(Indianapolis, IN) - I only met him a few times - mostly when I was ushering at the Musical Arts Center in Bloomington - but each time it was like being in the presence of royalty.  When Herman B. Wells died on Saturday, it was as the most beloved man ever associated with IU (yes, even more than Everett Dean, Branch McCracken, or Bob Knight).

Chancellor Wells, after attending IU for undergrad and Wisconsin and IU for graduate work, began his teaching career at IU in 1930 as an instructor of economics.  In 1935, he replaced Dean William Rawles (for whom the evil math building is named...sorry, this piece IS an editorial) as Dean of the School of Business.  When IU's great President, William Lowe Bryan (for whom the IU President's Home is named), retired in 1937, Dean Wells became acting President and, one year later, accepted the offer from trustees President Ora Wildermuth (for whom the HPER building is named) on a permanent basis.

President Wells' impact is entirely too great to list here.  He defended the right of Alfred Kinsey to research human sexuality.  At the height of anti-communist fervor in the '40s and '50s he nurtured and protected the study of Russian language and culture.  He demanded that Hoosiers respect academic freedom and won grudging respect and support.

He was appointed to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the American Council on Education, the Association of Land Grant Colleges and Universities, and the National Association of State Universities.

At the end of World War II, he was appointed a special adviser on liberated areas for the U.S. Department of State and a minister of the Allied missions, observing the Greek elections. In 1957, he was chosen as a U.S. delegate to the 12th General Assembly of the United Nations.

He also held advisory roles with UNESCO, as head of the U.S. delegation to Bangkok for the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization Preparatory Commission on University Problems, and as a member of the National Committee on U.S.-China
Relations in 1969.

His service to foreign governments earned him the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1960; the Thailand Government Award of Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant in 1962; and the Thailand Knight Commander (Second Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown in 1968.

Not bad for a kid from Boone County, Indiana, huh?

So, you'll understand why anyone associated with IU was saddened to hear of his passing this weekend.  This man impacted my education long before I got to Bloomington and his effect will be felt in everything I and hundreds of thousands of others do.  Generations of accomplishments, innovations, theories, and advancements will be directly and indirectly attributable to
Herman B. Wells.  He will be missed.