Sudden loss hits UIndy
The recent loss of a member of the Board of Trustees has left many shocked and surprised.
Jerry Throgmartin, secretary of the Board of Trustees, executive chairman, CEO and President of H.H. Gregg Appliances Inc., died Jan.22 while visiting his ranch in Colorado.
“He is a very kind and gentle man. I say ‘is’ because it is hard to believe he is gone. When you meet somebody who is in a powerful position like that, a chief executive officer of a major corporation, you expect a stereotypical and brisk personality, but he was the opposite,” said University of Indianapolis President Beverley Pitts.“Kind of soft spoken, very thoughtful, a good listener, friendly, easy to work with. You could tell how much he loved UIndy, and it was a great pleasure to work with him.”
Throgmartin graduated from the University of Indianapolis with his bachelor’s degree and received his master’s of business administration degree from Indiana University. He also received an honorary degree from UIndy in 2010 for his commitment to the community and the university.
“When I knew Jerry, he was a student athlete at the University of Indianapolis playing football. He was a humble and modest person, and he never changed,” said Board of Trustees member Mike Watkins. “He is the most humble and successful business person I know, and he has left his mark all over Indiana and even further, but he never put his own name on anything. It was always the company’s name [H.H. Gregg] that he would put on everything.”
While visiting his ranch in Colorado, Throgmartin fell ill and died of complications from meningitis.
He was 57 with a wife, Peggy Sue, a son, Gregg, and two daughters, Christy and Nicky.
“He had had a number of illnesses in his life,” Pitts said. “He had recovered from some difficult times. He recovered from cancer a number of years ago, nearly 20 years ago and he had heart surgery about four years ago. But he was doing extremely, well, very healthy, very energized. We had just talked about two weeks ago, and he was ready to spend some time on his ranch in Colorado.”
Throgmartin had served as a member of the Board of Trustees since 1995. He was named the board secretary and to the executive committee at UIndy. He had been working at H. H. Gregg Appliances, Inc., for 36 years, starting at the bottom and working his way to the top. His grandfather started the business in 1955, and following in his footsteps, Throgmartin became a third-generation businessman.
“He was very helpful in issues related to investing our endowment money and dealing with financial issues, [he offered] good advice and good insight, and really a national view,” Pitts said.
Watkins said he will also miss Throgmartin’s business expertise.
“One of the things that will be missed the most from Jerry is his business perspective,” Watkins said. “He was an insightful, brilliant businessman and also a benevolent and honest businessman.”
Another way Throgmartin gave back to UIndy was with a gift of $400,000 from his company to help complete the support building for the new Athletics and Recreation Center.
“He always gave back to the community, and one of the beneficiaries of his good deeds was the church he attended, Grace Community Church,” said Board of Trustees member Bill Kiesel. “He was very philanthropic and generous, always charitable about what he earned.”
The viewing and funeral were held at Grace Community Church on Thursday evening and Friday afternoon respectively. Following the service was a private graveside service with close family and friends.
“He was a great colleague and friend of board members. All board members really liked him.” Pitts said. “He helped create a sense of collegiality, having a good time and friendship. There are some board members who were very, very close personal friends who will really, really feel the loss of Jerry.”
