Two funds honoring the legacy of a retired Eli Lilly chemist are sending grants to organizations working to preserve African American landmarks across Indiana.
The late Stan Cox joined Eli Lilly in 1957 as its first Black chemist and was a generous advocate for the preservation of African American heritage sites.
During his lifetime, Cox established two funds with the Central Indiana Community Foundation -- one in his name and one to honor his parents.
Cox died in February 2019.
Indiana Landmarks serves as a preservation advisor to both funds.
In 2020, the fund awarded $135,000 to 15 projects including the Evansville African American Museum, which received $5,000 to help repair the circa-1930 Alfred and Phoebe Porter House in Evansville’s Baptisttown neighborhood.
$10,000 was provided to the Lyles Station Historic Preservation Corporation for structural repairs, and painting and gutter replacement on the 1919 Lyles Consolidated School building in Gibson County.
