The Herald Republican

Saturday, May 26, 2001

By Rose Eastes
Staff Reporter

It's a been a good life for the guy from Paducah, Ky. He has touched many lives in Steuben County. Maybe best know for his 73-year affiliation with Tri-State University, Rev. J. Glenn Radcliffe was also the founder of the Pleasant View Church of Christ in Angola. He's also known for the joy and comfort he's given many people.

Completely overcome with emotion, Radcliffe received the highest award a Hoosier can get from his state-The Sagamore of the Wabash-Wednesday afternoon at his home. "Boy, oh boy, oh boy," he said, "I'm on cloud nine. State Rep. Dennis Kruse presented the award to Radcliffe as close friends and family surrounded him.

Diagnosed with lung cancer in April, Radcliffe is confined to his home. However, he left his home on April 27 to attend the dedication of the Radcliffe Conference Room in Centennial Hall at Tri-State University. That dedication outlined his association with the university, beginning as a 1930 civil engineering graduate.

He then began a career there, starting as instructor in 1936. He also served in the positions as secretary/treasurer, registrar, international student advisor, alumni director, academic vice president, executive vice president, acting president from 1948 to 1950 and university chaplain.

Radcliffe's memory is clear about those days at the college. He recalled an incident when students and pigs caused some trouble: "There was a stockyard for hogs near the campus where they could be shipped out by train. The students didn't like one of the restaurants in downtown Angola and took the hogs there and set them loose one night. The sheriff couldn't catch the students or find the hogs ... and Tri-State had to pay for the hogs." He added, "That's the truth."

Philip and Pat Michael of Fremont initiated the awarding of the Sagamore to Radcliffe. "I thought about it," Philip Michael said, "and I thought nobody in the county deserved the recognition more than he did." Michael put in motion the writing of letters to the governor about Radcliffe. When he talked to Radcliffe's son, Bill, about his father's health condition, he speeded up the process. Twelve letters were sent to the governor including ones from the Masons, Angola Mayor Dick Hickman, Tri-State University President Earl Brooks II, and the Steuben County Commissioners.

Gene and Susie Weicht, Angola, are close friends to the Radcliffes. Gene Weicht said he was a child when he first met Radcliffe. "We have almost a family-like bond," Gene said. Radcliffe's "commitment to making Indiana a better place to live and raise a family" (stated on the Sagamore award) is best known to those who have received his ministry.

Ministry has been a big part of his life. He and served the Pleasant View Church for 15 years. His love of people is conveyed in the way he performs funerals. He remembers praying about a funeral he gave at Feller Funeral Home in Waterloo. "Someone was supposed to sing, but they didn't show up. So the director said to adlib and I did and ran out of notes. I rode out to the cemetery with the director and told him how much I had adlibbed. He said, 'You talk to the people; you don't preach.'" In typical Radcliffe style, Glenn said, "I couldn't get my hat on after that."