John F. "Jack" Kimberling, JD'50
To call Rushville, Ind., native Jack Kimberling a "distinguished alumnus" doesn't quite cut it.
The now-retired attorney was once referred to in The American Lawyer as one of the top trial lawyers in the country. He is a leading U.S. litigation specialist, widely known as a charter member of the ABA section on litigation, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and a veteran of two wars.
Now a California resident who divides his time between Palm Springs and San Diego, Kimberling, who has served in various leadership capacities for both the Republican and Democratic parties, redefined his civic and community roles as an author and pundit. Publication of his book What This Country Needs: A New Political Party inspired an appearance as moderator of "Is It Time For a New Political Party?"—a C-SPAN discussion.
Kimberling is also deeply attuned to the financial and leadership needs of his alma mater. He has donated more than $5 million to the School of Law. "It has been my pleasure to give some financial assistance to the School of Law," Kimberling said. "Those of us who have done so are privileged. We're able to give because we have achieved some degree of professional and financial success, and that success is attributable to the Law School's role in our lives."
For some 20 years, Kimberling has frequented the campus as an avid fundraiser, Board of Visitors member, and visiting law professor. In 1990, he was inducted into the Academy of Law Alumni Fellows and was a recipient in 2001 of the Indiana University Distinguished Alumni Service Award, given to university alumni for outstanding achievements in their fields of endeavor and significant contributions to the school.
He's given precious time as a member of the IU Foundation Board of Directors, national co-chair of the IU Endowment Campaign, and honorary chair of the Law School's capital campaign. This spring, the Foundation honored his lifelong contributions with the Indiana University Foundation President's Award.
Even well into his 1990 retirement from the law firm of Dewey Ballantine, Kimberling's generosity to IU is boundless. "We must help the School and those students who follow us, because it is the right thing to do," he said. "There is also a selfish reason to give. It just plain makes you feel good!"