DePauw honors Katula for contributions

By John Kovach

The Campbell High grad has helped the school raise almost a million dollars.

GREENCASTLE, Ind. — When a man’s contributions and achievements can attract almost a million dollars in his name to his university, he must be a special individual.

Such is the case for Ted Katula Jr., a Campbell Memorial High and Ohio State graduate and a former coach, athletic director and administrator at DePauw University, whose name has raised almost a million dollars for the benefit of DePauw athletics.

The university established the Katula Fund for Athletics and created an endowed chair by naming its athletic directorship the Theodore M. Katula Director of Athletics on Nov. 12, 2005, when DePauw president Timothy Bottoms made the announcement at a banquet honoring Katula.

Katula, who served the university for 40 years before retiring in 1996, filled many roles at DePauw, both on and off the athletic field.

Affectionately known as “The Katman,” he served as athletic director, men’s and women’s golf coach, assistant football, wrestling and baseball coach and director of student activities, as well as working in alumni relations and as a fundraiser.

While at Campbell Memorial, Katula played football, baseball, basketball and golf, and went on to become a paratrooper in the U.S. Army and then captain of the Ohio State golf team as a junior and senior in 1957 and 1958.

“To date we have raised in excess of $1 million in gifts and commitments for the Katula Endowed Chair,” said Ken Owen, executive director of media relations, last Friday.

“The deep feelings DePauw alumni have for Ted are reflected in the way they quickly responded to the opportunity to pay tribute to him in this way. He is truly an institution here.”

The largest single contribution to the Katula Fund — $500,000 — was made by Anthony J. de Nicola, a former DePauw quarterback and a 1986 graduate who is now a general partner with the law firm of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe in New York City, and de Nicola’s family.

Dr. Phil Eskew Jr,, a 1963 DePauw graduate who also played football under Katula, praised Katula, calling him “really special to us.”

Providing video clips on the web page saluting Katula were Dan Quayle, former U.S. vice president who is a 1969 DePauw graduate and played golf under Katula; Mark Rolfing (1971), an NBC golf analyst who also played golf for Katula; and pro golfer Jack Nicklaus, Katula’s longtime friend.

Katula, who has been unable to golf lately because of health reasons, is married to the former Linda Martin, a 1962 DePauw graduate, and they have four children.

While golf coach, Katula the men’s golf teams to five conference championships in 11 years and nine appearances in the NCAA Division III championships. His women’s golf teams finished in the top four nationally for five straight years.

kovach@vindy.com