September 7, 2005
Jischke to honor community donors, give university update
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Two local couples who have been longtime supporters of Purdue, a corporation and a financial institution will be honored by university President Martin C. Jischke today (Wednesday, Sept. 7) at the President's Executive Breakfast.
Purdue's quarterly breakfast is to inform community leaders about events and activities on campus. Jischke will be the featured speaker from 8-9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Select City Centre in Lafayette.
Lafayette and West Lafayette leaders have contributed $45.7 million to the community phase of the $1.5 billion Campaign for Purdue. The campaign, which will conclude in 2007, has raised $1.2 billion to date.
"Loyal and strong support is vital for any project of such magnitude," said Murray Blackwelder, senior vice president for advancement. "Purdue is especially proud to honor donors who have not only given significant gifts, but who also have given so steadily over so many years. Contributors like these have helped make the Campaign for Purdue the overwhelming success that it is."
The following contributors will be honored at the breakfast:
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• Don and Lois Stein of West Lafayette will be recognized for their longtime support in a variety of areas, including gifts and pledges of more than $160,000. Don Stein was a major donor to the Class of '53 renovation project that refurbished the area outside the south doors of the Purdue Memorial Union. Both of the Steins have contributed to the School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue Convocations, the Jewish Studies Program in the College of Liberal Arts and the John Purdue Club.
Don Stein is a 1953 graduate of the School of Mechanical Engineering. He is president of Schnaible Service and Supply Co. Inc., a Lafayette wholesale distributor of paper and janitorial products. He has been with the company since 1967.
Lois Stein graduated from Purdue in 1955 with a degree from the College of Consumer and Family Sciences.
The Steins have been active with many local organizations and community projects. They have served on the board of directors for the Lyn Treece Boys and Girls Club in Lafayette and in 1991 provided funds for the restoration of the gas station that stands on South Street near downtown Lafayette. The station was renovated to resemble a vintage Standard Oil gas station – one of only a few left in the country – and is available for public tours.
They also were involved in the construction of Great Skates, a local skating rink that was donated to the Lyn Treece Boys and Girls Club. In addition, the Steins provided support for the renovation of several playgrounds on the south side of Lafayette.
Don Stein said one Purdue program they chose to contribute to was Purdue Convocations because of all it does for the community.
"The amount of cultural activity Purdue brings to this area is amazing," he said. "The fantastic programs produced by Convos have made it so it's not necessary to travel out of the area for quality entertainment. We have a wonderful resource right in our back yard.
"We give to all of these programs because we enjoy it. Purdue did a lot for me personally, it developed me, and contributing to the university is our way of showing appreciation."
• Jerome J. "Mick" and Shirley R. McTague of West Lafayette have given to the School of Civil Engineering's Dean Fauber Lab Endowment, named for Shirley's father, who was a 1921 civil engineering graduate. The McTagues also donated to the renovation of the civil engineering building and the school's Robert L. and Terry L. Bowen Laboratory for Large-Scale Civil Engineering Research. The Bowen lab, dedicated in 2003, is an $11 million laboratory that allows engineers to test structures such as bridges and buildings to determine how they will perform in real-life situations.
In addition, they have contributed to the Dick and Sandy Dauch Alumni Center and the John Purdue Club, of which Mick is a founding member.
Shirley McTague is a 1947 graduate of the School of Civil Engineering, and her husband also received an engineering degree from Purdue in 1947. The McTagues are retired from Fauber Construction Co. Inc. in Lafayette. Shirley McTague served as president, and Mick McTague was manager for the company, which became Milestone Contractors LP in 1994.
Both have been honored with Sagamores of the Wabash. In 1997 the McTagues were recipients of the Purdue President's Council Ambassador of the Year Award, given to those who recruit the most new members for the council during the year.
"I was born and raised in Lafayette, and my father graduated from Purdue, so both my husband and I feel a strong connection to the Purdue community," Shirley McTague said. "We feel it is a wonderful university and even sent two of our children there."
She said she and her husband feel especially proud of Purdue's civil engineering program.
"Civil engineering is a very important area to support," she said. "All of our roads depend on it. Purdue, in particular, has been a leader in research and education in civil engineering, and we wanted to help in those efforts."
• Coca Cola Bottling Co., which has contributed $75,000 to support 15 $5,000 scholarships for incoming freshmen. The gift was facilitated by Dan Artis, sales center manager for Tri State Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
• Regions Bank, which has several branches in the Lafayette-West Lafayette area, has pledged $25,000 to the Campaign for Purdue. The gift was facilitated by Thomas Freeman, group president of Regions Indiana Community Banks.
Writer: Kim Medaris, (76) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu
Source: Murray Blackwelder, senior vice president for advancement, (765) 496-2144, mblackwelder@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: Media can attend the breakfast, which will begin at 8 a.m. Wednesday (Sept. 7) at Holiday Inn Select in downtown Lafayette. Please contact Jeanne Norberg, Purdue News Service, at (765) 494-2084, if you would like a mult box and/or breakfast.
Related Web site:
Purdue University Development Office
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