April 1, 2009

Indy businessman to step down after 16 years as chair of Purdue trustees

J. Timothy McGinley

J. Timothy McGinley, an Indianapolis businessman who will have served for two decades on the Purdue University Board of Trustees - including a record-setting period as its chairperson - announced Wednesday (April 1) that he will resign his seat when his current term as chairperson ends.

McGinley, the only board chairperson to serve three presidents, equals philanthropist David Ross, who was a trustee from 1921-1943, in having led the Purdue board for 16 years.

"Tim McGinley has provided exceptional leadership to Purdue during his 20 years of service on the Board of Trustees. He has led in the transformation of our university," said President France A. Córdova. "He ushered in a new business model, which was guided by strategic planning. Those plans were then supported through the generosity of Purdue alumni and friends. Tim and his wife, Jane, are extraordinary Boilermakers and they will be missed."

McGinley is founder and principal of House Investments Inc., a real estate investment company he started in Indianapolis in 1978.

"After serving as a trustee for nearly 20 years and chairman for 16 years, it is time for the university and the board to have new leadership," McGinley said. "I am very proud of Purdue's progress during my tenure. It was my intent to stay as chair during the transition to a new president and then step aside. President Córdova is completing her second year, and I believe she is well prepared for an outstanding presidency.

"Purdue has a long history of outstanding board members who work very well together in the best interests of our university. During my years as chairperson, board members have been dedicated to the pursuit of excellence. We have enjoyed helping our faculty, staff, students and alumni work together to stretch our imaginations and aspirations."

In 2003 the McGinleys made gifts or pledges totaling $2 million toward scholarships for students facing financial or personal hardships. They also have supported athletic scholarships and renovations of Mackey Arena.

"Back in 1958 Purdue offered me a basketball scholarship," McGinley said when announcing the gift. "It was a life-changing opportunity. I received a world-class engineering degree, developed lifelong friendships, and, most of all, met my wife.

"But our motivation is deeper than that. We believe in this university. … We also believe that with help from all of us we can achieve the goals outlined in Purdue's strategic plan. Education is the one sure investment we can make for our future. Scholarships like these will help ensure that the benefits of Purdue's world-class education remain affordable."

While McGinley was chairperson, the university launched three fundraising campaigns:

* $330 million Vision Campaign;

* $1.7 billion Campaign for Purdue, completed in July 2007, that funded Discovery Park, professorships and student programs; and

* the $304 million Access and Success Campaign that so far has brought in $90 million since it was launched last April to support student scholarships and retention programming.

During his tenure on the board, the West Lafayette campus alone completed more than 70 major facility construction and renovation projects, valued at more than $792 million. Also during his time on the board, the number of faculty increased from 2,208 to 2,743. The number of named and distinguished faculty also increased from 66 in 2000 to 158 in February 2009.

McGinley chaired the search that brought Martin C. Jischke to Purdue as president from Iowa State University in 2000.

"The progress Purdue has enjoyed during the McGinley years marks this as a golden age for the university," said Jischke, who stepped down in 2007. "The personification of loyalty, devotion and wise stewardship, Tim's contributions have earned our gratitude and admiration. Tim surely is among the greatest of the Purdue trustees. All who love Purdue are in his debt.

"On a more personal note, Tim and Jane have become special friends. We wish them both continued happiness and look forward to many more years of friendship and fellowship as members of the Purdue family."

President Emeritus Steven C. Beering, 1983-2000, led Purdue when McGinley joined the board in 1989.

"Tim has been a tremendous trustee, and I'm proud to have served with him," Beering said. "He's been a powerful force, particularly with his business background, steady personality and ability to quietly lead. He cared about the students and sought their input. I am very sorry to see him leave, but I understand. It's a challenging job, and not just in the sense of the leadership, but also in terms of the time commitment. Although he's supported Purdue financially, his most extraordinary gift has been these two decades of service."

Vice chair John D. Hardin Jr. of Danville, Ind., added, "Tim has been a great servant leader of our Board of Trustees. His focus on any issue has always been to do what is best for Purdue and her students. Tim's leadership of the trustees, each of whom is a leader in his or her own right, created an environment in which different perspectives were melded into policies that led to transformational change for Purdue.

"Tim played a key role in making Purdue better able to serve our students, Indiana, our nation and the world in his tenure as chairman."

In 2006 McGinley was inducted into The Indiana Academy, a group that recognizes leaders in business, higher education, public service and the arts. In 2000 he was elected to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

He also received the Big Ten Centennial Athlete Award in 1995. An Indiana all-state basketball player as a senior at Indianapolis Scecina High School, McGinley then played guard for Purdue from 1960-63. As second-leading scorer, he helped the Boilers to a record of 34-26 under coach Ray Eddy. He also earned the Lambert Award as the Purdue player with highest scholastic average and the Distinguished Career Service Award from the university's John Purdue Club.

He received Indiana's highest honor - the Sagamore of the Wabash - three times. He also served as a White House Fellow under President Lyndon B. Johnson and later was a special assistant to the Secretary of Labor. McGinley was deputy assistant Secretary of Labor from 1967-1969.

McGinley graduated from Purdue in 1963, receiving a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. He received his MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business. His numerous awards from Purdue include Distinguished Engineering Alumnus in 1972 and Outstanding Chemical Engineering Alumnus in 1994. He was president of the Purdue Engineering Alumni Association from 1985-1987.

In addition, McGinley serves on the board of directors for Vectren Corp. He formerly served on the boards of Waterfield Mortgage Corp., Bindley Western Industries Inc., Union Federal Bank, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and Central Indiana Corporate Partnership.

Previously he was executive vice president for finance for National Homes and in 1973 became co-founder and president of Jonathan Group, a residential development and construction firm.

Sources: Steven C. Beering, 317-581-1414, sbeering@indy.rr.com
France A. Córdova, 765-494-9708
Martin C. Jischke, 765-496-2525, mcjischke@purdue.edu
John D. Hardin Jr., 317-745-5832, Hardin@surf-ici.com
J. Timothy McGinley, 317-580-2535, tmcginley@houseinvestments.com

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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