Andre Carson: “last month Indiana lost a favorite son of great distinction, a living legend of Indiana history. I rise to acquaint the…”

“last month Indiana lost a favorite son of great distinction, a living legend of Indiana history. I rise to acquaint the larger world with Dr. Herman B. Wells of Indiana University who died at the age of 97. The standard details of his life mark great attainment: Economics professor, then Dean of the Business School, he became President of the University in 1937, and served until 1962. Then, retiring not at all, he continued his service as Chancellor of the University until his death. Were that all there was, he would be worthy of great honor. But there was more, marking his true greatness: he gave himself to the University and to its many thousands of students, leading learning and leading change in important ways. He protected controversial research; he developed a world-class school of music; he used his personal power to roll back racial discrimination at the campus; he helped the school to integrate its basketball team; and, friend and counselor to generations of students, with his counsel he helped make Indiana and the Nation a better place. In our loss of Herman Wells, Indiana has lost a towering figure of American higher education.”