The campus community lost one of its finest champions this morning with the passing of “Mr. Rose-Hulman,” Ronald G. Reeves.

Reeves, 82, served Rose-Hulman and its alumni for 30 years, 24 of them as vice president of development and external affairs. A conference room in the Office of Institutional Advancement, located inside Hatfield Hall, was dedicated to Reeves in 2016. The adviser for the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity campus chapter for several years, he was honored by past and current members who renamed their campus house for him. He received ATO’s National President’s Service Award in 1970.

“Ron represented those qualities that make Rose-Hulman special—a caring spirit, a kind heart, and an eagerness to assist others,” said Rose-Hulman President Jim Conwell.

Reeves earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Rose-Hulman in 1958, and was awarded an honorary doctorate of engineering from the institute in 1997.  He received the Alumni Association’s Honor Alumni Award in 1977.

A Terre Haute native, Reeves was deeply committed to his hometown. He received the Terre Award from the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce and Chapman S. Root Award from Hospice of the Wabash Valley for his leadership and service to several local organizations and philanthropic causes.

Among his numerous community endeavors, he was a longtime member of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Terre Haute, a director the Crossroads of America Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and a board member of the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, Wabash Valley Community Foundation, Swope Art Museum, First Congregational Church, Wabash Valley Family Sports Center, Banks of the Wabash Festival and Trees Inc.

Professionally, Reeves was a former president of the Indiana Council for the Advancement and Support of Education and Francis Vigo chapter of the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers. He also spent several years as a member of the steering committee for the Independent Colleges of Indiana.

Memorial Services for Ronald G. Reeves
The visitation and funeral service honoring the life of Rose-Hulman alumnus and former vice president of development Ronald G. Reeves will be Saturday, Feb. 10, at Terre Haute’s First Congregational Church. Visitation is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the funeral following at 1 p.m. A private burial is planned with family members. The church is located at 630 Ohio St.. Parking will be available adjacent to the church and throughout the downtown area.

Reeves’ official obituary will be published later this week in the Terre Haute Tribune-Star. There was a tribute article published on the front page of today’s paper.