HT Remembrances

Never will forget a good old man

Jim Corlett

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

I've done a lot of construction work out there around IU, and I'm retired now, but I can remember Herman whenever we did concrete work, and we'd be there late at night

His energy and commitment

George Van Arsdale

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

When I arrived in Bloomington in 1961 to attend graduate school, Herman Wells had just about completed his work as president of Indiana University.

He always stopped by to say hello

Karen White

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

Twenty some years ago when I started at IU, I was working at the Foster Quad office. We always had the voting polls set up in the lounge just outside our office.

So typical of his grace and charm

Suzann Mitten and Kent Owen, WTIU Public Information Director

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

When our son, Jordan, was 8 years old, he shared a seat with Herman Wells for his first airplane ride.

Deeply changed for having known him

Ira Zinman

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

Your paper quoted Linda Bucklin who said she felt as though she understudied at the knee of a master and could not figure out "what he did."

Littlest things ... I'll always remember

Susan Adam

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

1) I am an IU faculty child (father was Optometry Professor Dr. Thomas Madden and mother was former Nursing School Counselor Mary Rita Madden), and I was first introduced to Mr. Wells at the age of 4.

His epic lifetime of service

Chris Rund

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

Years ago, I was working for WFIU-FM and visited Chancellor Wells in his office to record a message in support of the station's annual fund drive.

Much to do, and he did it all

Chuck Bonser, dean emeritus School of Public and Environmental Affairs

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

My wife, Nancy, and I are now wintering in Florida, but we learned last night about the passing of Herman Wells. I was one of the young administrators in the late 1960s and 1970s that the chancellor took the trouble to counsel.

I believe that he really cared

Paul Norris, IU Police Department Chief

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

I was fortunate enough to be a lifelong resident of Bloomington and to have had family connections to IU for as long as I remember, starting with my grandmother. My Aunt Matilda cooked for Dr. Wells for many years until her retirement.

Challenge us well into the future

Todd J. Schmitz, president Bloomington Professional Council

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

The Bloomington Professional Council (BPC) recognizes the profound influence Chancellor Wells has had on Indiana University past and present.

Always took time from his schedule

Jim McNabney

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

As influential and powerful as Dr. Wells most assuredly was, NEVER did I find him unable to treat me — a minor mortal in the pecking order of human influence — like a friend; in fact, like a brother.

Riding in a rickshaw was Herman Wells

Dorothy Spore

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

When I was a little girl, this has been quite a few years ago, we were at the World's Fair in Chicago — Century of Progress — we were with my uncle, Paul Feltus, who was a former IU trustee, and my aunt, his wife, and my cousin Martha and my mother, Dorothy K. Moore, a former newspaper writer.

Respect for a down-to-earth person

Johnny B. Hartman, Spencer

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

My memory of Mr. Wells was in October 1993 when my father, Robert F. Hartman, passed away.

An important person and I liked him

George S. Reeder

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

I used to see Herman B Wells come into the restaurant where I worked in 1935 to 1937, and he'd always come in for his meals. I worked at the soda fountain.

His personal touch was always there

Harvey G. Phillips, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Music

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

Shortly after my arrival on the IU campus in the fall of 1971 I met Chancellor Wells at the first of many social functions associated with every new academic year.

We will all miss his presence

Roy Samuelsen, Professor Emeritus of Music

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

I would like to add my accolades to all the others about this remarkable person. I have known Herman B Wells since 1961 and as some of us were discussing in the YMCA locker room the other day, none of us had ever heard anything negative said about him in his long and productive life.

Wisdom sprang deep in your soul

Dorothy Moskos

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

You are truly going to be missed, Herman B.

In your expression could be seen a love of humanity.

His phenomenal memory

Georgia Woodard

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

As assistant to the secretary of the Board of Trustees, Indiana University — a glorified (?) secretarial position — in the 1950s, I had almost daily contact during working hours with Herman Wells.

Clarity of mind till the end

Susan K. El-Sayyad

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

I was the nurse who was present when Dr. Wells passed away. I was a newer member of the staff "family," but nonetheless enamored with him.

He lived to serve others

Scott T. Rickard, M.S. 1962, Ed.D. 1966

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

The values and vision of Herman B Wells influenced the career choices of countless individuals. When I was an undergraduate at Oregon State University in 1959, I went to my mentor, the dean of students, and asked him how I could be a dean.

A simple thing, but very profound

Sherry Fisher Director of Student Recruitment and Retention, Wright School of Education, IU

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

I have several memories of Herman Wells in the short time I've been at IU, but two in particular come to mind:

1) About five years ago when my granddaughter, Abby, was 18 months old, my family went to Damon's Restaurant to have a bite to eat.

One who never knew a stranger

Patti Case

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

Being Lucky. The title of his book and the way he felt about his life. But we, the countless people whose lives he touched, are the lucky ones. Lucky to have known such an extraordinary yet very ordinary man.

He will always be there

Michael Bradford, BA History '99

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

My lasting image of Chancellor Wells will be that of him "always being there." When I graduated in May 1999, we (the graduates) were hoping the ceremony would be moved inside because it had been raining and it was cold.

Felt welcome and supported

Doug Bauder, GLBT Student Support Services

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

As a relative newcomer to Bloomington (1993), it didn't take me long to learn of the impact of Herman Wells. My elderly next-door neighbor (the late C. Leonard Lundin) told wonderful stories about his colleague and friend Dr. Wells and, as a retired history professor, Leonard was full of good stories.

He was not one to be ignored

Susan Davis

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

"Are you having a good day?" inquired this aging portly gentleman perched on the stone wall south of Beck Chapel. It was late in the fall of 1963, and I was a freshman at Indiana University returning to Read Center after several classes at Ballantine Hall.

Overwhelmed by his generosity

Misha Rabinowitch

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

Having grown up in Bloomington in an "IU household," I was long familiar with Herman Wells' contributions to Indiana University and the Bloomington community and his international fame as a leader in education.

Heaped affection on this man

Thomas E. Myers, associate director, IU ARTI

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

Although I encountered our beloved chancellor occasionally while pursuing two degrees at Indiana University, my most lasting memory of Herman B Wells will surely be his visit to Tech Connection

Charter member of historical society

Ed Tratebas, president, Brown County Historical Society

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

I wanted to report that Dr. Herman B Wells was a charter member of the Brown County Historical Society.

Within 24 hours I was on my way

Joe R. Harrell

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

In 1955 I was in the Air Force stationed in Tokyo, Japan, when I was notified by my father that my mother was critically ill at the age of 45. I had one aunt, Lorene Shields, who was a cook for Dr. Wells and another aunt, Lois Hayes, who was a maid for Dr. Wells.

The biggest grin on his face

Judith (Bo Peep) Benckart

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

My father, Bo McMillin, was football coach at IU from 1934 to 1946. President Wells was always so supportive of Bo's teams, through the good years and the bad.

Three generations of encounters

Mark Beebe

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

My Dad told the story of coming to Bloomington as a visiting instructor for a summer session in the late '50s.

Wily politician ... a grand old fellow

John R. Krueger

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

1. When I came to I.U. from Berkeley in 1961, an ordinary new assistant professor, it was already past the time when every new arrival could have a personal meeting with President Wells, but I soon got to know him at university functions.

What a gentleman Herman Wells was

Roxie Denison

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

I'm a stickler for manners, and I wanted to say what a gentleman Herman Wells was. I was leaving the Tudor Room at the same time he was, one evening out there, and we got down to the elevator about the same time.

One of the guys at his dinner table

Jack N. Ray

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

When I came to Indiana University as a student the second semester of 1938-39 I had the opportunity of playing with a dance band during afternoon "tea/coffee time" for students in the Commons of the Indiana Memorial Union. The compensation was a daily meal. Money pay came from playing dances on weekends.

We had something in common

Gerald Deatsman

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

I was a member of the IU Class of 1950. In November 1993, Wells was visited in his office. I told him we had something in common.

Truly was a very human individual

Robert V. Osmon, IU grad, 1950; M.S. Ed., 1954, IU; Ph.D., 1959, IU

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

My recollection of Dr. Wells was, when I received my first degree in 1950, there were about 3,000 of we graduates marching through the line and he shook the hand of each one.

He smiled forever, over everybody

Virginia Zeani, IU School of Music

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

Herman Wells was the greatest gentleman that they ever made in Indiana University. His friendship and warm attitude reached his collaborators and his friends. He smiled forever, over everybody. We respected and adored him.

The word "great" isn't great enough

Evelyn Powers

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

Sometimes at a funeral or memorial service, in regard to a gentleman who had passed, we'd hear the words, "He will be missed."

He always stopped by to say hello

Karen White

published online by The Bloomington Herald-Times, March 21, 2000

Twenty some years ago when I started at IU, I was working at the Foster Quad office. We always had the voting polls set up in the lounge just outside our office.