Historical Society to Honor ‘Living Legends’
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowFour prominent Hoosiers will be celebrated this evening as “living legends.” The Indiana Historical Society selected this year's class from hundreds of nominations. July 18, 2013
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) will honor Steven Beering, David Hochoy and George and Peggy Rapp at its 15th annual Indiana Living Legends Gala, which will take place at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center on Friday, July 19, 2013. The History Center, home of the IHS and the Indiana Experience, is located at 450 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis.
Each year, the IHS honors extraordinary Hoosiers for their statewide and national accomplishments in a variety of areas and disciplines. This year's honorees were selected from hundreds of nominations.
The gala is the signature fundraising event which assists the IHS in fulfilling its mission to be Indiana’s Storyteller by supporting its statewide programs and services. In addition to the generous corporate sponsorship of OneAmerica Financial Partners, Inc. and Indiana Railroad Company, individuals and companies are invited to support the IHS mission by attending the event.
The black-tie event will begin with a cocktail reception with the Living Legends at 5:30 p.m., followed by a gourmet dinner at 6:30 p.m. The program will take place at 7:45 p.m. and will be immediately followed by desserts and coffee.
For additional information on the Indiana Historical Society and its programs, call (317) 232-1882 or visit www.indianahistory.org.
Since 1830, the Indiana Historical Society has been Indiana's Storyteller, connecting people to the past by collecting, preserving, interpreting and sharing the state's history. A private, nonprofit membership organization, IHS maintains the nation's premier research library and archives on the history of Indiana and the Old Northwest and presents a unique set of visitor exhibitions called the Indiana Experience. IHS also provides support and assistance to local museums and historical groups, publishes books and periodicals; sponsors teacher workshops; and provides youth, adult and family programming. The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, home of the IHS and the Indiana Experience, is located at 450 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis.
2013 Indiana Living Legends Bios (provided by Indiana Historical Society)
Dr. Steven Beering
Dr. Steven Beering is president emeritus of Purdue University. Serving as president from 1983 to 2000, Dr. Beering’s tenure was marked by sustained growth in academics, facilities, and private support—including significant increases in private annual gifts, sponsored research, endowments, enrollment and scholarships.
Prior to his work at Purdue, Dr. Beering spent 10 years as dean of medicine and director of the Indiana University Medical Center. He was an attending physician at Indiana University Hospitals and Wishard Memorial Hospital from 1969 to 1983, and achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel while serving on active duty with the U.S. Air Force Medical Corps from 1957 to 1969.
Dr. Beering earned his bachelor’s and medical degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, and has received numerous honorary doctorate degrees. His national offices include chair of the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Association of American Universities, and former regent of the National Library of Medicine.
He is a Fellow and Master of the American College of Physicians and the Royal Society of Medicine, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, and the Indiana Academy. His board service includes The Community Foundation of Northwestern Indiana, National Science Board and Universities Research Association. He is also a trustee of the University of Pittsburgh. He is a former director of Eli Lilly, Arvin, and NiSource Inc.
David Hochoy
As artistic director of Dance Kaleidoscope since 1991, David Hochoy has choreographed more than 40 DK productions and worked with organizations such as Ball State University Student Dance Company, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Indianapolis Civic Theatre and Phoenix Theatre. He also served as Artistic Director of The Green Shows at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) for 10 seasons.
In New York, Mr. Hochoy studied and danced with numerous national companies. In 1980, he was invited to join the Martha Graham Dance Company, with which he toured the world as a dancer, soloist, and eventually rehearsal director. He has given master classes in Graham technique throughout the United States, as well as in Europe and China. Prior to his time with DK, Mr. Hochoy spent two years as a full-time faculty member at Texas Christian University.
Mr. Hochoy was born in Trinidad, West Indies. He received a bachelor’s degree from McGill University in Montreal and his master’s degree in directing from Penn State University. He has received the prestigious Choo-San Goh Award, a Master Fellowship in Choreography and an Individual Artist Grant from the Indiana Arts Commission, a Creative Renewal Fellowship from the Arts Council of Indianapolis and the Distinguished Hoosier Award by the Governor of Indiana. In 2010, David traveled to Washington D.C. to serve as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts.
Dr. George and Mrs. Peggy Rapp
For decades, Dr. George Rapp and his wife Peggy have been invaluable resources in Indiana and around the world.
While maintaining his private practice, Dr. Rapp served on the volunteer staff at the Indiana University School of Medicine. For 18 years, he was Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Orthopaedic Residency Program at St. Vincent Medical Center. He was also Director of the Scoliosis Clinic at Riley Children's Hospital for 20 years.
Dr. Rapp was a founder and chair of Sofamor Danek (now a division of Medtronic), one of the world's largest manufacturers of spinal instrumentation. He is past president of the Indiana Orthopaedic Society and the Mid-America Orthopaedic Society, and served as a Board Examiner for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Since retirement, Dr. Rapp has devoted time to several philanthropic entities, including Crossroads of America Boy Scouts, Indiana Historical Society, Indiana Landmarks, Second Presbyterian Church and New Harmony Memorial Commission. He also helped establish the Posey County Foundation.
Peggy Rapp received her bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and taught in Indianapolis. She was a chair of the first Black Tie Gala event for the Heartland Film Festival and is a lifetime trustee of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. She co-founded the New Harmony Paint Out, Lake Wawasee Paint Out, New Harmony Garden Club, New Harmony Annual Doll Tea Party and the New Harmony Garden Tour Program.
The Rapps, who married in 1956, are involved with numerous organizations, including Hoosier Salon, Herron School of Art and Design, and the University of Southern Indiana Society for Arts and Humanities, and the Indiana University Kenya program. They have also served on the boards of Heartland Film Festival, Riley Hospital and University of Southern Indiana.
Together, they have received several honors, including the ARTI Patron Award, the Otis R. Bowen Leadership Award and honorary doctorates from University of Southern Indiana. Dr. Rapp has also been recognized with IU’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award, the IU School of Medicine’s Maynard K. Hine Medal, IUPUI’s Spirit of Philanthropy Award and the World of Difference award for lifetime achievement from the Indiana Medical Industry Forum.
Source: Indiana Historical Society