society at its annual Founders Day Dinner Monday night.

Dan McCain of Delphi received the Eli Lilly Lifetime Achievement Award, and Phyllis J. Moore of Delphi received the Willard C. Heiss Family History/Genealogy Award.

The presentations were made at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, located at 450 W. Ohio Street in downtown Indianapolis.

The Eli Lilly Lifetime Achievement Award is bestowed upon an individual who has made extraordinary contributions over an extended period of time to the field of history and/or the affairs of the Indiana Historical Society.

Dan McCain had a 34-year career with the USDA Soil Conservation Service (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service), during which time he had national and international speaking engagements, and hosted foreign diplomats as they toured the United States. Upon retirement in 1994, he set about devoting his time to two of his loves - Wabash and Erie Canal history and his small farm beside the canal.

McCain was instrumental in coordinating the development of Delphi Historic Trails, Canal Park, and the Wabash and Erie Canal Conference and Interpretive Center - leading a $3 million fundraising campaign to make the latter a reality. His role as president of the Carroll County Wabash and Erie Canal Association currently has him spearheading an effort to add a replica canal boat, warehouse, and dock to the reconstructed portion of the canal in Delphi.

He heads an association that makes canal history come alive through various indoor and outdoor exhibits and through special events such as Canal Days in July and the Old Fashioned Christmas at the Canal.

McCain is a graduate of Delphi High School and Purdue University. He was born and now lives in a home built on land purchased in 1857 by his ancestors. It sits just six blocks from Canal Park.

The Willard C. Heiss Family History/Genealogy Award is given to a family historian for his or her distinguished service and career in Indiana family history and genealogical research.

Phyllis Moore has been curator of the Carroll County Historical Museum since 1967. During her tenure, the museum has made many extraordinary contributions to the community, including: the creation of a genealogy library; a relocation/ expansion that grew the museum to 10 times its original size; the implementation of automation to the museum's record keeping and identification; and the digitization of 16,500 images (almost half of the museum's photographic collection), all of which are available through the museum's Web site.

Moore is an active member of many organizations, including the Indiana Historical Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, Colonial Dames, Daughters of Colonial Wars, Indiana Canal Society, New England Women, Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, Continental Society of Indian Wars, Delphi American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, Gamma Gamma Nu, National Society of Dames of Court of Honor, Delphi Business Women, Wabash and Erie Canal Inc., New England Historical and Genealogy Society, and Piscataqua Pioneers.

Since 1830, the Indiana Historical Society has been Indiana's Storyteller™, connecting people to the past by collecting, preserving, interpreting, and disseminating the state's history.

More information on the IHS is available at www.in dianahistory.org.