Awards

IU Foundation President's Medallion - 2005

Chancellor and Provost Medallion - 1997

IU East Chancellor's Medallion

Richmond, Indiana

Presenter: David Fulton

About Tom Raper

Tom Raper has been a devoted supporter of IU East. He has served on the IU East Board of Advisors since 1993. In 1991, he established the Tom Raper Scholarship to benefit hardworking, deserving students who are committed to building their success in East Central Indiana. More than 90 scholarships have been awarded from the endowment in the past 15 years. Raper also contributed $2.17 million dollars to the university, the largest single gift in its history. As a thank-you, IU-East renamed Middlefork Hall to Tom Raper Hall in 2009.

Raper brought national recognition to Richmond, Indiana, by building the nation's largest recreational vehicle dealership, Tom Raper RVs. From humble beginnings with a used car lot of fewer than 10 cars in 1964, Raper grew the business into a 60-acre complex in Richmond with 275 employees and a worldwide customer base. In 2002, he sold the business, which still bears his name.