Gene E. Sease
Encyclopedia
Dr. Gene Elwood Sease was the fifth president of the University of Indianapolis
and has been an active leader who has helped shape the city of Indianapolis since.
, Gene Sease is the youngest of five siblings and was named after the famous singing cowboy, Gene Autry
. His father worked for the Portage Coal Mining Company.
Gene served a number of churches in his area, and it was while he was serving one of the churches, he met Joanne Cherry, the church pianist, who he later would marry.
Gene went to Juniata College
in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
where he received his A.B (1952). He received his M.Div. from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (1956). He received his M.Ed. and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh (1958, 1965). Shortly after college graduation, he married Joanne on July 20 1952. Together, they had three children; David, Daniel, and Cheryl.
(UMC).
where Dr. Sease was named president of Indiana Central College in 1970. Dr. Sease was seen as a civic-minded educator who could use his political connections to reshape the image of the school. Gene helped the school expand towards Indianapolis, which resulted in a growth period that brought in more students as well as more diversity. With this inward city movement, he changed the name to University of Indianapolis
in 1986.
The administrative wing attached to Krannert Memorial Library was renamed the Sease Wing in honor of Dr. Gene Sease in 2001.
and again in 2003 by Governor Mitch Daniels
. Gene was most noted for helping with the renovation of the 4-H Educational Complex.
University of Indianapolis
The University of Indianapolis is a university located in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The shortened name it uses is UIndy...
and has been an active leader who has helped shape the city of Indianapolis since.
Early life
Born in the small coal mining town of Portage, PennsylvaniaPortage, Pennsylvania
Portage is a borough within Portage Township in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Ebensburg and west-southwest of Altoona. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. Coal mining was the lifeblood of Portage. In 1900, 816 people lived there, and in 1910,...
, Gene Sease is the youngest of five siblings and was named after the famous singing cowboy, Gene Autry
Gene Autry
Orvon Grover Autry , better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s...
. His father worked for the Portage Coal Mining Company.
Gene served a number of churches in his area, and it was while he was serving one of the churches, he met Joanne Cherry, the church pianist, who he later would marry.
Gene went to Juniata College
Juniata College
Juniata College is a private liberal arts college located in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. It is named after the Juniata River — one of the principal tributaries of the Susquehanna River. In 1876 it became the first college founded by the Church of the Brethren and has been co-educational since...
in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
Huntingdon is a borough in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Huntingdon County. It is located along the Juniata River, west of Harrisburg, about halfway between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, in an agricultural and fruit-growing region, with valuable forests and deposits of...
where he received his A.B (1952). He received his M.Div. from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (1956). He received his M.Ed. and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh (1958, 1965). Shortly after college graduation, he married Joanne on July 20 1952. Together, they had three children; David, Daniel, and Cheryl.
The Methodist Merger
In 1968, the Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) merged with the Methodists to create the United Methodist ChurchUnited Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
(UMC).
University Years
In 1968, the family moved from Pennsylvania to Indianapolis, IndianaIndianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
where Dr. Sease was named president of Indiana Central College in 1970. Dr. Sease was seen as a civic-minded educator who could use his political connections to reshape the image of the school. Gene helped the school expand towards Indianapolis, which resulted in a growth period that brought in more students as well as more diversity. With this inward city movement, he changed the name to University of Indianapolis
University of Indianapolis
The University of Indianapolis is a university located in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The shortened name it uses is UIndy...
in 1986.
The administrative wing attached to Krannert Memorial Library was renamed the Sease Wing in honor of Dr. Gene Sease in 2001.
The Family Business
In 1988, Dr. Gene E. Sease started a public relations firm, Sease Gerig & Associates with his oldest son David and business partner Lou Gerig. Together, the three have continued to manage one of the most prestigious and the oldest public relations firm in Indianapolis.Indiana State Fair
Dr. Gene E. Sease was appointed as the Indiana State Fair Commission Chairman in 2000 by Governor Frank O'BannonFrank O'Bannon
Frank Lewis O'Bannon was an American politician who was the 47th Governor of Indiana from 1997 until his death in 2003.-Background:...
and again in 2003 by Governor Mitch Daniels
Mitch Daniels
Mitchell Elias "Mitch" Daniels, Jr. is the 49th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Indiana. A Republican, he began his first four-year term as governor on January 10, 2005, and was elected to his second term by an 18-point margin on November 4, 2008. Previously, he was the Director of the...
. Gene was most noted for helping with the renovation of the 4-H Educational Complex.
Volunteer Positions
- President of the Kiwanis Club of Indianapolis, Inc. (1977)
- 500 Festival Chairman (1978)
- Board of Directors, Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce