Media Wall Of Fame

 

JOHN W. BURKHART '28

Inducted: May 9, 1997

John Burkhart once said "I like to be doing something concrete. I like to have an actual job. I like to be part of something that’s growing." This quote basically sums up the life of John Burkhart who is considered one of the most influential men of the last 50 years in Indianapolis.

Born the son of a minister who died of tuberculosis when Burkhart was 14, he was essentially raised by this grandfather who was a Tipton farmer, a devout Christian and who Burkhart says was "very interested in good government." He graduated from high school at age 15 and graduated from DePauw University in 1928, where he was a Rector Scholar. While at DePauw he majored in political science and history. Upon graduating at the age of 19, Burkhart returned to the farm he grew up on to help his grandfather. In 1945, along with a few other investors, he started the College Life Insurance Company of America (1946-1958) and later the University Life Insurance companies which operated in 49 states at the time of their sale in 1979.

By then, long after he’d achieved success in business and politics, Burkhart and his partner, St. Louis businessman Mark Vittert, unhappy with local news coverage of business, co-founded the Indianapolis Business Journal. The success of the journal prompted the start of other business weeklies in St. Louis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Baltimore. In 1990, Burkhart became chairman of CEO Magazine.

John Burkhart has served in several community and civic affiliations including past director and past president of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, The Board of Governors, chairman of the Capital Improvements Board, and chairman of the United Student Aid Funds Incorporated. He is a former Republican State Finance chairman and member of the GOP Platform Committee at the 1964 Republican Convention. He was the recipient of the Old Gold Goblet in 1968 at DePauw University. Burkhart has received honorary degrees from DePauw University, Bates College, Indiana Central, and Vincennes University.

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