Yoder, Pierce award Circle of Corydon posthumously to Andy Mahler

Tomorrow, Oct. 3, Andy Mahler will receive the Governor's Circle of Corydon award posthumously. Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington) and State Rep. Matt Pierce (D-Bloomington) nominated Mahler for the award. Senator Yoder will present the award to his wife, Linda Lee, at the Heartwood Reunion, which celebrates the founding of the grassroots movement to protect the public forests of the central hardwood region of the North American continent.

Mahler was an activist, poet, musician, and builder who dedicated over 40 years of his life to Indiana’s outdoors. A Bloomington native, he founded multiple organizations centered on conservation, including Protect Our Woods, which saved the Hoosier National Forest from being clear-cut in the 1980s. Mahler passed away peacefully on Aug. 30 at his home in Paoli.

“Andy Mahler was a strategic and relentless advocate for Indiana’s natural resources,” said Yoder. “He understood that environmental stewardship is not just about preserving landscapes but about shaping the values that define a state. His work helped build durable protections, strengthen local communities and ensure that our shared environment is managed with both care and foresight. His legacy lives on in the forests he defended, the policies he shaped and the generations he inspired to lead with principle. I extend my heartfelt wishes to those who loved him and hope they find comfort in knowing his life’s work will continue to guide Indiana’s path forward.”

“Andy Mahler's legacy will live on in countless future generations who will enjoy the forests he dedicated his life to protecting," said Pierce. “From preserving the Hoosier National Forest to creating multiple advocacy organizations, he inspired so many people to join a movement that demonstrated the tremendous power of people working together for a common cause.” 

Mahler’s obituary can be found here.