Ping receives John C. Baker Founder's Award

By Jennifer Bowie

The Ohio University Foundation bestowed upon President Emeritus Charles J. Ping its greatest honor, The John C. Baker Founder's Award at a ceremony on Nov. 22. The award, named in honor of the University's fourteenth president, recognizes individuals who have provided exemplary service to the Foundation.

"Dr. Ping led the University through an amazing transformation and as part of that the maturing of The Foundation really took place," said Ohio University President Robert Glidden. "Although it was started with John Baker in 1945, I see Charlie Ping as one of the motors of The Ohio University Foundation as we know it today."

The inaugural Baker Awards were presented in 1995 during a special dual celebration: the 50th anniversary of The Foundation and the 100th birthday of its founder.

"Dr. Ping was chosen for the Baker Award because of his many accomplishments, but in particular his leadership of and support for the Third Century Campaign," said Vice President for University Advancement Leonard Raley. "The Third Century Campaign was hugely successful. It raised more than $132 million and really served to propel Ohio University into the ranks of the nation's major universities."

Educated at Rhodes College, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Duke University, Ping came to the University in 1975. He arrived at an institution with great potential but in deep turmoil from a severe decline in enrollment and a critical financial situation. In 19 years, he led the University to record enrollment (25,000), a budget of $240 million; the 1804 Fund Campaign, which raised $22.6 million; and the Third Century Campaign.

"It was with courage and leadership that Dr. Ping encouraged The Foundation Board of Trustees to begin planning to undertake what became known as the 1804 Fund Campaign," said Vice President for Development Emeritus Jack Ellis. The 1804 Fund Campaign was the University's first comprehensive capital campaign. Upon his retirement as president in 1994, Ping took a year's sabbatical before returning to teach and direct the Ping Institute for the Teaching of the Humanities.

"The major thing he's taught me over the years is just how important education is," said Ping's grandson Sam Venable, a freshman at Ohio University. "High school, college and just education for life are so important. Learning is what really makes a person and really fulfills him and shows him what life is all about."

More recently, Ping has played a crucial role in the development of the Manasseh Cutler Scholars program. Launched under his guidance and vision, the program educates extraordinarily capable and committed young people to be world citizens. "I and others look forward to the day in the not too distant future when we will see a Cutler Scholar from every county in the state of Ohio and in every academic discipline at Ohio University," said Raley. "Dr. Ping is a remarkable leader and person. He has really transformed this institution."

Jennifer Bowie is the director of Development Communication.