As the son of a minister who traveled to rural areas, Thomas Leroy Houk Jr.
'62 grew up in small farm communities in northwest Indiana. "Clergy make a
decision to follow their calling in lieu of considerations for financial
gain," he says. "My father was a minister, and I never would have been able
to go to Wabash without financial help."
Tom attended Wabash College with the assistance of a Wabash College
Conversion Loan. He also drove a laundry truck each day from Crawfordsville
to Lafayette. Tom explains that the loan paid a portion of his tuition-if
he graduated. "I worked very, very hard to graduate," he says.
After receiving his BA with a major in psychology and minor in economics,
Tom went directly into the Navy, attended officer training school and
traveled the world.
Later, Tom became the successful business owner of Diller-Brown &
Associates, Inc., a manufacturer's representative for water and wastewater
valve markets. He says of his experience, "I've been able to function
successfully in the business world primarily from the background I received
at Wabash."
Now retired, he and his wife Gayle enjoy time with their two grandchildren.
They also enjoy bicycling-35 miles every Saturday morning-and riding
through the mountains of North Carolina.
Another activity Tom greatly treasures is co-hosting the annual Monon Bell
Game telecast for Orlando area alumni. Of late, the games have tipped
strongly in Wabash's favor the past four years.
In making his gift to Wabash College, Tom says, "I always felt like I would
like to do something to help other young men of similar circumstances."
With a partial gift of his life insurance policy to fund student
scholarships, Tom has fulfilled that legacy dream. By changing his policy
designation and executing an endowed fund agreement with Wabash, Tom will
use part of the policy to fund the Houk Family Scholarship at his passing,
and hence, help generations of Wabash men achieve their own dreams.