 |
|
(1933 - 1999) |
| Inducted: |
2000 |
David Alan Hicks placed character and integrity at the forefront of his work with Junior Achievement.
Born in Indianapolis on April 7, 1933, Hicks grew up on a farm in Indiana. He served in the Army during the Korean conflict and earned the rank of Master Sergeant. Majoring in economics and business administration at Franklin College, he graduated in 1958.
Hicks’ JA career began in Indianapolis in 1959 as program director, and in three years he was president. Hicks was responsible for opening JA programs in 34 cities throughout the state and expanding to more than 330 schools reaching 300,000 students.
In a geographic expansion in 1967, Hicks managed 23 district boards and served as the divisional director for 48 countries from 1976-1984. Through his leadership, the Central Indiana program was a premier field operation, with annual recognition for creative development, student participation, and financial stability. Hicks’ first operating budget was approximately $40,000, which he grew to $1,360,000 with a $525,000 endowment upon his retirement. Early on as president, Hicks played a major role in the development and implementation of JA’s first in-class programs, Indianapolis serving as a pilot city for a number of in-school JA programs.
In 1972, Hicks won the Charles R. Hook Award given to the most outstanding JA executive in the nation.
Hicks chaired many national and regional conferences and served on many national committees, including chairman of the National Pioneers Organization of Retired JA Professionals which worked to ensure the history of JA was preserved. Indianapolis was the host city for the National Junior Achievers Conference (NAJAC) for 22 years.
When he died on October 18, 1999, he left a lasting legacy of lifetime achievement crowned with success.
|
