1970: Loyola's Centennial Celebration
Alumni Centennial News
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Loyola University of Chicago celebrated its centennial during the academic year of 1969-1970. Planning commenced in November of 1961, almost eight full years before the celebrations were set to begin. A committee was appointed in May of 1964 to start organizing the events with an emphasis on new programming and celebrating Loyola’s rich history. Chief Judge William J. Campbell of the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and John Brogard, assistant to the dean of the School of Business, led the planning committee. The university provided the committee with $300,000, around $2.1 million today, for the yearlong celebration by the University. Mayor Richard J. Daley and Father James McGuire announced the celebrations on November 14th, 1969, during a press conference in the Mayor’s office.
Announcing the Centennial
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Centennial and alumni dinners represented a large part of the celebration. The first dinner was held in Chicago in October of 1969 with well over 1000 people in attendance. Nine additional alumni dinners were held around the country in New York, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, Cleveland-Akron, Phoenix, and Miami-Fort Lauderdale. Alums gathered at these dinners to celebrate Loyola and receive either the Centennial Alumni Citation or, for famous invitees, the Centennial Citation. Alumni Citation awardees included comedian Bob Newhart and deputy director of the National Security Agency Louis Tordella. Some of the Centennial Citation winners were the director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Zubin Mehta and Hung Wai Ching who helped lay the foundation for the creation of a Japanese American combat unit, the 442nd infantry, during World War II. At the Washington D.C. alumni dinner on February 20th, 1970, Father Maguire along with Speaker of the House John W. McCormack announced the Loyola Centennial National Commission. The Commission helped pass a resolution in Congress congratulating Loyola on its centennial which was sponsored by Loyola alums Congressmen Edward Derwinski, John Erlenborn, and Dan Rostenkowski.
On April 8th, the last centennial dinner was held at the Pick-Congress Hotel. The dinner served as the climax for the centennial celebrations and included giving leaders of universities from around the country honorary degrees. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Robert Finch served as the keynote speaker for the night. A taped greeting by Pope Paul IV was shown extending his greetings to all present at the celebration and to the faculty and students of Loyola.
Centennial Citation Awardees Los Angeles Alumni Dinner
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In addition, the centennial celebration included five academic symposiums. The committee invited high profile speakers from across the globe, such as renowned labor activist Walter Reuther and Gwendolyn Brooks, the first African American winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. Other participants in the symposiums were philosopher Noam Chomsky, civil rights leader Whitney Young, and famed psychologist Jean Piaget. The celebration also included standalone lectures by speakers who were giants in their field: Dr. Viktor Frankl, a famed neurologist, psychologist, founder of Logotherapy and a Holocaust survivor gave a lecture on psychiatry, and famed playwright and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama Edward Albee lectured on “the playwright vs. the theater.”
Viktor E. Frankel Lecture
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Television programs played a role in the celebration, as well. NBC Chicago developed an historical documentary about Loyola, and WGN created a special that showcased the differing political, sociological, and educational concerns of Loyola students. Additionally, Loyola commissioned an oratorio composed by Father Bruno Markaitis entitled “100 Suns” that was to be presented in the spring of 1970. The theme of “100 Suns” was optimism built on man’s faith and hope. The oratorio included members from the Chicago Ballet Company, soloists from the Chicago Lithuanian Opera Company, and was narrated by Jay Andres, a popular Chicago radio announcer. The event was held at the Madonna Della Strada Chapel with more than 1000 people in attendance.
Centennial Year Dinner
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The last two events of the centennial were a student fair the first weekend in May and the opening of the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame at the end of the month. The main events of the fair included a carnival, a parade, and a concert by legendary Motown group, The Four Tops. All profits from the fair were donated to St. Jude’s Children Hospital and Aiding Leukemia Stricken American Children. On May 27th, the Hall of Fame held a dinner at which its inaugural class was inducted. This first class of inductees included names such as legendary basketball coach Leonard Sachs, world record holder Tom O’Hara, 1963 NCAA tournament winners George Ireland, Jerry Harkness, and Leslie Hunter. The expected attendance was estimated to be 250, but more than 400 people showed up.
Alumni Centennial News Back Cover
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By June 1970, the centennial ended. The celebrations were a rousing success, with alumni dinners held all over the country, famed speakers and lecturers, and the creation of the Loyola Athletic Hall of Fame.
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