History

A legacy built on values

Indiana University would be a very different place without the generosity of donors like Jesse and Beulah Cox. Today they remain responsible for the largest gift IU has ever received by an individual: $92 million.

Their legacy rests on a foundation of unshakable values and it lives on thanks to continued support from generous Cox alumni and friends.

Today, the Cox Scholars Program remains dedicated to embodying the enduring values championed by Jesse and Beulah through hardwork, perseverance, and generosity.

Strong Work Ethic: Diligence, responsibility, and excellence, characterized by qualities such as dedication, discipline, and persistence to achieve goals.
Determination and Drive: A strong commitment and motivation to achieve goals, often characterized by perseverance, resilience, and a focused pursuit of success.
Intellectual Curiosity: Desire and eagerness to explore, learn, and understand the world, driven by a desire to expand your knowledge and a genuine interest in problem-solving, broadening perspectives, and uncovering new insights.
Confidence: Having trust in your own skills and knowledge, which helps you navigate challenges, make informed choices, and successfully participate in various activities or subjects you're involved in.
Leadership: The ability to inspire, guide, and influence individuals or a group towards a common goal, fostering positive change and growth.
Potential: The ability that someone has to develop, improve, or achieve something significant in the future, often under-developed but waiting to be activated by opportunity, effort, or circumstance.
Community Awareness/Philanthropic Spirit: Selflessness and a generous mindset focused on improving the well-being of others, characterized by a commitment to contribute positively to society.

Where the Cox work ethic was born

The journey of Jesse and Beulah Cox started in high school, where they met and fell in love. Jesse, born in Utah, moved back to Indiana with his family at the age of four, enduring hardship early on with his mother's passing a year later. Growing up, he worked on his grandparents' farm alongside his father and siblings. When they graduated from high school during the Great Depression, financial struggles delayed their marriage.

Determined to succeed, Jesse saved money and attended night school while working various jobs. His hard work and confidence led him to Bloomington, where he launched his entrepreneurial career. Despite initial setbacks, he eventually found success. By 1939, he had earned enough from his ventures to enroll at Indiana University and marry Beulah Chanley.

I look back at those days on the farm without electricity, as being introduced to hard work.
Jesse Cox

The get-it-done attitude in action

While at IU, Jesse supported himself by establishing a mimeograph business and a transportation service between Bloomington and Indianapolis. After obtaining his business degree in 1942, he founded J.H. Cox Manufacturing Co., which supplied venetian blinds to major retailers. Later, Jesse and Beulah acquired a small bankrupt company and turned it into Aero Blind & Drapery Inc., a thriving business with 920 employees and $30 million in annual sales. They also expanded into farming and commercial real estate through Jesse H. Cox Inc. and B.J. Realty Inc.

Their business success enabled the Coxes to contribute significantly to their community and Indiana University. They funded the development of the Jesse H. and Beulah Chanley Cox Arboretum and Pavilion at IU Bloomington and created Coxhall Gardens in Carmel, Indiana. Their most notable contribution was the gift that established the Jesse H. and Beulah Chanley Cox Scholars Program, providing scholarships for hard-working students at IU's Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses.

In recognition of his contributions to the state, Jesse Cox was honored as a Sagamore of the Wabash by Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon (2002). He is also the recipient of a Chancellor and Provost Medallion (2019), the IU Indianapolis Spirt of Philanthropy Award (2009), and the Distinguished Alumni Service Award (2007).

The legacy of Jesse and Beulah Cox lives on, impacting countless lives through their philanthropy and dedication to education and community development.

Jesse Cox’s experiences in life, especially working his way through college, led him to believe that it takes special determination, special drive, and special ambition, to realize the dream of a college education.
Indiana University Foundation President Emeritus Curt Simic

Do you have the spirit of a Cox Scholar?

If you’re a self-motivated learner who’s trying to better yourself, with a proven work ethic and an eagerness to impact your community, we encourage you to apply!

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