ALUMNI CLASS NEWS
1940s Franklin Schurz ’48 is a distinguished biographee included in Marquis Who’s Who. Individuals profiled are chosen from among a pool of the most prominent professionals. Schurz excelled in his career for more than 60 years and is retired, having attained the role of chairman emeritus of Schurz Communications, Inc., in 2007. Joining the South Bend Tribune as an executive assistant in 1956, he also held the roles of secretary, director, associate publisher, editor, publisher, executive vice president
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and president between 1970 and 1982, before the company’s name changed to Schurz Communications. The president and chairman of Schurz Communications from 1982 to 2006, he was also the treasurer from 1983 to 1989 and spent one final year as the chairman from 2006 to 2007 before attaining emeritus status. He served on the CEF Board of Trustees from 2004 through 2017 and has held Emeritus status from 2017 forward. He also served on the Legion Board from 1973–1976 and 2002 to 2004.
1950s Roger Penske W’50, auto racing legend and chairman of the board and CEO of Penske Corporation, celebrated the crowning achievement of his 82 years: the acquisition of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Nov. 4, 2019 for $300 million from the Hulman family, who had owned it for 74 years. He is the fourth owner of the Speedway in its 110 years. Stephen Burkman W’52 has sold the remaining 49 percent of Hema Diagnostic Systems (HDS) to Generex Biotech-
nology Corporation, which is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the company.
1960s John Baker W’59 ’64, Indiana’s longest serving judge and a 30-year veteran of the Indiana Court of Appeals, will retire effective July 31, 2020. Baker joined the appellate court in 1989 when he was appointed by Gov. Evan Bayh. A former chief judge of the court, Baker is the most prolific appellate jurist in Indiana history, having authored more than 5,000 written opinions.
