Former Purdue hoops star speaking at meeting

A former Purdue University basketball star will be the speaker at Purdue Club of Jackson County’s annual meeting.

Brian Cardinal, a key member of the Boilermakers men’s basketball team from 1995 to 2000, is set to speak at 7:15 p.m. Feb. 25 at Celebrations, 357 Tanger Blvd., Suite 101, Seymour.

Social hour will start at 6 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets for the dinner are $20 per adult and $12 per student, and tables of eight can be purchased for $135. Tickets are available at Family Drug in Brownstown, Bevers Family Pharmacy in Seymour, from any club board member or online at Eventbrite.

All proceeds go to the local club’s scholarship fund. Every spring, the club awards $500 scholarships to county high school graduates who will be freshmen at Purdue in the fall.

For information, contact Chuck Gordon at 812-525-9346.

Cardinal earned a spot in the starting lineup all four seasons at Purdue, leading the Boilermakers to the Elite Eight in 2000. He was a four-time recipient of the Courage Award and Ray Eddy Mr. Hustle Award, given annually to the Boilermaker who displays the greatest amount of determination, drive and leadership.

Cardinal played 12 seasons in the NBA with stops in Detroit, Washington, Golden State, Minnesota, Memphis and Dallas. He helped the Dallas Mavericks to an NBA title in 2011 while earning the nickname “The Custodian” before retiring in Dallas after the 2011-12 season.

Cardinal joined the John Purdue Club as an assistant director in December 2012. In his current capacity, he works in fundraising, bringing awareness to the club and motivating people to get involved. He also plans to get involved with the local community in a variety of different aspects.