Purdue News
Purdue News
Forest Farmer and his wife, Rosalyn, announced their commitment to the campaign this week.
"The importance of the Farmers' gift to the Black Cultural Center campaign cannot be overstated," Renee Thomas, director of the BCC, said. "It is the largest individual gift to the campaign thus far. We anticipate announcing additional major gifts in the weeks to come."
Farmer, who received a bachelor of science degree in physical recreation education from Purdue in 1965, is the chief executive officer of Bing Manufacturing Inc., Detroit, a manufacturer of automotive parts. He also owns Lexington Colloidal Formulations, a supplier of lubricants and coating materials to the automotive industry, in Rochester, Mich.; Trillium Teamologies, a solutions company for manufacturing information systems in Detroit; and Manufacturing Technologies in Troy, Mich., an automotive engineering firm.
Prior to launching his own companies, Farmer was President of Acuster, a division of Chrysler Corp.
Rosalyn Farmer is a graduate of Point Park College in Pittsburgh, and is active with charitable causes in the Detroit area.
Farmer played as a tight-end for the Purdue football team and was a co-captain from 1960 to 1962. He was a prospect for the Denver Broncos, but after a preseason injury, he returned to Purdue to complete his degree.
Farmer has continued his relationship with Purdue as an active member of the President's Council and the Black Alumni Association. In 1988 he came to campus as part of the annual Old Masters program, through which working professionals share their experiences and observations with students.
"My senior year at Purdue I spoke to the alumni association and told them that I looked forward to being able to give back to the school that had given me so much," Farmer said. "That's what the gift from my family is all about, giving back and expanding the educational experience at Purdue for all students."
The two-story, 18,000-square-foot structure will be built at the corner of Third and Russell streets. The new center will be almost twice the size of the current Black Cultural Center, a nearly 100-year-old building that was dedicated in 1970.
Designed by Blackburn Architects of Indianapolis, who used traditional African design elements, the new center features a domed central area that houses a lounge and a reading room. Other main rooms include an expanded art and gallery space, a computer laboratory, more storage and rehearsal areas for four performing arts ensembles, and office space for student organizations such as the Black Greek Council.
The main entrance is situated between a cubical and a cylindrical form. To incorporate textures and materials typically found in African villages, the center will draw on geometric patterns and rough, natural textures for walls and other surfaces.
On Jan. 24, Purdue President Steven C. Beering announced the university would provide the land and a $1 million challenge grant toward the $3 million in gifts needed to build the new center. Purdue also has agreed to provide an estimated $150,000 in fund-raising expenses. The $1 million comes from unrestricted gift money, given by contributors for use by the president for the betterment of Purdue.
The center serves about 35,000 people each year through its performing arts ensembles, speaker series, tours and other programs.
Source: Renee Thomas, (765) 494-3091
Writer: Kate Walker, (765) 494-2073; e-mail, kate_walker@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
