Awards

Distinguished Alumni Service Award - 1955

About Fred Dykhuizen

Fred Dykhuizen

Fred Dykhuizen received the Indiana University Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 1955. A Hoosier by birthright, Dykhuizen was born in Lafayette, Indiana, and in 1926, graduated from Indiana University. Though he moved to New Orleans in 1929, he made sure to maintain ties with Indiana University, acting as President of the New Orleans Big Ten University Club as well as the Indiana University Alumni Association of New Orleans.

Dykhuizen’s professional career in the meat packing business spanned four decades, and in 1961 he retired from his position of President and General Manager of the Klarer-Dixie and Ibara Packing Co. Additionally, Dykhuizen worked as President of the Louisiana Meat Packers and Processors Association, and was a board chairman of the National Independent Meat Packers Association.

Throughout his life, Dykhuizen was deeply involved in community service, especially the YMCA organization. His 40-year commitment there involved serving as President and Member of the Board of Trustees of the New Orleans YMCA and Director of the Southern Area YMCA. In 1969 he was given the Award of Honor by the Southern Area Council of the YMCA.

Dykhuizen also found other ways to give back to his community, taking on important civic roles such as Member of the Executive Committee of the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, (where he chaired a number of the chamber's committees), member of the Young Men's Business Club, member of the New Orleans Police Advisory Board and member of the Rotary Club of New Orleans.

Dykhuizen proudly participated in the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in 1945, and was a church elder of his local Lakeview Presbyterian Church, as well as a chairman of its building committee, and was also the Finance Chairman of the Greater New Orleans Federation of Churches.

Dykhuizen passed away in 1973 at the age of 70. He and his wife Mary raised seven children and stepchildren together, and by the time of Dykhuizen’s death were the proud of grandparents of eighteen grandchildren.