I-MEN
Excerpt from 1914 Arbutus
Prior to the Indiana vs. Illinois football game last fall, a number of former university athletes met at the Claypool Hotel in Indianapolis and formed a permanent organization of the I Men. Every athlete who had ever received a university monogram was made a member. The purpose of the organization is to bind more closely together the men who had battled for the cream and crimson and to render service in various ways to present-day athletics in Bloomington. The organization has been, even in this short time, a wonderful success; the interest shown by the men who wore the cream and crimson for the last time, has been remarkable. The organization has a broad field of usefulness before it, which it is speedily setting about to fulfill. Carl Endicott is president of the I Men, Dr. C. J. Sembower, vice president, and George M. Cook, secretary.
I-WOMEN
The I Women’s Association began in 1982 and was officially recognized on Feb. 15, 1990. This was the first formal recognition of the athletic accomplishments of former female varsity athletes. Membership was open to all female student athletes who had been awarded a varsity letter during their time at Indiana University, even if they had participated prior to the official awarding of “I” awards.
I ASSOCIATION BRINGS US TOGETHER
In 2006, Ken Beckley, the president and CEO of the Indiana University Alumni Association, in consultation with Rick Greenspan, the Director of Athletics, made a recommendation to merge the I-Men’s and I-Women’s Associations into one entity. It was determined that one association, rather than two, would bring even greater strength in representing student-athlete alumni. In January 2007, the two groups officially merged.
PRESIDENTS OF THE I ASSOCIATION
The I Association is proud of its alumni leaders, past and present. The following people served as president of the I-Men Association, I-Women Association, or the I Association (formed in 2007 when the two groups officially merged).
I-ASSOCIATION
- 2007-2009 Pat O’Connor
- 2009-2011 Sandy Searcy
- 2011-2013 Jack Hienton
- 2013-2016 Amy Metheny, M.D.
- 2016-2018 Mark Deal
- 2018-2020 Terri Fancher
- 2020 Phil Westfall
- 2020-2021 Terri Francher
- 2022-Present Stacey Hughes
I-WOMEN
- 1986-1996 Ginger Giles
- 1996-2007 Ann Bastianelli
I-MEN
- 1913-1917 Carl Endicott
- 1917-1923 George Cook
- 1923-1934 Willis Coval
- 1934-1947 J. Leroy Sanders
- 1947-1950 Clinton C. Prather
- 1950-1952 James O. Birr
- 1952-1953 Noble L. Biddinger
- 1953-1954 James D. Stickland
- 1954-1957 Paul G. Jasper
- 1957-1962 Everett S. Dean
- 1962-1965 W. T. “Bill” Smith
- 1965-1971 R. Vernon Huffman
- 1971-1976 Kenneth W. Moeller
- 1976-1981 Merritt W. Smith
- 1981-1984 Don R. Luft
- 1984-1987 Norbert E. Herrmann
- 1987-1990 Thomas McConnell
- 1990-1993 Bruce R. Ellwanger
- 1993-1996 Jerry Gates
- 1996-1999 Pat O’Connor
- 1999-2002 Dean Vonderheide
- 2002-2007 E.G. White
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF THE I ASSOCIATION
- Director Emeritus Claude Rich
- Director Emeritus Frank Jones
- 1968-1973 Bob Stebbins
- 1973-1983 Ernie Andres
- 1983-2005 Tom Bolyard
- 2005-2014 Karl Zacker
- 2014-2023 Brian Brase
- 2023-Present Mark Deal
