Jerry Whitton, Marion High School Class of 1957, was a longtime teacher and administrator at Marion Community Schools and the director of Tucker Area Vocational Technical Center, helping broaden horizons for hundreds of young Giants.
Jerry served in various teaching and administrative positions at Marion Community Schools from 1967 to 2009. He led career and technical education at Marion Community Schools for more than 25 years, helping to guide the planning and creation of Tucker Area Vocational Technical Center in 1982, where he remained Director until his retirement in 2009.
He has also been a dedicated community volunteer, giving his time and talents to many organizations.
In 1992, he was a member of the organizing and chartering committee to form Habitat for Humanity Grant County. He has since served four terms as President for the organization’s board and now serves on the Church Relations Committee. During his time with the organization, they have built 54 homes for families in Grant County.
He was a five-year member and past President of the local chapter of SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), which counsels aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
He is also past President and Secretary of the Marion Kiwanis Club, and President of the Marion High School Alumni Association, which provides support for academics, arts, and athletics at Marion Community Schools.
Jerry was a member of the Private Industry Council, a regional workforce planning group that was the precursor to what is now WorkOne, Indiana’s workforce development system.
He is a past Chairperson of the Marion-Grant County Chamber of Commerce’s Ethnic Diversity Task Force, and he has been an active participant with a local Black History Celebration for several years. He was recognized in two books regarding race relations in Grant County: “Our Town” by Cynthia Carr and “A Lynching in the Heartland” by James Madison.
At St. James Lutheran Church he served as Executive Director for four years and is an Executive Elder and Sunday School teacher. He has been a mentor with Project Leadership, which provides support to high school students in Grant County.
He is also a past member of the Grant County Exchange Club, and he has actively supported other organizations including Cancer Services of Grant County, Gilead Ministries, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and The Salvation Army.
He has earned several other notable awards, including Outstanding Graduate of Marion High School, the President’s Award from the Marion-Grant County Chamber of Commerce, the Distinguished Hoosier award, presented by then-Gov. Mitch Daniels.
He holds a bachelor of science degree in business management from Western Michigan University (1965); a bachelor of science degree in education from Ball State University (1966); a master’s degree in education administration (1977); and a master’s degree plus one from Ball State University (1980).