Douglas Lee Cocks, Ph.D., 75, passed away on September 27, 2017 with his family by his side.  He was born and raised in Des Moines, IA where he starred on the Roosevelt High School baseball team.  He followed his baseball passion to play collegiately at Augustana College (Sioux Falls), graduating in 1964.  He went on to receive a Master of Arts Degree from Drake University in 1965 before marrying his college sweetheart, Donna Wudel.  He served in the United States Air Force from 1966 through 1969, attaining the rank of Captain.  Following his military service, in 1973 he earned a Ph.D. in Economics from Oklahoma State University, launching a long and distinguished career in the field of economics.

Dr. Cocks spent his entire professional career as a pharmaceutical economist at Eli Lilly & Co. in Indianapolis.  He authored and co-authored numerous, influential papers and studies that furthered the understanding of economics in the healthcare sector.  In 2016, a paper written by Dr. Cocks in 1981 was selected as one of the forty-one most influential papers published in the first fifty years of the professional journal Business Economics and was republished in a hardcover collection alongside papers from economic luminaries such as Paul Volcker, Alan Greenspan, Paul Krugman and Milton Friedman.  Dr. Cocks also served as an Adjunct Professor of Economics at Butler University and on the boards of various academic and professional organizations.

Dr. Cocks was twice awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash, the highest honor bestowed by the Governor of Indiana to recognize those who have rendered a distinguished service to the state.  He was recognized for his professional service in the areas of economics and business development.

Dr. Cocks was a devoted father who instilled in his children the values of education, hard work and humility and the confidence and ability to seek professional and personal success.  He is survived and remembered fondly by his former wife, Donna, of Indianapolis; his daughter and son-in-law, Kristin and Bill Ferguson-Wagstaffe, of Indianapolis; his son and daughter-in-law, Andy and Katie of Charlotte; his son and daughter-in-law, Christopher (Toph) and Regina of Atlanta; seven grandchildren; and his brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Darlene, of West Des Moines.

Dr. Cocks will be interred at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel, IA with a private memorial service to follow in Indianapolis. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his memory to Augustana University, Office of Advancement, 2001 S. Summit Ave., Sioux Falls, SD, 57197.

Services and care provided by Lauck & Veldhof Funeral & Cremation Services, Indianapolis. Online condolences may be left at www.lauckfuneralhome.com. 

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