Richard Lugar Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom

It is with profound sadness that we must report of the death of Richard G. “Dick” Lugar ‘54, a giant of the U.S. Senate, and lifelong friend and alumnus of Pembroke College. Dick died today, Sunday, April 28, in a Washington D.C. hospital after a short illness. He was 87.

Senator Richard Lugar

Dick served in the Senate from 1977 to 2013, where he was Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee for many years. He was mayor of Indianapolis from 1968 to 1975.

Marc Mezvinsky, Dick Lugar ’54 and Dame Lynne Brindley, Master of Pembroke College Oxford

Dick served as Chairman of the Pembroke College Foundation from its inception in 1984 until his death. He hosted the most recent meeting of its trustees last November in his office at the Lugar Center in Washington, and before that – as he did for many years – in his Senate office.

“Dick was a model of a bi-partisan civility and accomplishment,” said Tom Herman ’71, President of the Foundation. “His work with Senator Nunn on nuclear disarmament no doubt has made this world a safer place. His legacy is one for the ages. We in the Pembroke family throughout the world deeply, deeply mourn his death while at the same time we must celebrate his life.”

Dick remained actively involved in Pembroke affairs throughout his long life. In addition to chairing the Foundation and being a generous benefactor of Pembroke, he visited the College frequently, helped dedicate the Geoffrey Arthur Building in 1989 with his fellow Pembroke Rhodes Scholar and predecessor as Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. J William Fulbright ‘25, and hosted numerous Pembroke events in Washington, D.C.

“It was a privilege to have known Dick and his support for Pembroke and pride in the College was a great source of inspiration for us all”, said Master Lynne Brindley.

“Dick was a true Pembroke stalwart,” said former Pembroke Master Giles Henderson.

Dick Lugar ’54 & Giles Henderson, Master of Pembroke College Oxford

Dick is survived by his wife Char, his four sons Mark, Bob, John, and David.

Dick Lugar, Char & Famil

To read Dick’s obituary from the New York Times, click here.

The North American Pembrokian will post more details when we have them.

L to R: Walter Isaacson ’74, Dick Lugar ’54, Giles Henderson, Revan Tranter ’54, Bradley Peacock ’92, Andrew Seton, Tom Herman ’71