Indiana University Athletics
A Proud Hoosier Gives Back
2/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Varsity Club
Feb. 1, 2011
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Jack MacLeod grew up three blocks from Butler's famed Hinkle Fieldhouse, where he watched countless basketball games, including the 1952 Indiana state championship immortalized by the movie Hoosiers. To say he's a fan of Indiana basketball is a huge understatement.
As an undergraduate, Jack remembers pulling long hours between ROTC, coursework, at least one job and a busy social calendar. But missing a basketball or football game was a rare event.
One of his favorite moments was watching Walt Bellamy lead IU to a commanding 16-point victory over Ohio State--a conference rival that included future hall-of-famers John Havlicek and Jerry Lucas, as well as a youngster from Orville, Ohio, by the name of Robert Knight. It's the type of experience that has made him a decades-long season ticket holder in both basketball and football.
As a family, the MacLeods have a longstanding connection to IU. Jack's older sister graduated summa cum laude from IU Bloomington and was the first female candidate for student body president. One of Jack's sons attended IU in the '90s, and if his grandson starts classes in 2011, he will be a third generation Hoosier. When it comes to hobbies, Jack couldn't be a more interesting guy. He's an avid photographer who most recently went on safari across Kenya and Tanzania's Great Rift Valley. He also happens to have a fascination with knife- and tomahawk-throwing-- burglars beware.
More than anything, Jack exudes a deep commitment to the continued success of Indiana University. When asked about his 30 years of giving, Jack says:
"I'm proud of IU. And I feel that, if you're fortunate enough in life to do well, you should give back-- you have a responsibility to give back."
Originally published in the Varsity Club 2009-2010 Annual Report.
