September 13, 2021

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Alumni Association has pivoted plans and will now host a virtual event on Wednesday, Sept. 15, to honor Dr. Daniel Combs with the 2020 Walter A. Davis Memorial Citation for Service.

Combs is unable to travel and will not attend the presentation in person. Members of the VU Foundation and Alumni Office, VU President Dr. Chuck Johnson, and the family and friends of Combs will present the Citation virtually from Green Activities Center on the Vincennes Campus. 

The event was scheduled originally to take place at Adams Coliseum and include a dinner.

The virtual event begins at 6 p.m. and will last approximately 45 minutes. It will be broadcast via Zoom and Facebook. Details to view it online will be available at vinu.edu/davis-dinner. 

There will be limited, socially distanced seating in Green available for anyone who cannot attend online. Masks are required.

For those wishing to personally congratulate Dr. Combs with cards, letters, and personal stories, please drop them off at the VU Foundation located at 1109 N. 3rd St. or mail them to the VU Alumni Association, 1002 N. 1st Street, Vincennes, IN 47591.

The Davis Citation has been presented each year since 1952. It is presented annually to a VU alumnus or resident of the greater VU Community, and recognizes civic leadership and contributions, in addition to professional achievements.

For more information or questions, contact Director of Alumni Engagement Aaron Selby at 812-888-5332 or cselby@vinu.edu.

ABOUT THE 2020 RECIPIENT 

Dr. Daniel Combs was born in Vincennes, Indiana in 1936. His father served the community as an attorney and his mother was an educator. His education began locally, attending Clark Middle School and graduating from Lincoln High School in 1954. He attended Wabash College and transferred to Indiana University where he graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and from the School of Medicine in 1961. He served his residency in Indianapolis, and upon completion, he returned to Vincennes to begin his practice of medicine. Shortly after, he was drafted into the Army where he served as a Captain from 1966 to 1968, having received the Army Commendation Medal.

After his military service ended, he returned to Vincennes to practice medicine in private practice from 1968 until his retirement in 2019. He was on the staff of Good Samaritan Hospital throughout a career spanning more than 50 years and served on multiple committees.

He is an avid sports fan and served as the Vincennes Lincoln team doctor for 20 years from 1970 to 1990. Active in the Vincennes YMCA he voluntarily coached both football and basketball. He served on the finance committee of the YMCA and was actively involved in the construction of their new facility.

Passionate about the history of Vincennes, a retirement project is writing a book about the history of Vincennes. The book includes historical photos of Vincennes that he has collected over the years and recounts the growth and development of Vincennes through the stories of his patients.

Combs currently serves on the Knox County Board of Health and is an active member of the Vincennes Rotary Club. He is a long-time supporter of Vincennes University and received VU Pacemaker Award. He was married to his wife, Katherine Combs, for nearly 40 years and has three children: Randy of Milan, Indiana; Steve is the current principal of Vincennes Lincoln High School; and Elizabeth Lee of San Antonio, Texas. He has nine grandchildren.

ABOUT THE AWARD

The Walter A. Davis Memorial Citation for Service is named for former VU President Walter A. Davis. Davis spent his career dedicated to educational opportunities and community development in many roles including K-12 educator and school administrator; Superintendent of Schools in Bicknell, Indiana and later in Covington, Indiana; through the Army where he was able to create schools for service members and veterans; and finally at VU where after spending two short years, his leadership was recognized by the Board of Trustees and he was appointed President of Vincennes University, a post he held for 25 years.

Recipients of the honored award are selected by a committee representing the VU Alumni Association, VU Board of Trustees, VU Foundation, Vincennes community, and a past recipient.

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