Howard Samuel “Howdy” Willcox, winner of the 1919 Indianapolis 500, was born in Crawfordsville on June 24, 1889. Drawn to auto racing, he became one of the brightest stars of the new sport, and his talent, charm, and on-track heroics made him a nationwide celebrity. When the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced the first 500 in 1911, the Hoosier native was an early favorite. His achievements at Indianapolis became part of Speedway lore: he was the only driver to compete in the first 11 Indianapolis 500s, the first to qualify at 100 mph, and in his 1919 victory he led 98 of the 200 laps while battling Ralph dePalma and Louis Chevrolet. His untimely death on September 4, 1923, left a void in the racing community and among his family and friends in Crawfordsville.