Go to Personal Education Work experience, state of Indiana Indiana University Service at the state level Service at the national level Service at the international level Honors

Personal and family information

1874: Birth of Joseph Granville Wells, Herman Wells’ father

1882: Birth of Anna Bernice (Harting) Wells, Herman Wells’ mother

1902: Birth of Herman B Wells in Jamestown, Indiana

1948: Death of Joseph Granville Wells

1973: Death of Anna Bernice Wells

2000: Death of Herman B Wells

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Education

1920: Graduated from Lebanon (Indiana) High School

1920-1921: Attended the University of Illinois

1924: Received B.S. in Commerce from Indiana University

1927: Received A.M. degree in Economics from Indiana University

1927-28: Doctoral student in Department of Economics at the University of Wisconsin

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Work experience, state of Indiana

1924-1926: Assistant Cashier, First National Bank, Lebanon, Indiana

1928-1931: Field Secretary, Indiana Bankers’ Association

1931-1933: Secretary and Research Director of Study Commission for Indiana Financial Institutions

1933-1935: Supervisor of Division of Banks and Trust Companies and Division of Research and Statistics, Department of Financial Institutions, State of Indiana

1933-1936: Secretary, Commission of Financial Institutions, State of Indiana

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Indiana University

1930-1933: Instructor, Department of Economics

1933-1935: Assistant Professor, Department of Economics (on leave of absence)

1935-1937: Dean, School of Business Administration

1935-1972: Professor, School of Business Administration

July 1, 1937-March 22, 1938: Acting President of the University

1938-1969: President, Indiana University Foundation

1938-1962: President of the University

1962-2000: University Chancellor

September 1-November 30, 1968: Interim President of the University

1969-1972: Chairman, Indiana University Foundation Board

1972-1975: Chairman of the Executive Committee, Indiana University Foundation

1972-2000: Professor Emeritus, School of Business

1975-1988: Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Executive Committee, Indiana University Foundation

1988-1995: Vice Chairman, Indiana University Foundation

1995-1998: First Vice Chairman, Indiana University Foundation

1998-2000: Chairman Emeritus, Indiana University Foundation

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Service at the state level (select list)

1934-1935: President, Indiana Society of Economists and Sociologists

1934-2000: Member, Administrative Council and Staff/Parish Committee, First Methodist Church of Bloomington

1936-1971: Chairman (1940-1971) and Public Interest Director, Board of Directors, Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis

1939-1955: Member, New Harmony Memorial Commission

1941-1999: Member and Vice-President, Board of Governors, James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association

1943-1957: Chairman, Indiana War History Commission

1945-1953: Member, Indiana State Board of Education

1948-1969: Member and Chairman, Board of Directors, Citizens State Bank, Jamestown, Indiana

1951-1972: Member, Board of Directors, Indiana Bell Telephone Company

1962-1970: Member, Wabash College Development Board

1962-1971: Member, Board of Trustees, Earlham College

1962-1971: Member, Board of Trustees, Indiana Institute of Technology

1963-1977: Trustee, Malpas Trust

1964-1972: Chairman, Indiana Advisory Commission on Academic Facilities

1965-1968: Director, Indiana Judicial Study Commission

1968-1994: Member, Board of Trustees, Indiana Historical Society

1970-1974: Member, Board of Directors, The Indiana Forum

1971: Co-Chairman, Committee on Reorganization, Indiana State Department of Public Instruction

1973-1999: Member, Board of Directors, Lilly Endowment

1974-2000: Member, Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana

1978-1979: Chairperson, Indiana Public Television Review Committee

1979-2000: Chairman and Board member, White Star Endowment

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Service at the national level (select list)

1937-1960: Advisory Member, Research Council, American Bankers Association

1938-1962: Member and Chairman (1947-1962), Committee of Thirteen (later Council of Ten)

1940-1953: Executive Committee Member, Secretary-Treasurer (1940-1941), President (1941-1942, 1952-1953), State University Association

1941-1962: Member, Vice Chairman (1952-1953), and Chairman (1953-1954), Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching

1942-1943: Vice President (1942) and President (1943), National Association of State Universities

1942-1943: Member, Interim Committee on the Reestablishment of a Department of Higher Education, National Education Association

1943-1944: President, Department of Higher Education, National Education Association

1943-1957: Chairman (1944-1945) and Member and Chair of various committees, American Council of Education

1946-2000: Member and Director, Sigma Nu Educational Foundation

1947-1951: Member, Academic Advisory Board, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

1949-1951: Member, Ad Hoc Committee to U.S. Surgeon General to Study the Public Health Service Programs of Research and Educational Grants and Fellowships and the Costs of Medical Education, U.S. Public Health Service

1952-1972: Member, Board of Trustees, College Retirement Equities Fund

1954-1961: Member, Chairman (1955-1958), and Adviser, Educational Policies Commission, National Education Association

1956-1961: Member, Board of Trustees, Committee for Economic Development

1956-ca.1980s: Member, Board of Directors, Council on Library Resources

1956-1975: Member, Board of Trustees, Howard University

1957-1970: Member, Board of Directors, National Educational Television

1959-1965: Member, Board of Directors, Learning Resources Institute

1962-1969: Member, National Board of Directors, Goodwill Industries of America

1963: Member, Committee of the Michigan Coordinating Council for Public Higher Education to Consider Expansion of Medical Education in the State of Michigan

1963: Advisory Committee, U.S. Educational and Cultural Programs, Brookings Institute

1963-1964: Chairman, Legislature’s Consultant on Higher Education, State of New York

1964-1965: Member and Vice Chairman, National Commission on Humanities

1965-1966: Chairman, Ford Foundation Committee to Survey the University of Pittsburgh

1965-1970: Member, Board of Trustees, Center for Applied Linguistics

1965-ca. 1980s: Member, Board of Visitors, Tulane University

1966-1967: Member, President’s National Advisory Commission on Food and Fiber

1968-1970: Regent and Chairman of Board of Trustees, Sigma Nu National Fraternity

1970-1985: Member, Board of Directors, Chemed Corporation

1970-1972: Member, Board of Directors, National Interfraternity Conference

1973-1978: Member, Technical Advisory Board, Milbank Memorial Fund

1974-1975: Member, Board of Directors, Lincoln Open University

1976-1983: Chairman, Advisory Committee, Academy in the Public Service

1975-1977: Chairman, Board, American Research Institute for the Arts

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Service at the international level (select list)

1943-1944: Special Advisor on Liberated Areas, U.S. Department of State

1945: Consultant for American Council on Education, U.S. Delegation, San Francisco Conference

1946: Member (with rank of Minister), Allied Missions for Observation of the Greek Elections

1947-1948: Advisor on Cultural Affairs to Military Governor and Acting Chief, Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Occupied Zone, Germany

1949-1950: Member, UNESCO Committee of Experts on German Questions

1955-1956: Member, Educational Advisory Committee, International Cooperation Administration

1955-1965: Member and Vice President (1955-1960), Governing Board, International Association of Universities

1956-ca. 1980s: Trustee, American Universities Field Staff

1957: U.S. Delegate to the 12th General Assembly of the United Nations

1958: Member, Group of American Educators Who Surveyed Higher Education in the Soviet Union

1959: Adviser to the Ministry of Education of Pakistan

1960: Head of U.S. Delegation in Bangkok of SouthEast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) Preparatory Commission on University Problems

1960-1961: Member, Board of Directors, United Nations Committee of Experts to Review Activities and Organization of the United Nations Secretariat

1963-1971: Chairman (1963-1970) of Board and Trustee, Education and World Affairs

1965: Member, President’s Committee on U.S.-Soviet Trade Relations

1965: Member, National Citizens’ Commission on International Cooperation

1966-1974: Member. Review Committee on Higher Education to Haile Selassie I, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

1966-1976: Member, Board of Trustees, American University in Cairo

1967: Member, President’s Special Committee on Overseas Voluntary Activities

1969: Member, National Committee on U.S.-China Relations

1974: Consultant to the Ford Foundation’s Office for the Middle East and Africa, to advise the Public Service Review Commission, the National Universities Commission and the National Manpower Board of Lagos

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Honors (select list)

In addition to the following list of honors, Herman B Wells received 26 honorary degrees.

1939: One of "America’s Ten Outstanding Young Men of 1939" United States Junior Chamber of Commerce

1939: First Annual Award, New York Alumni Chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma

1959: Gold Medal Award, International Benjamin Franklin Society

1960: Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

1960: Radio Station WHAS, Louisville, "Man of the Year For Indiana" Award

1961: "Man of the Year" Award, Indianapolis Times

1961: Herman B Wells Senior Recognition Award established

1962: Thailand Government Award of "Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant"

1962: National Interfraternity Conference Award

1962: Brotherhood Award Winner, National Conference of Christian and Jews

1962: "Hoosier of the Year" Award, Gary Chamber of Commerce

1963: "Hoosier of the Year" Award, Sons of Indiana in New York

1964: Interfraternity Service Award, Lambda Chi Alpha

1964: The Robins Award of America

1964: Distinguished Service Medal, Kappa Kappa Psi

1965: Distinguished Service in School Administration Award, American Association of School Administrators

1965: Distinguished Service to Music Medal, Kappa Kappa Psi-Tau Beta Sigma

1968: Thailand "Knight Commander (Second Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown"

1970: Medal of Honor, University of Evansville

1971: Benjamin Franklin Fellow, The Royal Society of Arts (London)

1971: Citation for Meritorious Service, Indiana University School of Medicine

1971: Special Award for Distinguished Service, Indiana University School of Dentistry

1972: Distinguished Alumni Service Award, Indiana University Alumni Association

1977: Indiana Arts Award

1978: "Liberty Bell" Award

1985: Distinguished Award for Lifetime Achievement, American Council on Education

1986: Wells Scholars Program Established

1989: University Medal, Indiana University

1990: First Class of Wells’ Scholars Enrolls at IU

1990: Lifetime Achievement, Indiana Humanities Achievement Award, Indiana Humanities Council

1991: B’nai B’rith Great American Traditions Award for lifetime dedication to humanitarian service

1991: Excellence in Education Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sons of the American Revolution

1996: J.O. Ritchy Medal, IU School of Medicine

1997: "Sagamore of the Wabash" (for the sixth time)

1998: Named a "Hoosier Treasure" by Governor Frank O’Bannon

1999: "Senior Statesman" Award ("most senior member of the Club"), The University Club of New York

1999: Named an Indiana living legend by the Indiana Historical Society

1999: Elected "Monroe County Man of the Century" by Readers of the Bloomington Herald Times

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