I love a good tune, especially one that was likely composed right here in my hometown. It’s because of Frank Jones, alumni executive secretary (CEO) from 1968-1987, that IU alumni and friends have a fine appreciation for (if not a complete adoption of) a really great tune–The Chimes of Indiana, Hoagy Carmichael’s alternative Alma Mater for IU.

Frank had a more significant impact on the IU Alumni Association than just his taste in music, however.

As soon as he started his position at the helm of the Alumni Association, Frank Jones got to work on making IUAA a corporation. In December 1968, the Executive Council voted to move forward with becoming a legal entity and on September 8, 1969, the Articles of Incorporation and the Code of Bylaws became official. In October of 1970, the Board of Managers and Executive Council made its first amendment which satisfied some technical recommendations made by none other than the IRS, according to the minutes.

In later blog posts I’ll review the ins and outs of exactly why we as an Association went in this direction – particularly since we’d been swimming along fine since 1854 without the paperwork of incorporating. Until then, I wish to pay tribute to those five original members of the Board of Managers:

• Ben Dutton, BS’38,JD’40
• Jane McKinzie, BS’57, MS’60
• Everett Dean, BA’21, MS’38
• Dick Schmalz, BS’40
• Frank Jones, BS’48, MS’51

Thank you, alumni leaders, for your dedication 50 years ago this month.