1998 IUS Chancellor's Medallions awarded to Garmon, Ragland and Robinson

Garmon Ragland Robinson

Indiana University Southeast bestowed its prestigious Chancellor's Medallions for 1998 on Phyllis Garmon, a founder and now retired chief executive officer of Key Communications Service, Inc.; John Ragland, former regional president of Bank One in southern Indiana; and Samuel Robinson, a founder and chairman of the Board of Robinson Nugent, Inc. In addition to their business leadership, all three of the recipients have extensive records of public service and support for IUS, according to Chancellor F. C. Richardson.

The awards were presented at the annual Chancellor's Medallion Dinner last Friday (Feb. 27) in the Hoosier Room of the University Center on the IUS campus. The dinner was preceded by a reception for the recipients at the Paul W. Ogle Cultural and Community Center. The annual event is sponsored by the IUS Board of Advisors and benefits the university's scholarship fund.

Scholarships and other forms of student financial assistance (grants, loans and part-time campus employment) are a major priority for students at IUS. More than 60 percent of IUS students receive scholarships or some other form of student financial assistance. Four out of five IUS students are employed in part-time or full-time jobs.

Currently, more than 5,400 students are enrolled at IU Southeast in more than 40 degree programs at the master's, bachelor's and associate degree levels. While more than 85 percent of the 12,100 graduates who have earned degrees at IUS live in Indiana or Kentucky, alumni now live and work in all 50 states and in several foreign countries.

The medallion recognizes individuals who "have rendered distinguished service to the university and the community; have given freely of their talents in the promotion of human welfare and community well-being; and by their integrity, sensitivity and commitment, serve as role models for the students and alumni of IU Southeast."

The award is the highest award conferred by the IUS chancellor. Selection of the recipients each year is based on recommendations made to the chancellor by members of the Board of Advisors.

Richardson noted that Robinson is a former president of the old New Albany Chamber of Commerce and both Garmon and Ragland have served as chairs of the board of the Chamber of Commerce of Southern Indiana. Garmon and Robinson were both co-founders of small businesses in New Albany that have grown into national and international firms. Ragland served as chairman of the IUS Board of Advisors until he was transferred recently to Lima, Ohio, by Bank One, where he is now president of the bank's West Ohio Community Group.

Garmon was a founder and chief executive officer of Key Communications in New Albany from April 1976 through December 1993 when she retired.

Robinson recently retired as chairman of the board of Robinson Nugent Inc., headquartered in New Albany.

Last year's medallion recipient was Indiana Gov. Frank O'Bannon.

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