School Alumni Associations

IU School of Social Work Alumni Association

Alumni Profiles

Kenneth V. McGaugh

Kenneth V. McGaugh was born on October 17, 1922 and raised in a rural community in Ray County, Missouri located about 35 miles southeast of Kansas City.  After graduation from high school, he was employed by TWA, a now defunct airline.  He entered the U.S. Army in 1942 and was wounded in the "Battle of the Bulge" on January 7, 1945 by a V-1 bomb.  He lost the sight of his right eye as a result of the explosion but feels lucky in that 26 of his fellow servicemen were killed.  Because of his injury and the end of the war, he was discharged on December 21, 1945. 

He enrolled in classes at the University of Kansas City, now the University of Missouri, in January, 1946.  Due to his injury, he was assigned a counselor under Public Law 16 who discussed vocations that Kenneth could pursue on the U.S. Government sponsorship.  While he had considered the possibilities of becoming a teacher or an attorney, the counselor suggested that he study to become a social worker.  Kenneth had never heard of what social work entailed and he was therefore skeptical.  However, the counselor explained some of the negative aspects of being a teacher or an attorney and he persuaded Kenneth to sign up for studies of social and emotional issues.  Upon graduation from the University of Kansas City, he inquired about Schools of Social Work and was accepted by the Indiana University Division of Social Service in January, 1950.  Grace Browning was the Director and Mary Houk was her Assistant and both taught classes.  Loren G. Hess and Walter B. Johnson were faculty advisors.  Kenneth's field work placements were with the Marion County Department of Public Welfare and the Indiana Boys' School.  His class was small because they entered school midyear.  His classmates were:  Clarence Tittle and his wife, Betty; Glen Schruba; David Furrow; Marilyn Kronick (Furrow) Allen; William Dees; and a woman who died at a young age.  Don Gruber was in an earlier class.  During his time at IU, an individual thesis was required, which Kenneth did not complete during the school year.  therefore took a position with the Marion County Department of Public Welfare in the Child Welfare Division,  took additional classes, and completed his thesis in June, 1952.

Kenneth worked at the Marion County Department of Public Welfare in Indianapolis from 1950 to 1953 where he was a Caseworker and a Casework Supervisor.  Then he went to the Family and Children's Center in Mishawaka, Indiana where he worked from 1953 to 1957 as a Casework Supervisor and Assistant Director.  Subsequently, he was employed at the Family Service and Children's Aid of Jackson County, Jackson, Michigan, as Executive Director of that agency from 1957 until he retired in 1985.  This Michigan agency supervised students from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan while he was there.

From 1986 to the present time, Kenneth has served as a volunteer for the Jackson Medical Care Facility assisting with the program for a men's group.  He also volunteers with the Disabled American Veterans organization and is an active member of the United Church of Christ, First Congregational Church.  During the time he was President of Potential Development Homes in Jackson, MI; Kenneth helped to create Hope House One and Fowler House for disabled and mentally challenged individuals.

Kenneth has received numerous awards during his years of service to others.  Among these was the presentation of an award by the Jackson County Family Service and Children's Aid during its' Diamond Jubilee Celebration of 2004 in recognition of his contributions to the agency.  He is a charter member of the National Association of Social Workers, having joined on October 1, 1955.  He has served in the Civitan Club, on the Salvation Army Advisory Board, and on the Foster Care Review Board.

Kenneth married his wife, Theresa, in Indianapolis on August 13, 1949.  She had been employed by the U.S. Weather Bureau in Kansas City and transferred to Indianapolis.  They have two daughters and one son who all live in southern Michigan.  Their oldest daughter is a professional Social Worker who graduated from the University of Michigan.  Kenneth has taken up bowling for fun and exercise and he and Theresa have attended twenty-two Elderhostels, Adventures in Lifelong Learning Through Travel.  Their most memorable trip was to Belgium for a program on the "Battle of the Bulge."  

Written by Irene Weinberg

See the IUPUI Office of Alumni Relations Calendar of Events for upcoming School of Social Work alumni programs.

School of Social Work web site 

IUPUI Office of Alumni Relations contact:
Karen Deery, (317) 274-8959 or kdeery@iupui.edu