2003 Honorary Degree

William J. Hefner Doctor Of Humane Letters William James Hefner has earned recognition as a lifelong community champion in northeastern Indiana, contributing time and resources to numerous worthy causes. William James Hefner Both the Fort Wayne area and IPFW have benefited from his generous support. Mr. Hefner has been a resident of Fort Wayne for most of his 83 years and has been regarded as one of the city’s outstanding citizens. He owned and operated a successful local business, Hefner Chevrolet Inc., for 30 years. He also is president and owner of North Side Realty, North Side Finance and North Side Leasing, all in Fort Wayne. Born in rural Van Buren, Ind., Mr. Hefner graduated from Jefferson Center High School in 1937 and served in the U.S. Army Air Forces (Air Corps) from 1942 to 1945. Mr. Hefner has continually used his professional success to give back to the community, serving as a role model for business owners by offering financial support to worthy community activities. He donated the 230-acre Centennial Industrial Park to the Fort Wayne Community Foundation and was co-donator of the building for the Washington House Treatment Center. He has established the William J. and Bonnie L. Hefner Foundation to assist area children, education and medical research. Bonnie is his wife of 62 years. Mr. Hefner also helped nearly 500 high school students travel and study as international exchange students. The David Hefner International Exchange Fund, which is named in honor of his son who died in a car crash when he was 17 years old, has awarded about $400,000 to students in northeastern Indiana who have studied abroad. IPFW also has been the recipient of Hefner’s generous support as the university has expanded its role in the community. His foundation made it possible for IPFW to build 14 soccer fields and a pavilion, the Hefner Soccer Field, which also was named in honor of Hefner’s son. It is the premier soccer complex in the region. Mr. Hefner also has donated generously outside the Fort Wayne area. He has given substantial financial support for medical research at the Scripps Clinic in LaJolla, Calif., where he is a member of the Presidents Council, and to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.