James F. Ackerman

James F. Ackerman distinguished himself in the cable television industry, but more recently he has been involved in golf course development.

James F. Ackerman

He is currently the president of Cardinal Golf Club and Cardinal Ventures while living in Carmel, Ind.

Born in Lima, Ohio, Ackerman came to Purdue to major in agricultural economics following service in World War II as an artillery pilot. He received a bachelor's degree in 1947 and attended LaSalle College of Law.

Ackerman’s business career started in the world of finance. He was an executive vice president of Indianapolis Morris Plan Bank until 1970, executive director of Becker Communications until 1982 and senior vice president with Merrill Lynch until 1986. In the meantime, he developed Cardinal Communications as an Indiana cable television company, serving as its president from 1971 through 1993. The company had cable systems in 22 Indiana communities when he sold it.

Ackerman also helped start Indianapolis Cablevision, which eventually became Comcast Cable in 1986.

He has served as president of the National Charge Account Bankers Association, the Indiana Cable TV Association and the Broadmoor Country Club. An avid golfer, though a middle handicapper, he has always referred to golf as his avocation and cable TV as his hobby.

Ackerman has been active in Purdue’s President’s Council and the John Purdue Club. In 1993, his donation to the university formed the James F. Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship. Also, Purdue’s Ackerman Golf Course was named in his honor following a major contribution. He is a significant investor and serves on the board of directors of Boilers, Inc., which publishes Gold & Black Illustrated.

Among his many awards, Ackerman has been recognized as a member of the Pioneers Club of the Cable TV Industry (1977), a Sagamore of the Wabash by the State of Indiana (1995), a Distinguished Service Award winner from Purdue (1997), recipient of the Founders Award of the Indiana Telecommunications Association (1998) and recipient of a Pinnacle Award from the Purdue President’s Council (2004).