Chief of staff:

After leading the IU football team to the University's first-ever bowl appearance in the 1968 Rose Bowl, IU alumnus Harry Gonso will be tackling a different kind of position. Gonso has been appointed by Governor-elect Mitch Daniels to head his transition team as chief of staff.\nGonso met Daniels when asking the newly elected governor to work at the law firm Ice Miller. Daniels turned the firm down and eventually took an attorney position at another firm.\n"We've remained close, and I'm a true admirer and have been working intensely with him the last month," Gonso said. "I've only become more (of) a believer in his absolute ability in shaping the state for betterment."\nGonso graduated from IU-Bloomington in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and graduated from the IU School of Law in 1973 with honors. While attending IU, Gonso was an All-American football player on the 1968 football team, known as the "Cardiac Kids," and played in the Rose Bowl game against the University of Southern California and running back O.J. Simpson. \nGonso said the team's nickname reflected an enthusiasm that the players and coaches shared in last-minute wins throughout the Cinderella season. \n"It was one continuous exciting moment after another, that reference, the 'Cardiac' team, is about how we won games in the last minutes, which made it exciting, but we were truly an outstanding team," Gonso said. "No one expected we would be good. As each game rolled on, we continued to win and were almost unbeatable. It was a fairy tale story."\nGonso kept close ties with IU after graduation and served on the board of trustees for 18 years, for which he was vice president from 1988 to 1994. Former Trustee Ray Richardson served on the board with Gonso for two years.\n"Undoubtedly, Gonso was first elected to the board because of his football background," Richardson said. "But his contribution over 18 years offered as much as I've ever known. He was easy to get along with, smart and knowledgeable. It takes quite a while to get to know the workings of a university, but being on a board for 18 years will give you that knowledge."\nGonso has been practicing law since 1973 and took a position with Ice Miller in 1980. Currently Gonso is a partner at Ice Miller, where he specializes in general corporate and transaction law. Fellow colleague and attorney Richard Thrapp, who also graduated from IU School of Law, was recruited by Gonso and praised his leadership skills. \n"He was the hiring partner at the time and helped recruit me to Ice Miller," Thrapp said. "He's the kind of guy who really gets to know you. I could tell he wasn't going through a performance; he was charismatic."\nThrapp also said Gonso's experience as a quarterback helped him excel both as a leader and work as a team member.\n"He was quarterback of a team, and no one person can accomplish the objectives of an administration," Thrapp said. "Everyone has a role, and a quarterback's role is to make sure that, in any given play, everyone is doing what they need to do. His job is to make sure everyone does their job and follows the governor's lead."\nThrapp also said another qualification Gonso exudes is his talent of team-building, an idea Ice Miller stands behind.\n"One aspect the firm has is teamwork," Thrapp said. "It kind of flows from ability to understand what the other side of a particular situation wants. Harry's approach has been to find out what everyone is seeking in negotiations and for each party to reach an agreement. His whole goal is to assist clients into achieving objectives. That's why he's effective, and I think those skills will serve the governor well."\nFormer IU Interim President Gerald Bepko praised Gonso for his accomplishments at IU and said his talents will make him an excellent chief of staff. \n"Harry Gonso has been a great leader in so many different fields of interest at Indiana University," Bepko said. "Harry is very intelligent and has excellent values and works well with people, and they look up to him," Bepko said. "People who are students today or future or alums should look at Harry as a model. Harry is very genuine, honorable and an honest man. Very often, nice guys finish first."\nGonso said he valued his seven "tremendous" years at IU and has a deep devotion to the school. \n"I went to IU as a football athlete and went to IU School of Law, and I fell in love with the institution and grew to feel indebtedness and (loyalty) to Indiana University," he said.\nGonso's life thus far has encompassed many things. He said he will not forget his time at IU and is grateful for the opportunities he has had.\n"This is a new chapter of my life. Mitch needed someone he trusted to provide leadership, and I want to help higher quality people and help communicate (Daniels') message. And then who knows what I'll do after that? Obviously I miss IU."\nGonso said although he's done much in his life, some things still remain the same.\n"I'm essentially the same guy. I've developed better balance, tolerance and more diversity," Gonso said. "I tell my kids usually you've got to look for someone to be successful who has fire in their belly."\n-- Contact senior writer Lindsay Jancek at lmjancek@indiana.edu.