AMES, Iowa - Michael Crum, professor of transportation and logistics in Iowa State University's College of Business, is the first recipient of the John and Ruth DeVries Endowed Chair in Business in Honor of Charles B. Handy.
The DeVries Endowed Chair in Business recognizes a faculty member who has provided exemplary service to the College of Business. Crum's appointment by Dean Labh Hira is for five years. The DeVries Chair was established to enhance teaching and scholarship and to raise the college's stature among colleges of business nationwide.
Charles B. Handy was Iowa State's first business dean when the college was created in 1984. Handy retired in 1989.
"We are extremely grateful to John and Ruth DeVries for their gift," Hira said. "Dr. Crum's appointment recognizes his outstanding teaching and scholarly endeavors in the college and the difference he has made to the college, Iowa State and the business community."
Crum has authored or co-authored more than 70 research publications, including three books. His research appears in the top academic publications in his field. He has been a principal investigator on three research projects sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation. His current research interests include motor carrier safety, truck driver retention, supply chain relationships and supply chain security. He teaches undergraduate and graduate students in carrier management, transportation economics, business logistics and supply chain management.
A faculty member at Iowa State since 1980, Crum received the university's Amoco Foundation Outstanding Teacher Award in 1985. He also has received the College of Business Dean's Advisory Council awards for overall excellence (1988), undergraduate teaching (1996 and 2003), and research (1998). He was a Fulbright Scholar in Transportation Economics at the Warsaw School of Economics, Poland, from 1988 to 1989. Crum is an active member of the Council of Logistics Management, American Society of Transportation and Logistics, and Distribution Business Management Association.
Crum received a bachelor's of science in business administration, a master's of business administration, and a doctorate of business administration in transportation from Indiana University, Bloomington.
John DeVries, West Des Moines, is a 1959 graduate in industrial administration from Iowa State's College of Business. He is chief executive officer of Colorfx, Inc., Des Moines. He and his wife, Ruth, have been long time supporters of Iowa State. He has been active on the college's Dean's Advisory Council, helping to create the Founders Fund Society in 1984 and establishing the DeVries Presidential Scholarship Fund to benefit Iowa State business students.
John also is past chair of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry and in 1996 was recognized as "Outstanding CPA in Business and Industry" in the state of Iowa.
Ruth is a Drake University graduate, member of the ISU Museum Curators, and serves on the board of directors of the Iowa Women's Golf Association. She has previously served as a board member of the Iowa State Foster Care Review, Easter Seals Iowa, the West Des Moines Public Library Friends Foundation, and the Polk County Extension Council. The couple serves their church in a variety of leadership and committee roles.
DeVries has received the College of Business Alumni Recognition Medal and the Citation of Achievement Award. Also named in his honor is the John DeVries Service Award, given to individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication to the College of Business. DeVries has been an ISU Foundation governor since 1984 and served as chair of the Foundation Board of Directors from 1993 to 1995. John received the Order of the Knoll Cardinal and Gold Award in 1998 for long-term service through creative leadership and community interaction.
