Don Gephart says he has “no clue” what he will do with the $1,000 he will receive for having his design chosen for a City of Decatur flag.
“But to me it wasn’t about the money, although that is nice,” explained the man. “I just wanted to give the city an option they would like and I would be proud of.”
On Tuesday, the city council approved a resolution to accept the design for the city flag.
“It’s been a process, for sure,” said Councilwoman Jenny Bowers-Shultz, who proposed the idea more than a year ago.
She expressed gratitude to the people who submitted more than 50 design entries in a contest to determine the winner. Gephart’s design, she claimed, was unanimously chosen by the public.
Mayor Dan Rickard thanked Gephart, who was out of town and couldn’t attend the meeting, “for such a fine design.”
PEACE: Gephart, a Decatur native and Bellmont High School graduate from 1995, told WZBD.com that he wanted the flag to have meaning. I have always believed that design must serve a purpose. I quickly decided on a concept based on peace.”
“It was significant to Stephen Decatur, whose motto was ‘In Pursuit of Peace’. Tying to the Peace Monument was a good idea because our leaders at the time understood the importance of peace. It will be enjoyable to see it fly around the city.”
Gephart stated that the Peace Monument on Decatur’s courthouse square was the nation’s first dedicated to peace.
He thanked the committee that chose his design – over 50 entries were narrowed down to three finalists – and stated, “It means the world to contribute something lasting to the place I’m proud to call home.”
Gephart estimated that he had spent 20-30 hours working on the design, including research and concepts.
He has a graphic design degree and is currently the marketing manager at LiquidSpring, a Lafayette-based company.
Don and his wife, Melissa, live in Monroe and have a son, Peyton.
MEANING: This is how he describes the flag.
“The flag design for the City of Decatur reflects a deep respect for tradition, a commitment to peace, and a forward-thinking vision based on civic pride.
“At the center of the design is a large star, which represents Decatur, the county seat and largest city in Adams County.” The star is surrounded by olive branches, representing Stephen Decatur’s legacy and the USS Decatur’s motto, ‘In Pursuit of Peace.’ These branches also mention the Peace Monument near the county courthouse, which symbolizes Decatur’s longstanding commitment to harmony and honor.
“Flanking the central star are three horizontal stripes, which represent the three U.S. highways that connect Decatur to the state and nation–a visual reminder of the city’s strategic importance and regional connectivity.
“Color also plays an important role in communicating meaning. Gold is drawn directly from the Indiana state flag, connecting Decatur to its roots while evoking excellence, prosperity, and honor. Blue represents loyalty, stability, and tradition, whereas white represents peace and a promising future.
“This flag design is a proud, enduring banner worthy of the City of Decatur and the values it stands for.”
