May 23, 2023
Last month, James “Jim” D. Kricker, a long-time supporter, friend, donor, and SSU Founder’s Medal recipient passed away at the age of 89.
Jim made his first gift to Shawnee State University in 1986 – the institution’s first year as a four-year university. Since then, he remained a dedicated donor to the institution making regular contributions to SSU Athletics and the President’s Gala, as well as a key donation to the Make Tomorrow’s Stars campaign to promote and expand the Musical Theatre program on campus.
Among his generosity, Jim made gifts to name two university buildings – Kricker Hall, housing the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and the university’s first doctoral program, and the Kricker Innovation Hub, which just completed a $4 million renovation project that he helped kick-start with his gift in 2018.
A lifetime President’s Club member, Jim served three terms on the SSU Development Foundation Board, promoting the importance of education in the Appalachian region to the community and beyond.
“Jim was a great advocate for higher education in Portsmouth and the entire region,” SSU President Jeff Bauer said. “He loved Shawnee State. His dedication was key to much of the growth we have achieved in our 37-year history. We will greatly miss his dedication, but we will miss his friendship most of all.”
Jim was presented an SSU Founder’s Medal in October 2022 for his service to the university.
“Jim has made contributions that are almost hard to count, but most of all he is a friend and we’re grateful for everything he has done and everything he does now,” SSU Vice President for Advancement & Enrollment Management Eric Braun said at the time.
Jim spent nearly forty years working with financial institutions in Portsmouth and was active in several local organizations including the Boneyfiddle Military Museum, Portsmouth Area Growth Corp., Portsmouth Kiwanis, the Southern Ohio Museum, Portsmouth Murals, Inc., and the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce.