J. Terry Clapacs

BLOOMINGTON — During homecoming weekend, three Indiana University graduates received the Distinguished Alumni Service Award, the university’s highest award given only to an alumna or alumnus.

The recipients are Angela M. Brown of Indianapolis, J. Terry Clapacs of Bloomington and Ezra “Zeke” Friedlander of Indianapolis. IU President Michael A. McRobbie presented the awards Oct. 16.

Clapacs is now the vice-president of the Wawasee Area Conservacy Foundation in Syracuse, and owns a summer home on the Eastshore Drive of Syracuse Lake.

The Distinguished Alumni Service Award recipients were chosen for service and achievement in their fields of endeavor and significant contributions to community, state or nation. With the addition of these recipients, IU has honored 325 alumni since the award’s inception in 1953.

After 43 years of service, J. Terry Clapacs retired from IU in 2009 as vice president emeritus. During his career, Clapacs was vice president of facilities, vice president of administration, and vice president and chief administrative officer. He also served two years as athletics director while maintaining his other duties, and he chaired selection committees to find a new men’s basketball coach, men’s football coach and IU Alumni Association president.

In his primary role, Clapacs oversaw a variety of support services on all eight IU campuses. Among his responsibilities were campus master planning, all building construction and renovation, physical plant services, real estate operations, human resources administration, purchasing, risk management, travel management and the Department of Environmental Health and Safety. He was responsible for the development of about two-thirds of what is now IU, including new campuses in Richmond and New Albany.

“It is virtually impossible to look at any Indiana University campus without seeing the impact of Terry Clapacs,” IU President Michael A. McRobbie said at Clapacs’ retirement ceremony.

University facilities designed and constructed under his direction won many national awards. Among the winners are the IU Natatorium at IUPUI, Recreational Sports facility at IU Bloomington, the Theatre and Drama Neal Marshall complex and the Virgil T. DeVault Alumni Center.

Clapacs received Sagamore of the Wabash awards from two Indiana governors. He is a recipient of the University Medal and has been inducted into the Little 500 Riders Hall of Fame and the Goshen (Indiana) Hall of Fame.