INDIANAPOLIS (June 9, 2006) ? A portrait of Mark C. Honeywell is the newest addition to the Hoosier Heritage Portrait Collection that adorns the south wall of the Governor?s Office.

Honeywell, a Wabash native, was a pioneer in bringing heating systems to American homes and founder of a company known today as Honeywell, Inc. He was also a noted philanthropist who donated generously to projects and organizations in Wabash County.

In January, 2005, the governor designated the south wall of the governor?s office as a place for portraits of historically important Hoosiers ? a change in the longstanding tradition of hanging portraits solely of former governors. The portraits, which are loaned to the state, will continue to be updated periodically.

This portrait, painted by F.C. von Hausen, is on loan from the Honeywell Center in Wabash. It replaces a portrait of General Lew Wallace of Crawfordsville.

Biography of Mark C. Honeywell
Mark C. Honeywell was born in Wabash in 1874. He spent his childhood in Wabash and in Florida, and graduated from Eastman Business College in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1891. In 1905 he installed what was thought to be the first hot water heating system in America. His business, M.C. Honeywell Heating and Sanitary Work, became Honeywell Heating Specialties Company. By 1906 the company was making thermostats and automatic controls for heating systems, and by 1927, company sales were more than $1.5 million and the company employed 450 people. Today, Honeywell Inc. is a multi-national company with 93,000 employees. In 1939 Mark Honeywell made a commitment to build the Honeywell Memorial Community Center, dedicated to his late wife and to his parents. He established The Honeywell Foundation, Inc. in 1941 to operate the Center. The Center reflects Mr. Honeywell?s belief that many children were ?growing up in a different environment? and needed the help of organized programs. Today, the Center offers a wide range of events that bring cultural activities to the residents of Wabash and surrounding areas. The Center also provides facilities to accommodate special community events.