Ted Fleming, 1934-2007

Ted Fleming, a Life Trustee of Knox College, died September 2, 2007 in Peoria. A 1955 graduate of Knox, Fleming was elected a Knox College Trustee in 1985 and a Life Trustee in 2005.

"Ted and his family are among the College's most generous benefactors," said Knox College President Roger Taylor. "They were the principal donors to construction of the T. Fleming Fieldhouse. Ted's wit and straight talk at trustee meetings will be missed."

Fleming graduated from Knox magna cum laude, with honors for academic and athletic achievement. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, earned varsity letters in tennis, swimming and diving, and received the Hunter and Zetterberg awards. He was an NCAA national finalist in diving in 1955.

Fleming subsequently earned a second bachelor's degree at Carnegie-Mellon University, where he won the Reinhold-Gould Award for scholastic achievement. In 1990 he was inducted into the Knox-Lombard Athletic Hall of Fame.

Fleming's career in business spanned four decades with Fleming Packaging Co., a custom printing company in Peoria founded by his father that grew to more than $100-million in annual sales. In addition to his philanthropy for Knox, Fleming was active in numerous charitable organizations.

Fleming is survived by his wife, Patricia Roze Fleming, '57, and children Ted W. Fleming '81, Tim Fleming, Tom Fleming and Teresa Fleming. The Knox College community extends its deepest sympathy to the Fleming family.

Ted Fleming, above right, with Jarvis Cecil, Life Trustee and former chair of the Knox Board of Trustees.