Shelbyville, IN – The City of Shelbyville is proud to announce that the recently completed 25-foot mural of William “Bill” Garrett, located on the east side of Cagney’s building on East Broadway Street, has been nominated for the 2025 Indy Chamber Monumental Awards – People’s Choice Category. Public voting is now open, and community members across Central Indiana are encouraged to cast their vote in support of this historic tribute.
The mural, created by renowned Indianapolis artist and Indiana University alumna Pamela Bliss, stands as a powerful reminder of
Garrett’s legacy as the man who broke the color barrier in Big Ten basketball. In 1950, Garrett became the first African American to regularly play in the Big Ten Conference when he suited up for Indiana University—a moment that changed college athletics and opened doors for countless athletes who followed.
“Bill Garrett’s courage, perseverance, and talent reshaped not just basketball, but the social fabric of the Midwest,” said Jenna Martin, City of Shelbyville Director of Public Relations. “His story is both Shelbyville’s and Indiana’s legacy, and we are honored that this mural is receiving regional recognition.”
The tribute aligns with the 50th anniversary of Garrett’s passing, a fitting moment to honor his role in challenging segregation and paving the way for greater equality in American sports. While Garrett would go on to be drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1951, be recognized as Indiana Mr. Basketball as a player and later as a coach, and later serve as head basketball coach at Crispus Attucks High School—mentoring future legends like Oscar Robertson—his roots remain in Shelbyville, where family still resides today.
The project was made possible through the Blue River Community Foundation’s Pride in Place program, which fosters community identity and placemaking through public art and creative reimagining of shared spaces.
Voting for the Monumental Awards People’s Choice category is open until September 23, 2025. To cast your vote, visit Indy Chamber's Facebook Post and “like” the Bill Garrett mural entry.
“This is more than a mural,” said Scott Furgeson, City of Shelbyville Mayor. “It’s a testament to courage and progress—a story painted in public so that no one forgets the impact of Bill Garrett.”
Learn more about Bill Garret's legacy and the integration of Big Ten Basketball go to Untold Indiana | Indiana Historical Bureau, visit Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, or read Getting Open: The Unknown Story of Bill Garrett and the Integration of College Basketball by Tom Graham and Rachel Graham Cody.
