Background
Pruis, John J. was born on December 13, 1923 in Borculo, Michigan, United States. Son of Ties J. and Trientje (Koop) Pruis.
Pruis, John J. was born on December 13, 1923 in Borculo, Michigan, United States. Son of Ties J. and Trientje (Koop) Pruis.
Bachelor of Science, Western Michigan University, 1947. Master of Arts, Northwestern University, 1949. Doctor of Philosophy, Northwestern University, 1951.
Doctor of Letters (honorary), Yeungnam University, Taegu, Korea. Doctor of Letters (honorary), Indiana State University. Honorary Doctor of Laws, Ball State University.
Honorary Doctor of Laws, University Southern Indiana. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Keuka College.
He went to for his education and later for a career. Pruis, originally from Holland, Michigan came to Ball State on July 1, 1968, and retiring in 1978. After his tenure at Ball State, Pruis went on to become the vice president of corporate relations at Ball Corporation, the executive vice president of the George and Frances Balliol
Foundation and director of the Ball Brothers Foundation.
He then began working at the university upon his graduation. He taught speech for 13 years, was a vice-president for two years, and a secretary to the university"s Board of Trustees for four years.
Presidency (1968–1978) Pruis brought many different scholarship opportunities to Ball State such as the Whitinger Scholars Program, John R. Emens Scholars, Martin Luther King, Junior. Scholarships, and Undergraduate research grants.
He also established foreign language houses, as well as graduate assistant and doctoral fellow programs.
The Annual Fund grew from $170,758 to approximately $1.8 million during Pruis" presidency. Pruis was married to Angeline R. Pruis. He died on January 15, 2016 at a retirement community in Muncie, Indiana. and Angeline Pruis Award for Teaching Campus Additions during presidency Cooper Science Building Teachers College Building (1968) Lewellen Pool (1968) Johnson Complex (1969) Carmichael Hall (1969) (1972) College of Architecture and Planning Building (1972) Bracken Library (1975) Two parking garages Science hall renamed to East Quad Building (Burkhardt Building) John Pruis is one of the many presidents of Ball State to have a building on campus named after him.
The building was built during his presidency in 1972 and held the name University Hall until after his term concluded. is a unique building on campus.
A large majority of the buildings on Ball State"s Campus are made of red brick with exceptions of the Administration Building having yellow brick, and Elliott Hall and being made of Indiana Limestone and cement. The architecture firm responsible for the design of Pruis hall was influenced by a grand piano with its strong curves and angular walls. is located directly southeast of Bracken Library, and is used for large gatherings of people.
The building is set up to be more like an auditorium, and this is its only function. The building can hold up to 700 people and hosts Friday Night Movies as well as guest lectures, comedians, and other special events.
Vice president Country doctor chairman Kalamazoo Community Chest, 1964. Board directors Kalamazoo chapter American Cancer Society, 1963-1968, Delaware County United Way, Muncie Symphony Association, Ball Memorial Hospital, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Indiana Legal Foundation. Trustee University Southern Indiana, 1985-1990.
Executive vice president George and Frances Ball Foundation With United States Naval Reserve, 1943-1946. Captain Reserve, retired. Member American Association Higher Education, Speech Communication Association, Muncie Chamber of Commerce, Blue Key, Rotary, Phi Delta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, Beta Gamma Sigma.
Married Angeline Rosemary Zull, September 14, 1944. Children: David Lofton, Daniel J., Dirk Thomas.