GBI Magazine

r e m e m b e r i n g j i m a c k e r m a n Pillar of Purdue's Community Boilermaker benefactor left a path for all to follow BY ALAN KARPICK AKarpick@GoldandBlack.com W became a renown venture capitalist. He also had a vision for athletics but went about it carefully, systematically. "He knew we were behind in some areas," athletic director Morgan Burke said. "But he also knew that there was a process for building things, and it was one step at a time. He had the intelligent vision to see things through." But he was also bright in the most important way — he was smart enough to live a life of optimism despite it all. His outlook he could control, and Jim was a cando person before the term ever came into vogue. hen you lived a life as full as Jim Ackerman's 88 years, it is hard to pare it down to the space allotted here. Ackerman, who died after an extended illness on March 3 in the Indianapolis area, was as big a Boilermaker supporter as there has ever been. This is not an understatement, as Ackerman gave of his treasure so others could fulfill their dreams, but he also gave of this time and talent. His relationship with my family predates me back to Ackerman's college days as Charitable sports editor on The ExpoIf you know anything nent staff, working with my about Purdue, you know mom and dad. Yet, as one of Ackerman gave to the cause. the early investors and sup- Jim Ackerman, who died March 3 at 88 years old, had a 70- He was generous financialporters of Gold and Black year love affair with Purdue and gave back to his beloved ly to just about every major school in every imaginable way. Illustrated, the opportunity project in recent memory in to rekindle our relationship Purdue athletics. His gift reby working with him on a professional basis has been named the old South golf course, he gave to the aquatics invaluable to me. center, but that was the tip of the iceberg of the generosity. Below, I list the words that come to the forefront when But, he was equally proud of his support of academics describing the man I had the pleasure of knowing for at Purdue. When giving to athletics, his intention was to nearly all my life. better the academic life of student-athletes. But he gave to much more than atlletics. Cerebral Across campus, he endowed a chair in the Ag school Ackerman was a very smart man. He had an uncanny and started the James F. Ackerman Center for Democratic ability for sizing up other people and wonderful work- Leadership in the School of Education. He and wife Lois ing knowledge of numbers and their relevance. He knew gave generously to the arts in the Indianapolis area. where things fit, and he had a vision for what should The Ackermans' giving was thoughtful and challenging. and can be. He made much of his fortune by being one They had the means to be the lead donors for just about of the pioneers in the cable television industry before he any initiative but was insightful enough to know that it Gold & Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 5

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