Editor's note: In honor of the university's centennial year, The Daily News is counting down 100 days to the university's celebration Sept. 6 with 100 of Ball State's most famous traditions and figures. Check back each day to read about Cardinal history.
During John Pruis’ time as Ball State’s seventh president, the university saw changes in the campus, academics and athletics.
Pruis became president July 1, 1968, and served the university for ten years.
Under his leadership, many building projects were completed including Bracken Library, the College of Architecture and Planning, Cooper Science Complex and two parking garages, according to Ball State’s website.
A number of other buildings were renovated or remodeled, and on Oct. 13, 1973, the university dedicated Pruis Hall to the president.
Pruis also oversaw the improvement of graduate assistant and doctoral fellow programs and established special programs and foreign language houses, the Whitinger Scholars program, the John R. Emens Scholars, the Martin Luther King Jr. scholarships and undergraduate research grants, according to Ball State’s website.
The Ball State University Annual Fund was increased from $170,000 to approximately $1.8 million during his tenure.
Also during his time as president, all sports were elevated to Division I status. In May of 1973, Ball State was admitted into the Mid-American Conference, “a move that launched the Cardinals into a new era of athletic credibility and notoriety,” according to Ball State’s website.
In addition to his presidency, Pruis also held positions such as vice president for corporate relations at Ball Corporation from 1978-88 and executive vice president and director for the George and Frances Ball Foundation.
Before starting with the university, Pruis was on active duty in the United States Navy from 1943-46 and retired from the United States Naval Reserve with the rank of Captain, according to his obituary.
His career in education began in Michigan where he was a grade school teacher before becoming a faculty member at Western Michigan University, his alma mater. Pruis also earned a masters, a doctorate and several honorary degrees from five other universities, according to his obituary.
During his career, Pruis also wrote articles on speech, communication and education and received the presidential medal of distinction from Ball State.
Pruis resigned from presidency Aug. 31, 1978, and died Jan. 16, 2016, at the age of 92.
Read more centennial content here.
Contact Brooke Kemp with comments at bmkemp@bsu.edu or on Twitter @brookemkemp.
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