Since its inception in 1916, 91ֱ’s Alumni Association has had a rich and colorful history that has fostered an ongoing relationship between the University and its alumni. Today, the Association continues to cultivate and foster good will and camaraderie among its members, promotes the interest and general welfare of 91ֱ, and maintains and advances the causes of higher education.
The Alumni Association achieves its objectives by developing and contributing to programs and services that provide direct benefit to alumni and the University. Of particular impact is the financial support that the Association generates for La 91ֱ, raising and contributing thousands of dollars each year to the Brother Patrick Ellis Alumni Scholarship Fund. The Association also helps in the recruitment of alumni volunteers who can offer important assistance to both the Association and to the University.
Tom Hickey, ’48, becomes “all-purpose” alumni secretary, planning class reunions, chapter meetings, fundraising, and student placement.
John L. McCloskey, ’48, is appointed to Assistant to the President, taking over alumni programming under the leadership of Brother E. Stanislaus, President of La 91ֱ University.
Brother Daniel Bernian, President of La 91ֱ University, names McCloskey Vice President for Public Relations. Reporting to him, among other areas of the University, is the Alumni Relations Office.
Joseph Hanley, ’59, is named Director of Alumni.
Jim McDonald, ’58, is named Director of Alumni.
The quantity of alumni mailing addresses is less than 5,000.
The Hall of Athletes induction and program is established.
The annual Signum Fidei presentation, established in 1936, is awarded for the first time at a Communion dinner held on All Saints Day, Nov. 1.
Highlighting the Centennial Commencement, the Alumni Association presents its first memorial award, named in honor of John J. Finley, ’24. The first presentation is to the family of Mr. Finley, accepted by his son, Peter Finley, ’53.
Dan McGonigle, ’57, becomes the first Evening Division graduate to be elected President of the Alumni Association. The Alumni Association approves a “Homecoming Weekend” for the fall of 1964.
The “Alumni Trustees,” consisting of the five past presidents of the Association, discuss the future direction of alumni. The group becomes the “Long Range Policy Committee.”
The Alumni Relations Office, along with the Annual Fund Office, moves to a house at 5521 Wister St., where it will be located for 19 years.
Francis J. McGovern, ’66, is hired as the first full-time Assistant Director of Alumni Relations.
Anne C. Hughes joins the staff as Office Manager. Mrs. Hughes remains an indispensable part of the operation for 14 years.
The first basketball dinners are held to celebrate the 1969 season coached by Tom Gola. The team finishes 23-1 and ranked second in the nation.
Harry J. White, Ph.D., ’54, is elected President of the Alumni Association. White is the last President to be elected by the alumni body and the first to be elected by the Board.
Bob Schaefer, ’54, becomes President of the Alumni Association and welcomes the first female member, Catherine (Callahan) Devlin, ’71.
The Alumni Association is granted a seat on the University’s Board of Trustees. Harry J. White, Ph.D., ’54, is seated.
The Alumni Association holds its first Book Fair.
The Alumni Association supports La 91ֱ’s administration in the pursuit of University status.
The Golden Explorers Club begins for alumni graduating 50 years and before.
The Alumni Association honors La 91ֱ’s Olympians.
The Alumni Office relocates to Benilde Hall, formerly located in between McShain Hall and Olney Hall. Benilde Hall was demolished in 2007 to make way for a renovated and expanded Holroyd Hall, featuring the Hugh and Nancy Devlin Center for Science and Technology, expected to be completed in fall 2009.
The Warren E. Smith, Ph.D., ’54, Award is established to honor prominent African American alumni.
Marianne S. Gauss, ’75, is elected the first woman President of the Alumni Association.
The Dr. Eugene Gallagher Club becomes the Explorer Club under the direction of the Athletic Department.
George J. “Bud” Dotsey, ’69, becomes Alumni Director, succeeding Jim McDonald, who had directed the office for 34 years.
Intercollegiate football returns to La 91ֱ with the support of the Alumni Association.
The Alumni Association reorganizes to a central body of leaders made up of 21 elected directors and four appointed officers.
New bylaws are adopted for the Association.
Jim Gulick, ’89, is hired as Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations.
Nearly 1,000 alumni vote in the first Alumni Association election for seven Board of Director positions. The elections are held each year to fill seven director positions.
Approximately 35,600 alumni have active addresses in La 91ֱ’s alumni database, and approximately 7,500 alumni have updated their e-mail addresses with the University.
On Sept. 12, 2004, the Alumni Association is recognized for its continued financial support of the University. The Association is inducted into the De La 91ֱ Society, which recognizes lifetime giving to the University in excess of $100,000.
The mylasalle Alumni Portal is launched.
The alumni e-mail database reaches nearly 14,000.
The Alumni Association participates in the successful completion of the Shoulder to Shoulder: Securing the Future, a major gift initiative to strengthen the endowment and raise money for a new science and technology center.
The Board of Directors introduces a new strategic plan prioritizing the Alumni Association’s initiatives for the next five years.
With the help of the Alumni Association’s partnership and participation, the Annual Fund exceeds its goal, raising a record of more than $2.2 million for scholarships and financial aid.
The newest Alumni Directory is completed and active addresses in La 91ֱ’s alumni database reaches more than 45,000 and more than 20,000 alumni have updated e-mail addresses with the University.
The Alumni Association launched a comprehensive Web site, “La 91ֱ Alumni Online: Where Explorers Connect.”
The Alumni Board election has a record number of voters both online and mailed ballots with a 25 percent increase from the previous year.
The Alumni Association successfully negotiated a five-year contract with Liberty Mutual that will generate $80,000 in revenue and $20,000 in sponsorship money per year, totaling more than $500,000.
The Alumni Association completed a $44,000 renovation of the Lourdes Grotto on the Main Quad, featuring a new boulder wall, brick pointing, landscaping, and benches. Funding was also secured from the Arboretum Project for $4,000 and benches with engraved plaques were funded by Jerry Lezynksi, ’82; Marie, ’06, M.A. ’11, and Fran Cantwell, ’88; Charles Reynolds, ’70; Alpha Theta Alpha sorority in memory of Kaitlyn Wilson, ’14; and the Alumni Association in honor of Br. Michael McGinniss, Ph.D. ,’70.
The Alumni Association wrote an updated version of the 2002 Strategic Plan focusing on four key initiatives:
Alumni Association President AmyLynn Flood, ‘95 collaborated with Dr. Colleen Hanycz to have the Peale House become the official alumni house on campus. Funding was secured by the Alumni Association to complete renovations and to have a dedicated space to recognize La 91ֱ’s Fulbright Scholars.
The Alumni House at Peale House was officially dedicated on April 23, 2018.