2006 Honorary Degree
James E. Dora
Doctor Of Hospitality and
Tourism Management
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He is the founder and owner of General Hotels Corporation, which operates 10 successful hotel properties and a conference center located in Indianapolis, Kokomo, Lafayette and Terre Haute.
Dora came to Purdue from Vincennes, Ind., and earned a bachelor of science degree in 1958. He also attended the Michigan State University School of Hotel Administration and found early success as a hotel manager, becoming involved in hotel project development and operations at an early age.
Strong leadership has been a critical component of Dora’s success. In addition to guiding the vision for General Hotels, he served on the International Association of Holiday Inns Worldwide, the leadership group of Holiday Inn owners internationally, for nine years, including two years as its president. He also has served on 13 other corporate and community-based boards, holding the top leadership position on three of them.
Dora is a two-time recipient of a Sagamore of the Wabash, the top honor given by an Indiana governor recognizing accomplishments and citizenship. He received one each from governors Robert Orr and Evan Bayh.
He also demonstrated a strong devotion and lifelong commitment to Purdue by establishing two scholarships and endowing the C.B. Smith Professorship of hotel management. He is a past chair of the Purdue President’s Council and was vice chair of Vision 21, the university’s successful fund-raising campaign of the early 1990’s.
Dora is a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and remains dedicated to the Delta Delta Chapter at Purdue. He is currently serving as co-chair of the Steering Committee that is providing a $6.5 million renovation of the chapter house that was built in 1912 at 202 Littleton St. He has been honored as a Significant Sig in 2001 and was recognized as one of the 150 outstanding living members of Sigma Chi at its sesquicentennial celebration in 2005.