Gerald Bepko and Dr. Beurt SerVaas receives highly esteemed Whistler Award
The Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee presented Gerald Bepko and Dr. Beurt SerVaas with the Charles L. Whistler Award. The annual award recognizes one or two individuals who, outside the regular duties of their chosen professions, have brought together the public and private sectors for civic improvement in Indianapolis.
Chancellor Bepko joined the faculty at Indiana University School of Law- Indianapolis in 1972. He became a full professor in 1975, associate dean for academic affairs in 1979, and dean of the law school in 1981. During his appointment as IUPUI Chancellor, from 1986 to 2002, he also served as IU vice president for long-range planning– the office that took a lead responsibility for the IU strategic directions planning process launched by President Myles Brand in 1994-95.
Chancellor Bepko led a movement to unify the various programs of IUPUI academically and geographically by bringing all schools to the West Michigan Street campus and presiding over the construction of more than 20 buildings. He also led efforts to establish IUPUI as a major urban campus that is classified among the best in its peer group and to establish IUPUI as an important component of central Indiana’s research corridor along with Purdue University West Lafayette and IU Bloomington. He led a renewed emphasis on undergraduate education, culminating in the establishment of University College dedicated in 1998 at a ceremony at which the principal speaker was Secretary of Education Richard Riley. During his tenure as Chancellor, enrollment grew by nearly 25 percent and external support for faculty activities grew from $38 million in 1986 to more than $200 million in 2001-2002.
Bepko has been tireless in his service on numerous boards, including the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, First Indiana Corporation, Citizens Gas and Coke Utility, State Auto Insurance Co. of Columbus, Ohio, the Lumina Foundation for Education, the James Whitcomb Riley Children’s Foundation, the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association and other non-profit boards. On May 10, 2004, Indiana University announced the formation of the Randall L. Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence based at IUPUI. Funded with a $5.25 million gift from the Tobias Family Foundation. Chancellor Emeritus Bepko will serve as the Inaugural Director of the Center.
Chancellor Bepko is married to the former Jean B. Cougnenc of New York, and they have two children, Gerald L. Jr. and Arminda.
Dr. SerVaas’ most visible community activity has been his service as a member and president of the City-County Council from 1962 until 2003. Dr. SerVaas was a member of the Council for four years, Vice President for six years, and President for thirty years. During this time, he worked with five mayors to help build Indianapolis. During his distinguished career on the Council, Dr. SerVaas was instrumental in the creation and implementation of UniGov and many other important proposals.
Upon graduating from Shortridge High School, Dr. SerVaas enrolled in the National University of Mexico. He then entered into the uniformed services. During World War II, Dr. SerVaas spent most of his service in China, where he was awarded the Bronze Star and an Army Commendation Medal. After the War, Dr. SerVaas married Cory Synhorst and started a family in Indianapolis.
In 1970, Dr. SerVaas bought the Curtis Publishing Company and moved it to Indianapolis. He was the Editor and Publisher of the Saturday Evening Post for several years. He is Chairman of the Board of SerVaas Inc., which includes numerous companies in the United States and abroad.
At 85 years of age, Dr. SerVaas is still engaged in business enterprises in Europe, Panama, and Indiana. He has five children and nineteen grandchildren. He has received numerous honors and awards, including the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement, the National Horatio Alger Award, and a Sagamore of the Wabash.
Dr. SerVaas also serves on the boards of Bank One Indiana, Indiana Public Health Foundation, Indianapolis Entrepreneurship Academy, Robert Schuller Ministries, the National Institute for Fitness and Sport, the Council for National Policy, the Hudson Institute, and the Morehouse School of Medicine.
