November 22, 2004
Purdue Alumni Association awards three Special Boilermakers
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Alumni Association's Special Boilermaker Awards for 2004 were presented Saturday (Nov. 20) to W. David Downey, Gene Keady and Betsy Marti at Purdue's football game against Indiana University.
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The Special Boilermaker Award honors individuals who have contributed significantly to improving the quality of life and betterment of the educational experience for Purdue students.
"These three recipients exemplify the commitment our faculty and staff have to Purdue students," said Todd Coleman, executive director of the Purdue Alumni Association. "They have truly impacted the lives of students and made the Purdue experience a richer one for many."
Downey is executive director of the Center for Food and Agricultural Business and a professor of agricultural sales and marketing. One of his projects has been developing Purdue's curriculum for a bachelor's degree in agri-sales and marketing. Downey is a 1961 graduate of Purdue, where he also received his master's and doctorate degrees. He has taught undergraduate courses at Purdue since 1963.
Keady is in his 25th and final season as head coach of the Purdue men's basketball team. He holds the school's record for coaching victories, with 505 wins; has been honored with seven Big Ten Coach of the Year awards, a conference record; coached Purdue to six Big Ten championships; holds six national Coach of the Year awards; and was an assistant coach for the gold-medal winning Team USA in the 2000 Olympic Games. Keady has coached more than 100 student-athletes, and the graduation rate for his players who have stayed at Purdue for four years is nearly 90 percent.
Marti serves as an adviser to Purdue Musical Organizations, Mortar Board and Alpha Phi. Marti earned a bachelor's degree from Purdue's College of Consumer and Family Sciences in 1969, and a master's degree in 1974. She is an interior designer for Marti Interiors.
CONTACT: Coleman, (765) 494- 5179, toddcoleman@purdue.edu, Sharon Martin, Purdue Alumni Association director of communications, (765) 494-5182, slmartin@purdue.edu
Writer: Maggie Morris, (765) 494-2432, maggiemorris@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
PHOTO CAPTION:
The Purdue Alumni Association on Saturday (Nov. 20) presented Special Boilermaker Awards to, from left, David Downey, Betsy Marti and Gene Keady. The presentation took place at the Old Oaken Bucket football game against Indiana University. (Purdue News Service photo/David Umberger)
A publication-quality photograph is available at http://news.uns.purdue.edu/images/+2004/special-boilers04.jpg
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