July 13, 2009 Ball State's Tom Kinghorn: 'You need a vision and a plan' By Seth Slabaugh sslabaugh@muncie.gannett.com During a recent interview, Tom Kinghorn answered questions about the growth of Ball State University and the decline of Muncie. A 43-year employee of BSU, he recently stepped down as vice president for business affairs and treasurer, a job he held for the last 29 years. It was recently announced that he will have a building (the new north residence hall to be occupied in the fall of 2010) named after him. Kinghorn recently sat down with The Star Press to talk about his life -- past, present and future. Q: When we called to set up an interview, your secretary said you had meetings all day Thursday, Monday and today? What are all these meetings? A: I'm still working on the geothermal project. Today I was working with the Professor Garfield group. Q: How much time do you spend on geothermal? A: Right now I'm very active trying to secure stimulus funds. Our project is in the sweet spot of what is intended. It's infrastructure. It's a shovel-ready job; we're drilling out there now. It's a reduction of carbon. It fits, in every dimension, the spirit and intent. We are working hard trying to get those funds. Q: Are you still working full time? A: No, part time. Probably 75 percent of the time that I used to work. I loved the job I had, but had no time to pursue personal interests. Lots things I want to do. Some travel (to Europe). At my age you don't have many years. I'm 67. My wife and I have our bucket list like everybody else. Q: Was one of your jobs kind of a master planner? A: I had all the business functions. Dining service, Emens Auditorium, post office, payroll, accounting, human resources, government relations and all facilities planning and construction. Q: Which accomplishments are you proudest of? A: One of the most visible is the changes that occurred on campus. The written material (recognizing Kinghorn's contributions) describes the campus today as having twice as many square feet as we had when I started. But I'm not claiming credit for a bunch of things that involved a whole bunch of people. I was only one guy of a whole bunch who worked on these projects. Q: How do you feel about having a building named after you? A: It's a humbling experience. A tremendous honor. A real compliment. More of an honor than anything else. Q: Has Ball State run out of room to grow? A: No. In our plan we have substantial additional academic building sites. This area to the east of the Music Building, all of that is planned out for at least four more buildings as the need evolves. Q: Do you already own it? A: Most of it. But we're not ready to build. The concept is to plan long term. You still have growth to the north, also. Just north of the Bell Building is a building site, a little building on the corner, the print shop is a full building site. Q: At the same time Ball State has been growing, thriving, improving, looking better, getting bigger and better, Muncie has gone downhill. What do you think about the decline of Muncie and what BSU's role is in trying to help (reverse) that. Is Muncie destined to become a ghetto? A: I wouldn't say that. There are many positive things in this community to build on. We were a manufacturing center, high-wage jobs. It's fortunate for this community that the university and the hospital continue to grow and provide additional service and provide an economic offset to some of the job losses. But this community is one not to lie back and not look for opportunities. I think there is an entrepreneurial spirit. We do have a university and a regional hospital, a well-prepared work force for a future that maybe is going to be based on manufacturing of alternative energy. We have Brevini and another company that have come along. The geothermal site is not only the heating and cooling system of the future for the university but by virtue of doing that provides a platform we hope will add to Muncie's economy as we become the site to come to learn about how to put these kinds of technologies in your installation, another university or hospital. If we didn't have a university or a hospital or some of these things, we'd be working really hard to get one. We have a leg up. We do have some advantages others dot have that are also suffering from a loss of manufacturing jobs. Q: Are Muncie government officials embracing Ball State's expertise enough, like in planning and zoning and the appearance of the town? A: It's a long-term proposition. You need to have a vision and a plan and keep working the plan over a long period of time. It only looks simple when the projects are finished. There's no reason to believe we don't have sufficient talent in this community to do anything we want to do. Q: But it doesn't happen overnight? A: It doesn't happen overnight. It takes a vision and it takes a plan. Q: How do you rate the town and gown relationship? A: Throughout my career, I always felt we had a very good relationship with the city. I've heard other people report something else but I don't see it that way. What is good for Ball State is good for the community and vice versa. Additional Facts Ball State Growth The Ball State University Board of Trustees recently re-named North Residence Hall, which is under construction, Thomas J. Kinghorn Hall, recognizing his "advocacy for the university, his role in shaping this beautiful campus, and his visionary fiscal stewardship." As vice president for business affairs and treasurer from 1980 through last month, Kinghorn guided the university through many stages of growth, including these facilities: · Beautification of McKinley Avenue. · Alumni Center. · Art and Journalism. · Ball Communication. · Robert Bell. · David Letterman Communication and Media. · Music Instruction. · Park Hall. · Shafer Tower. · Worthen Arena. · Renovation of Ball Honors House, DeHority Complex, L.A. Pittenger Student Center, Scheumann Stadium, Woodworth Commons.