Dr. Richard G. Landini was one of the longest serving presidents at Indiana State University and an avid supporter of Sycamore athletics. He was inducted posthumously into the 22nd Class of the Indiana State Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 3, 2013.
Charles Dickens said it best in his novel A Tale of Two Cities … “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
Dr. Richard G. Landini served Indiana State University as its eighth president during a time of great pride in Sycamore athletics yet also a time of great debate and sorrow.
Landini was a great supporter of Sycamore athletics which jumped into the national spotlight with the 1977 men’s gymnastics team and the 1978-79 men’s basketball team’s. The Kurt Thomas led men’s gymnastics team won the NCAA Championship in 1977 while the Larry Bird-led men’s basketball team advanced to the finals of the NCAA Championship where they lost to the Michigan State Spartans.
It was a time when virtually every sport at Indiana State was earning national recognition either by individuals or as a team including archery, badminton, bowling, field hockey, men’s and women’s gymnastics, swimming, golf, tennis, track & field, and wrestling.
It was a time when Indiana State joined the Missouri Valley Conference and became a founding member of the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference for women’s sports which was later merged into the Missouri Valley Conference.
The creation of a recreation and athletics arena was part of a $55 million campus Master Plan developed under Landini’s leadership which also saw the construction and completion of the School of Technology, Oakley Plaza, Root hall, University Pavillion, Parisons Hall, and the new Hulman Memorial Student Union and Dede Plaza (at the site of the former Gillum residence hall).
It was also a time of change for Indiana State athletics. Increases in expenditures of athletic operations and decreases in funding resulted in eight of the Sycamores 26 sports being retired after the 1981-82 season including men’s and women’s archery, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s soccer, and women’s badminton.
The decision came after an extensive review by a task force initiated by Landini and led by Indiana State Athletics Director Beanie Cooper. Part of the criteria in the decision was whether Indiana high schools were competing in the sport, adequate coaching, and financial support for the team.
Field Hockey became the ninth sport to be retired (after the 1983 season) with the retirement of five more sports announced in 1986 including men’s and women’s bowling, men’s and women’s gymnastics and men’s wrestling.
Landini earned his Bachelor of Arts (1954) and Master of Arts (1955) degrees in literature at the University of Miami and the Doctor of Philosophy degree (1959) at the University of Florida. He served on the faculty and administrative staff at Arizona State University for 11 years (1959-1970), earning his professorship there in 1968. In 197, he was appointed Academic Vice-president and Professor English at the University of Montana. He was appointed to the presidency of Indiana State University in 1975 succeeding Dr. Alan C. Rankin. He retired in 1992 and died on Oct. 26, 2004 at the age of 74.
Known for picking up trash as he walked across campus until he could dispose of it properly, Landini initiated “Donaghy Day” in 1976 which was a day to help beautify the campus and surrounding community. The event was named after Fred Donaghy, a graduate of the Normal School (1912) and a professor of life sciences. The day of service for students, faculty, staff, and community members continues today.
- 8th President of Indiana State University
- Men’s Athletic Teams became members of the Missouri Valley Conference
- Department of Physical Education for Men & Women were merged
- Became founding member of Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference
- During his tenure, Indiana State Athletics captured 16 conference championships, 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, one Final Four (1979 – Men’s Basketball), one College World Series (1986), ranked number one in I-AA Football (1984).
- Third longest tenure as President in Indiana State University history
- Founded Donaghy Day, a campus-wide clean up day
Inducted into Hall of Fame October 3, 2013
