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As 25th Anniversary Approaches, IHS Honors Ryan White’s Legacy with Book, Event
Indianapolis—As the 25th anniversary of Ryan White’s death
approaches, the Indiana Historical Society (IHS) will honor his legacy with the
release of a new IHS Press book, The Quiet Hero: A Life of Ryan White,
and a book launch event featuring his mother, Jeanne White-Ginder, and good
friend and champion Olympic diver Greg Louganis. The event will take place
Wednesday, April 1, at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick
Indiana History
Center, located at 450 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis.
In 1985, the
eyes of the world turned to Indiana, as the
13-year-old Kokomo student attempted to join his
fellow classmates at Western
Middle School in
Russiaville. However, his wish to return to school was met with panic by some
school officials and parents—as White had been diagnosed with AIDS after
receiving contaminated blood-based products used to treat his hemophilia.
The Quiet
Hero: A Life of Ryan White, written by Nelson Price with readers of all ages in mind,
explores the courage White and his mother, Jeanne, displayed in their battle to
have him join his classmates. Price, who covered White’s controversy as a
reporter and columnist for the Indianapolis News, goes behind the
scenes and brings to light stories and individuals who might have been lost in
the media spotlight that followed Ryan until he passed away on April 8, 1990.
The April 1 book
launch event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 6 p.m. with a
reception and book signing with author Nelson Price, Jeanne White-Ginder and
Greg Louganis. The evening will also include a panel discussion, which will
feature Price, White-Ginder, Louganis and IHS President and CEO John A. Herbst,
and be followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience.
Admission to the
book launch event is free, but space is limited for the program portion of the
evening. To reserve a seat, contact Kimberly Rohl at membership@indianahistory.org or (317) 233-5658. For more
information on IHS books and programs, call (317) 232-1882 or visit www.indianahistory.org.
About
the Indiana
Historical Society
Since 1830, the
Indiana Historical Society has been Indiana’s
Storyteller, connecting people to the past by collecting, preserving,
interpreting and sharing the state’s history. A private, nonprofit membership
organization, IHS maintains the nation’s premier research library and archives
on the history of Indiana and the Old Northwest and presents a unique set of visitor
exhibitions called the Indiana Experience. IHS also provides
support and assistance to local museums and historical groups, publishes books
and periodicals; sponsors teacher workshops; produces and hosts art
exhibitions, museum theater and outside performance groups; and provides youth,
adult and family programming.
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