20 | DECEMBER 15 • 2022 

OUR COMMUNITY

E

ugene Driker was a 
pillar in the Jewish com-
munity, a prominent 
attorney and a tireless support-
er of the city of Detroit and 
Wayne State University.
In recognition of his pro-
found contributions, President 
M. Roy Wilson and the Wayne 
State Board of Governors cre-
ated the Eugene Driker Award 
for Distinguished Service. The 
award’s first recipient is Driker, 
who received the honor post-
humously at the Dec. 2 Board 
of Governors meeting, with 
his friends and family in atten-
dance.
A two-time Wayne State 
alumnus, former member of 
the Board of Governors, chair 
of the Wayne State University 
Foundation Board, generous 
donor and tireless ambassa-
dor for the university, Driker 
passed away in September. But 
the enormous impact of his 
contributions to Detroit and 
Wayne State will be felt for 
years to come.
Driker’s history with Wayne 

State began with a bachelor’s in 
mathematics in 1959, followed 
by a law degree in 1961. As 
an alumnus, he continued to 
serve, starting with the Law 
School, where he was chair-
man of the Board of Visitors, 
the school’s first fundraising 
chair, and a member of the Carl 
Levin Center for Oversight and 
Democracy. He was also instru-
mental in raising funds for an 
addition to the Law School in 
1998.
His wife, Elaine, and his son 
Stephen Driker along with his 
wife, Jennifer, accepted the 
award.
“My only wish is that he was 
here to accept this himself,” 
Elaine Driker said. “Everyone 
knows how much he loved this 
university. He called it the por-
tal to the American dream … I 
believe that’s why he worked so 
tirelessly on behalf of the uni-
versity. Hearing everyone speak 
about all of his contributions to 
the university and to the city, 
I want everyone to know that 
he was also a remarkable hus-

band, an incredible father and a 
devoted grandfather.”
Driker’s daughter Elissa 
Driker couldn’t be at the cer-
emony but sent a note that 
Elaine Driker read to everyone 
in attendance.
“That is so lovely and mean-
ingful,” Elissa Driker wrote. 
“
And exactly what I think Dad 
hoped for as his legacy.”
The Eugene Driker Award 
for Distinguished Service is 
intended to honor individuals 
who, like Driker, have per-
formed extraordinary service 
on behalf of both the university 
and the community.
“His impact changed the face 
of our institution,” President 

Wilson said. “Eugene was one 
of a kind, and I feel so privi-
leged to have known him and 
to have called him my friend. 
“This award provides the 
opportunity for our community 
to understand the importance 
of all Eugene did for Wayne 
State University and Detroit 
and serves as a model for oth-
ers to emulate. This is a special 
award, to be granted to only a 
few.”
Future awards will be pre-
sented based on the emergence 
of a potential awardee rather 
than on a calendar basis, and 
will be at the discretion of the 
president, with concurrence 
from the Board of Governors. 

Wayne State 
names an 
award in his 
honor.

Eugene Driker Honored 
Posthumously

JN STAFF

LEFT: Elaine Driker 
(center) holds up the 
Eugene Driker Award 
for Distinguished 
Service. Elaine Driker 
along with their son 
Stephen Driker (left) 
and his wife Jennifer 
were on hand 
to receive the award 
in Eugene's honor

BELOW: The Wayne 
State Board of 
Governors and Wayne 
State President M. 
Roy Wilson present 
Eugene Driker's fam-
ily with the Eugene 
Driker Award for 
Distinguished Service.

