The Beacon explores the faces behind the names of campus landmarks
By Lauren Seynhaeve
Each day, hundreds of UP students wake up in a dormitory or campus housing, go to various classes in different academic halls and possibly stop in an office. The generous people who gave love, money and time to help improve the University of Portland are honored by the school with their names. Although several benefactors have humbly protested, the University usually insists.
"You have to, because it inspires other people, it shows that you're proud of the university, which we are, but they had to talk us into it," Susanne Corrado said. "And I would hope that it would inspire people."
Waldshmidt Hall
Bishop Paul E. Waldschmidt, C.S.C., president from 1962-1978, ushered in an era of change for UP. He expanded the school, renovated existing buildings and introduced new technology to the classrooms. A great deal of construction was overseen by Waldschmidt, including the renovation of West Hall (now Waldschmidt Hall) so it would stand up to fire codes.
Christie Hall
Archbishop of Portland Alexander Christie was the founder of the university. Born in Vermont in 1848, Christie came to Oregon with lofty hopes of building the finest educational institution on the West Coast. In 1901, on behalf of the archdiocese, he purchased the property previously owned by Portland University. He called the new school Columbia University. Christie established the school's credibility and later asked the Congregation of the Holy Cross to assume ownership of the school.
Kenna Hall
1959 saw the construction of Holy Cross Hall, which was renamed Kenna Hall in 1973 when Fr. Howard J. Kenna, C.S.C., president of UP from 1955-1962, passed away. Kenna was a beloved mathematician and priest on campus and did a great deal of work with then vice president and Dean of the Faculties, Bishop Paul E. Waldschmidt, C.S.C.
Howard Hall
Archbishop Edward Howard succeeded Christie as Archbishop of Portland in 1926 and remained in the position until 1966. He lived to be 105 years old, and saw Howard Hall named in his honor.
Shipstad Hall
Shipstad Hall was one of the buildings blessed by Waldschmidt in 1967. Edwin Harold Shipstad, a Los Angeles local, was a benefactor of the school who was awarded an honorary degree in 1963. His two sons also attended UP.
Franz Hall
Franz Hall, named for Robert W. Franz and his sister Elsie Franz-Finley, opened in 1995. Robert graduated from Columbia Preparatory School, which shared the UP campus, in 1941 and went into banking in 1948. He was the president of the first state bank of Oregon from 1962 to 1979 and has served on the UP Board of Regents since 1979, acting as chairman from 1981 to 1985.
Wilson W. Clark Memorial Library
In 1958, the Wilson W. Clark Memorial Library was built and named after the father of Maurie Clark, who donated a large sum of money to the university.
Earl A. & Virginia H. Chiles Center
In 1984, the Chiles Center opened. Three days after its dedication, President Ronald Reagan headlined the center's first event with a speech on Oct. 23, 1984. The center is named for the parents of Earl Meyer Chiles, a member of the Board of Regents since 1975. His grandfather, Fred Meyer, founded the supermarket chain. Chiles believes in Catholic education, and has also been very supportive of the Pamplin School of Business.
"He (Chiles) has been one of the university's longest and most significant supporters, with almost four decades of ongoing support," said UP's archivist Fr. Bob Antonelli, C.S.C.
Haggerty Hall
Haggerty Hall is named for Lawrence and Mary Ellen Haggerty, the parents of Board of Regent member and 1975 alumna Margaret "Peggy" Haggerty, who provided the main funds for the building's construction. Lawrence was the vice president of Haggerty Enterprises, Inc., the manufacturer of lava lamps, from 1978 to 1986.
Tyson Hall
Fr. David T. Tyson, C.S.C., was president of UP from 1990 to 2003. Like Waldschmidt, Tyson's presidency involved a great deal of growth for the university. When he left UP, Tyson became the head of the Holy Cross Priests and Brothers in the Indiana Provence.
"He was an exuberant, friendly, welcoming gentleman," said Fr. Bob Antonelli, C.S.C., who taught Tyson at the Notre Dame seminary from 1971 to 1972.
Fields & Schoenfeldt Halls
Fields and Schoenfeldt Halls, which opened this year, are named after Suzanne "Sue" Fields and her brother Fr. Arthur "Padre" Schoenfeldt, C.S.C. Schoenfeldt passed away in December of 2007 after serving for 40 years as a priest on The Bluff. Fields has been on the Board of Regents since 1995, and passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 3.
Orrico Health Center
In 1995, the Orrico Health Center, named for Frank Orrico and his wife Phyllis, opened. Frank was a founding partner of two real estate companies, Larry Smith and Company, Ltd. and Winmar Company, Inc. Frank served as a regent from 1982 to 1994.
Corrado Hall
Corrado Hall was named for 1955 UP alumnus Albert Corrado and his wife Susanne. Albert founded the Columbia Funds Management Company and was chairman of the UP Board of Regents from 1996 to 2002. Susanne is the daughter of Edwin Mayer, whose Sawyer Company invented the viewmaster viewer.
"Al and Sue Corrado attend more university events than I do," said executive vice president Fr. Thomas Doyle, C.S.C. "The campus is literally their backyard."
Susanne said that he and her husband feel like The Bluff is their home away from home. And since Albert graduated from UP, several of their children and four of their grandchildren have gone to school here.
"The people and the spirit, the beauty and the students - I could just sit out there and listen to the bells ring and I'm totally at peace," Susanne said. "I've just wanted to give back, we wish we could give more."
Mehling Hall
Fr. Theodore J. Mehling, C.S.C., began his career on The Bluff as an English professor and as the Dean of Studies and the College of Liberal Arts in 1937. In 1946, he became the 11th president of the university. In 1949, Mehling was elected provincial of the Indiana Province, and he served for one year. Mehling instituted coeducation at UP, which is why the all-girls dorm, built in 1964, is his namesake.
Mago Hunt Center
In 1973, Mago Hunt Center opened. Built to replace the old theater, which burned down in 1969, the theater building was named for the wife of William H. Hunt, Mago Dolan Hunt. William was a member of the Board of Regents from 1970 to 1997 and acted as the chairman from 1972 to 1977. He was also the founding chairman of Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, a manufacturer of building materials, industrial wood products and pulp, which funded the construction of the tennis courts.
Shiley Hall
Shiley Hall was recently built in the name of 1951 alumnus Donald P. Shiley and his wife Darlene. Donald earned an engineering degree from UP, and went on to invent an artificial heart valve, which has saved thousands of lives. The Shiley donation has helped to make the engineering building eco-friendly, technologically up to date and fresh with the largest donation in UP history, $12 million.
"I can think of no better way to honor Donald and thank his alma mater than to participate in paving the way for today and tomorrow's students," Darlene said in an email. "What greater tribute to both than a leadership gift of sufficient magnitude that provides a Renaissance, if you will, to a school and the hall in which its students learn? I suppose in very simplistic terms, I love the University of Portland enough to make such a gift because I so love the man that sprang from her roots."
Buckley Center
Buckley Center was named after James L. Buckley, who was the vice president of Georgia Pacific Corporation, a lumber company, and was the first chairman of the Board of Regents from 1967 to 1969.
Swindells Hall
Swindells Hall, which includ es an award-winning interactive laboratory facility, was built in 1999 in the name of 1955 alumnus George Swindells and his wife Susan. George was a regent from 1975 to 1983, and was the vice president of Willamette Valley Lumber, which went public in 1967 and became Willamette Industries.
