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The Indiana Historical Society has named five Hoosiers to its list of Living Legends and three of them are graduates of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. They are Dennis E. Bland, Ben Lytle, and Melissa Proffitt.

Bland, J.D. ’92, is president of the Center for Leadership Development, an Indianapolis nonprofit dedicated to empowering African American youth for academic and career success. Bland received the Distinguished Alumni Award from IU McKinney in 2004 and was honored by the law school and Equal Justice Works in 2013 during the Public Interest Recognition Dinner.

Lytle, J.D. ’80, is an entrepreneur who has launched five successful companies, the best known of which is Anthem. He is a healthcare policy expert who has served on state and presidential healthcare commissions. He also is an author who published “The Potential[ist], Your Future Life and Career in a New Reality” in fall 2022.

Proffitt, J.D. ’85, is partner-in-charge of client relations at Indianapolis-based law firm Ice Miller, where she also is the founder and chair of the food and agribusiness group and founder of the energy group. She currently serves on the boards of the Indiana University Women’s Philanthropy Leadership Council, Indiana University Foundation, IUPUI Vision 2024 “Dream Team,” Indiana Sports Corp, and the Indianapolis Dean’s Council for the Kelley School of Business, among many others.

The honorees will be celebrated at a gala on August 24 at the Indiana History Center.