(Michigan City, IN) - The owner of a longtime family-owned business in La Porte County has received one of the state’s highest honors, as Gil Pontius has received from the governor the Sagamore of the Wabash award for his work in the community.

Pontius is president of Lakeshore Foods, which owns the Al’s Supermarkets in La Porte and Michigan City along with Barney’s in New Buffalo. He’s also the son of Al Pontius, who founded what later became a small, local grocery store chain in 1946.

State Senator Mike Bohacek of Michiana Shores presented him with the award earlier this week.