Former BSU president Pruis dead at 92

MUNCIE -- Former Ball State University President John J Pruis, who on campus still has a major auditorium named in his honor, died Saturday at Westminster Village, where he lived.

He was 92.

Members of Pruis' family confirmed the news through Meeks Mortuary Saturday afternoon.

During Pruis' tenure -- from 1968-78 -- Ball State joined the Mid-American Conference in 1973.

Also during the 1970s, BSU expanded its honors program, launched the Human Performance Laboratory and instituted a program in Student Handicapped Services.

According to the school's website, when Pruis became president at BSU on July 1, 1968 at at the age of 43, he had been previously associated with Western Michigan, his alma mater, as a professor of speech for 13 years, vice president for 2 years and secretary to the university's board of trustees for 4 years.

During his time as Ball State's president, the school enjoyed the construction of Bracken Library, the College of Architecture and Planning, Cooper Science Complex and two parking garages. Work began on the College of Business building.

“Grace and I are saddened to hear of the passing of John Pruis,” current Ball State President Paul Ferguson said via email through a university spokesperson Saturday evening. “His legacy, established from a decade of presidential leadership, lives on through the enhanced campus infrastructure, including his namesake Pruis Hall,  and the many students who were fortunate recipients of his many scholarship initiatives.”

Before Pruis resigned on Aug. 31, 1978, Ball State's annual fund grew from $170,758 when he took the position to approximately $1.8 million, the school's website says.

There have been eight presidents at the university since Pruis (in order): Richard Burkhardt, 1978-1979; Jerry Anderson, 1979-1981; Robert Bell, 1981-1984; John Worthen, 1984-2000; Blaine Brownell, 2000-2004; Beverly Pitts, 2004; Jo Ann Gora, 2004-2014; Paul Ferguson, 2014-current.

Pruis was believed to be the oldest remaining living Ball State president, but university officials could not confirm that with certainty.

According to the university, however, Worthen, Brownell, Pitts and Gora are the only former living school presidents.