Jack N. Vaughan

Jack Nicholas Vaughan died at the age of 87, a native of Lafayette, Ind. He was the eldest son of Charles L. Vaughan, a prominent Indiana Trial Attorney, and Mary Reifers Vaughan, daughter of Nicholas Reifers, founder of Reifers Furniture Company, Inc.
Jack graduated from Jefferson High School in 1941, where he played basketball, football and ran track. He then entered Purdue University on a Coach Ward Lambert basketball scholarship, which was interrupted by World War II. He then enlisted in the Army in March 1942. His basic training included Air Force, Field Artillery, Infantry and Signal Corps. He qualified for the Army Specialized Training Program, (ASTP), where he attended Nebraska University and was a member of the football team. He was then sent to Kansas State University, where he was captain of the basketball team. They played 44 games that season and won 42. Then to Europe, (ETO). His service included five battles including the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Five Battle Stars, two Bronze Stars for valor and a Silver Star for valor. Upon returning from the war, he re-entered Purdue University and was on the 1946 basketball team.
He married Jeanne Wilson on June 4, 1949 in Chicago. Jeanne is a four-time All-American swimmer and a 1948 Olympian. She was also named to the Purdue Athletic Hall of Fame. Jeanne was Purdue Debris Queen and named Mrs. Indiana in 1953.
Jack was President of 23 closely held corporations, including: Best Bilt Lumber and Construction Company, Inc., Executive Homes, Inc., Executive Realty, Inc., American Homes, Inc., Globe Homes, Inc. He developed subdivisions in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky and Indiana. He was the original developer of University Square in West Lafayette.
He was a lifetime member of St. Mary&s Cathedral, Lafayette Country Club, and Purdue University Alumni Association. Memberships include: Elks Club 142, American Legion Post 11, Veteran Foreign Wars Post 1154, Phi Kappa Psi, Delta Chapter at Purdue. He was past President of the Lafayette Home Builders Association, 1964.
Surviving along with his wife Jeanne are three sons, Jack W. Vaughan of Charleston, W.Va., Vint W. Vaughan and Tom W. Vaughan, both of Lafayette; a daughter, Jeanne V. Walker of Marietta, Ga.; a brother, Charles R. Vaughan (wife: Tudy) of Lafayette; a sister, Colleen Myers Hopkins (husband: Bill) of Ft. Wayne; and six grandchildren, Jack, Tracey, Tom and Nick Vaughan, Jeanne and Steve Walker.
Jack was preceded in death by twin sisters, Mary Traylor and Marjorie Price.
Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010, at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel, 400 Twyckenham Blvd., Lafayette, IN 47909, with Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 13, 2010, at St. Mary Cathedral, 1207 Columbia St., Lafayette, IN 47905. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery with American Legion Post #11 Graveside rites. Memorial contributions may be given to Matthew 25 Care and Share Soup Kitchen at 612 Wabash Ave., Lafayette, IN 47905, or the charity of your choice.