Butts-Whiting Winner Linda Eldred Passes Away
Linda Eldred passed away on August 29, 2024. Eldred served as an at-large member on the Board of Trustees in the late 80s, as Region 9 director from 1975–77, and as chair of the 1989 Conference Program Committee, leading the planning of ACUI’s 75th anniversary celebration, which received American Society of Association Executives Single Educational Programming Effort Award in 1989.
Eldred was honored as the “ideal volunteer” with the 1990 Butts-Whiting Award. In a nomination letter, her former student said, “It is people like [Eldred] who have made ACUI what it is today.”
Eldred worked at Indiana State University as the associate director of student life programs from 1968 until her retirement in December 2003. She left a lasting impact on students during her career. When presenting Eldred the Butts-Whiting award, Mims Harris said, “She has chosen to be a program person for her entire career because of her belief that there she can touch the lives of our students most successfully.”
Former students agreed, describing Eldred as a teacher, role model, mentor, confident, and friend in nomination letters. And through her mentorship, Eldred also shared ACUI.
“Little did I know what an impact Linda would have on my life, career, and involvement with ACUI,” said Past President Sarah Aikman in her 2015 presidential address. “During my two years at ISU, Linda gave me the opportunity to attend a regional conference and an annual conference. She showed me the importance of giving back to my local community as well as my professional association of choice. She saw something in me.”
Indiana State University honored Eldred with the establishment of the Linda Eldred Student Leadership Center in 2001, celebrating the “impact she had on thousands of students.” And upon her retirement in 2003, Eldred received the ACUI Emeritus Award for her dedication to students and advancing campus community.
Reflecting on the opening event at the 1989 conference, Eldred said: “Hundreds of volunteers have built on the traditions, hopes, dreams, and plans of the original founding members. How proud they would be tonight of ACUI, knowing their dreams continue to be our dreams.”
Through her work with students on campus and with ACUI, Eldred was indeed someone who carried through the founders’ dreams.
