Wells Awards presented to 6 recipients

The IU Foundation honored six people Nov. 3 as the first Herman B Wells Visionary Award recipients in a ceremony featuring Gen. Colin L. Powell, former chairman on the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.\nThe awards, honoring the lifetime humanitarian efforts of the recipients, were given to Gayle K. Cook, co-owner of Cook Group Inc., Bloomington; William A. Cook, president of Cook Group Inc., Bloomington; Arthur J. Decio, chairman of the board of Skyline Corp., Elkhart, Ind.; Christel DeHaan, president and founder of Christel House and the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation, Indianapolis; Bert A. Getz, chairman and chief executive officer of Globe Corp., Scottsdale, Ariz.; and William G. Mays, president and CEO of Mays Chemical Co. Inc., Indianapolis.\nThe award was named in honor of late University Chancellor Herman B Wells and was created to recognize individuals who exemplify the best of Wells' dreams and aspirations for IU and society as a whole, according to a press release.\n"We could think of no greater name to associate with the award than our late, beloved University Chancellor, Herman B Wells, whose own life of 97 years was marked with achievement, uncommon humanity and an incomparable spirit," said Curtis Simic, president of the IU Foundation, in the release.\nIU President Myles Brand gave the honorees a framed award and crystal book, chosen to signify Wells' love of learning.\nThe book was inscribed with the statement: "Those who dream on a grand scale, and have the perseverance to realize those dreams, can change the world"