Indiana Wesleyan Inducts First 'World Changer'

The late Bob Briner, an Emmy Award-winning TV producer and sports executive, became the first person inducted into Indiana Wesleyan University's new Society of World Changers during IWU's annual Academic Convocation on Sept. 3.

Briner's widow, Marty, attended the ceremony, which included the unveiling of a bronze bust of her husband. The busts of Briner and future recipients of the award will be displayed in the rotunda of IWU's new Jackson Library.

Bob Briner died of cancer in June 1999, a few months before he had been scheduled to speak at IWU.

The Society of World Changers was established by the IWU Board of Trustees to honor people who demonstrate their Christian faith through the quality of their work in a secular world. The idea for the society came from Briner's book, Roaring Lambs, which all IWU students are required to read.

"I was so impacted by Briner's book that I ordered a copy for every IWU employee and trustee," said Dr. Jim Barnes, IWU president. "Briner's thesis is that Christians must be salt and light and become change agents as they engage our culture."

The name of the new society comes from IWU's mission statement, which says the University is "committed to changing the world by developing students in character, scholarship and leadership."

Briner was a college athletic director before becoming an executive with the Miami Dolphins. He later was executive director of the World Championship Tennis Tournament and general manager of the Dallas Chaparrals, who later became the San Antonio Spurs.

Briner was the first western sports executive to enter China after the cultural revolution and introduced National Basketball Association games to Chinese television. In 1986, Briner and former tennis star Arthur Ashe won Emmys for a program entitled, A Hard Road to Glory.