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Legislator Herrell receives ’04 Distinguished Alumni Award
April 29, 2004 | |||||
KOKOMO, Ind.—Indiana State Representative Ron Herrell, A.G.S. ’80, of Kokomo will receive the IU Kokomo Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award during the May 11 Commencement.
“Representative Herrell is an outstanding choice for our alumni award,” said Chancellor Ruth Person. “He is a dedicated leader who works diligently on behalf of his constituents. We are proud to have him as an alumnus.” A Democrat, Herrell has represented House District 30 in the Indiana General Assembly since 1998. The district includes Howard and Taylor townships, most of Kokomo, and part of Clay Township. Herrell serves on three House of Representatives committees: Ways and Means; Environmental Affairs; and Insurance, Corporations and Small Business. Whether dealing with legislation, community affairs, or personal relationships, it is Herrell’s “genuine affection for people that makes him so effective in each situation,” said IU Kokomo senior Michael Sandy. Two-term president of IU Kokomo’s Student Government, Sandy has appreciated Herrell’s responsiveness to students, especially during annual Hoosiers for Higher Education (HHE) Day activities. (On HHE Day, students of Indiana University visit legislators at the Statehouse, to discuss state funding and its effect on their education.) Herrell “is the first to meet with us during our statehouse visits,” Sandy said. “He is the first to return a phone call whenever I have a question or concern, and he is the first to offer his help whenever we have needed it. “Being an alumnus of IU Kokomo, he understands the unique perspective that we face as a regional campus. He acts as an important voice for the often underrepresented regional campuses in the state legislature, most noticeably during budget hearings. It is thanks to people such as Ron Herrell that we have been able to secure the funding we need as a university during such difficult financial times.” “Representative Herrell is a great example of someone who got their degree here and who stayed in the area, using his education to give back to the community, helping it grow and prosper,” said Director of Alumni Relations and Public Affairs Cathy Hightower. In the legislature, Herrell has been a staunch advocate for the benefits of higher education and economic development, Hightower said. “He has distinguished himself with his public service to benefit north central Indiana.” The Herrell family has multiple connections to IU Kokomo. Representative Herrell’s wife, Janet Herrell, A.S.N. ’71, received her degree through the Kokomo campus, as did their daughter Amy Herrell Hueston, B.S.N. ’00, and son-in-law Travis Hueston, B.S. ’03. Herrell is retired from the Kokomo Fire Department, where he worked as a fire inspector.
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