DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENT

Donald Shackelford (Don) is recognized for his outstanding leadership in the business and philanthropic arenas in Central Ohio. He is a graduate of Denison University and Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar. Don then went on to serve as a Captain in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of State Savings Bank for twenty-five years and, following its acquisition by Fifth Third Bank, he went on to become Chairman of Fifth Third Bancorp, Central Ohio.

 

In addition to his success as a leader at Fifth Third, it is difficult to match his contributions to the Central Ohio business and non-profit communities, given the tremendous variety of organizations that Don has impacted and led. He has served as a director at Worthington Foods, Abercrombie and Fitch, Limited Brands, Progressive, Insignia Bank and The Jeffrey Company. He was Chairman of Diamond Hill Investment in Columbus and served as the Director and Chair of the Ohio State University Board of Trustees and as a Director of the Ohio State University Physicians. He has been a Trustee for Denison University and Chairman for the Affordable Housing Trust for Franklin County, a Trustee for the Columbus Museum of Art and served on the Board for the United Way for Central Ohio.

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Last year, Don and his wife, Teckie, were honored with the prestigious Gerlach Award for 2018, given to The Outstanding Development Volunteer for “the utmost in dedicated involvement and personal investment in fundraising efforts at Ohio State.”