Darrell Wyrick
Age: 75. Fundraiser extraordinaire whose impact on the UI campus is enormous, became the first full-time UI Foundation gift solicitor in 1962, retiring 36 years later with more than half a billion dollars raised during his watch. He earned undergraduate and master’s degrees in chemical engineering at UI, working briefly in Minneapolis before returning to his alma matter. He invented and modernized solicitation tools, eventually heading a staff exceeding 80. Among many efforts were help funding Old Capitol restoration, Carver-Hawkeye arena, Hancher Auditorium, Art Museum, business and engineering buildings, main and health sciences libraries, and uncounted faculty chair endowments.