Jack Krebs ’63 chose to attend Butler for many reasons—a desire to play for Tony Hinkle, the location (Indianapolis, close to home), and the fraternity system among them.

And because of the experience he had at Butler—getting to play for Hinkle, being close to his family and their insurance business, becoming a Phi Delt, learning in classes—he has continued to support his alma mater for 50 years.

You’ll find Krebs and his wife, Betty—longtime members of the Bulldog Club philanthropic society to support Butler University athletics—sitting behind the announcers at men’s basketball games and in the stands at women’s basketball, volleyball, and football games. They’re also frequently at away games, often traveling with their friends Jerry ’61 and Patsy Shultz. (Jerry Shultz was inducted into the Butler Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.)

“I love going to Butler,” says Betty Krebs, who did not attend the University. “Hinkle Fieldhouse is my happy place. I enjoy watching the students and the band and I like everything about Butler. That’s why we go.”

Krebs—a five-time inductee into the Butler Athletic Hall of Fame—was part of teams that had enormous success, including the undefeated 1959 and 1961 football teams and the 1962 basketball team that made the NCAA tournament. He also made it to two NCAA national track meets.

But asked to compare his teams with today’s student-athletes, he says:“We couldn’t compete against them. Basketball is so physical. It wasn’t as physical back then. It takes bigger, stronger athletes to play the game than it did when I was playing. You wouldn’t have been able to play the schedules you do now because of the wear and tear on your body. They’re working hard against each other.”

Krebs grew up in Shelbyville, Indiana, and became interested in Butler from watching Tony Hinkle and Tom Carnegie on TV doing the Indiana high school basketball tournament broadcasts.

He says he learned a lot from the legendary coach over the years, including how to play his position. Krebs played quarterback in high school, but Hinkle moved him to defensive end.

“Shultz hit ’em low and I’d jump on top of them,” he says, laughing. “But probably the most amazing thing I did was play for him as an end at the weight that I was, and the inexperience that I had. He taught fundamentals that were very good.”

He also learned humility, both from watching Hinkle manicure the baseball field (“He wasn’t too good to do maintenance.”) and by getting pulled off the football field when he’d miss an assignment. That lesson made its way into the classroom.

“I was a good student in high school, but it came naturally,” Krebs says. “I didn’t have to study. All of a sudden, I had to study at Butler.”

Krebs says he also learned a lot from Galvin Walker, the longtime track and field coach. Walker had a movie projector in the dressing room and would play film loops of Olympic champions. Krebs watched those regularly to learn their form and technique for the high jump, broad jump, and hurdles.

“Galvin was a hidden gem at Butler University,” Krebs says. Krebs says the collection of lessons and experiences he had at Butler helped propel him to a successful career, first as an accountant, then in the family insurance business. Butler provided an excellent education inside and outside the classroom, he says, and that’s why he keeps coming back.

“I can’t imagine having a better experience—through school and even after school,” he says. “That’s what I enjoy going back to.”