Ford says thanks for Purdue Club engagement

Friday, June 26, 2015

As a stalwart of the Purdue University basketball program in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Bob Ford scored a lot of points.

But now, as the director of the Purdue President's Council, he basically makes one point: To say thank you.

"That's what I do most when I work now, is say, 'thank you,'" Ford told members of the Purdue Club of Putnam County this week following their 17th annual golf outing at Windy Hill Country Club.

And he was busy saying many, many thank-yous this spring when in just 24 hours, Purdue raised nearly $13.7 million as part of its Day of Giving, essentially doubling its 2014 giving total. More than 9,500 gifts were promised in reaching the $13 million mark in an online blitz.

A 1968 Evansville North High School all-stater who played for Purdue 1969-1972, the 65-year-old Ford is a member of the Indiana High School and Purdue University basketball Halls of Fame but is perhaps better know to the recent generation of Purdue fans as the longtime TV voice of Boilermaker basketball broadcasts.

Ford said he was impressed with the Putnam County Purdue Club and the more than $67,000 it has now raised for its scholarship endowment.

Guest speaker Bob Ford (left), the former Purdue University basketball star who is now director of the Purdue President's Council, chats with Phil Clodfelter of the Purdue Club of Putnam County following the group's dinner Wednesday night at Autumn Glen in Greencastle.

"Thank you," he said (of course), "so much for everything you do for Purdue education."

Ford also told the dinner guests that Purdue this year received an incredible 42,000 applications for the 6,000 slots in its freshman class.

"Bob is a real treasure for Purdue," fellow guest speaker Ben Paolillo, the former Purdue track coach who is senior director of the Purdue Alumni Association and Alumni Clubs, said. "He's a great emcee and a real ambassador for Purdue."

Joining Ford and Paolillo in addressing the local group was Mike Braughton, assistant athletic director and John Purdue Club director.

"We're making a lot of good news at Purdue," Braughton said, telling the Putnam County crowd that the John Purdue Club now numbers more than 8,000 and represents all 50 states and some foreign countries."

Braughton was also happy to relate news that New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who in 2000 led Purdue to a share of the Big Ten title and its first Rose Bowl berth since the late 1960s, recently gave $1 million to the Boilermaker football program. And that comes in addition to the $2 million he donated for an academic center back in 2007.

"Whenever we talk to other schools," Braughton said, "they tell us that we are so lucky to have an alum like Drew Brees."

Braughton also related how the Purdue basketball and football programs are looking up going into their next seasons. The basketball program, in particular, has great expectations and will likely feature "pound for pound the biggest frontline in the country," he said.

That's because coach Matt Painter figures to start 7-1, 320-pound Isaac Haas, 7-0, 260-pound A.J. Hammons and 6-9, 260-pound freshman Caleb Swanigen.

Football will likely be more of a work in progress, but Braughton is encouraged by what he sees from coach Darrell Hazell and his staff in their third year at the Boilermaker helm.

"The work's being put in," Braughton assured. "Basketball, when played simply and well, can be extraordinary. We have to do the simple things in football, too, then good things will happen."

Meanwhile, Paolillo noted that about 10 golf outings a year are hosted by Purdue alumni groups, and the Putnam County event is one of the best. It has had the third most participation and the funds it raises "are right up there with the best of them," he said.

Paolillo also proudly pointed out that the Putnam County club has earned Gold Status in nine of the past 10 years.

The dinner also featured introductions of five of the seven local students who have received Putnam Club or Ed and Barbara Brookshire Scholarships for the next school year.

Receiving Purdue Club Scholarships were:

-- Allacyn Arnold, a freshman pharmacy student from South Putnam.

-- Cameron Mann, a junior ag communications and marketing major from Cloverdale.

-- Tatum Straziscar, a junior double major in speech pathology and Spanish from North Putnam.

-- Jason Ummel, a freshman biomedical engineering major from Greencastle.

The Brookshire Purdue Scholarship winners are:

-- Collin Berry, a freshman farm management major from South Putnam.

-- Zane Crosby, a freshman agronomy business and marketing major from South Putnam.

-- Emily Dobson, a freshman ag education and communications major from South Putnam.

Arnold, Straziscar, Ummel, Crosby and Dobson were on hand for the dinner.

In another club-related announcement, Jerry Williams said Nora Baker and the late Glenn Baker will be honored by the club for their contributions to the group and the university with a brick on the walkway at Ross-Ade Stadium.

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