Alumni Awards
Backer Award
The highest honor that SLUH bestows upon its alumni is the Backer Award. Named for George and Anna Backer, whose generosity brought about the creation of our campus, the award is presented to a deserving alumnus.
About
For nearly 200 years, SLUH has dedicated itself to a tradition of creating Catholic leaders. Outstanding alumni from the Backer Memorial have fulfilled this mission by serving as leaders in their communities, their professions and their church. In 1983, the Board of Trustees, the officers of the Alumni Board and the administration of the school established the Backer Award to honor those distinguished alumni who best embody the principles and traditions of a Catholic, Jesuit education.
These principals were articulated in a document that the Jesuits published in the mid 1980s about the goals of Jesuit education. In this document, the Jesuits declared that a graduate of a Jesuit high school should ideally be a person who is “open to growth, intellectually competent, religious, loving and committed to doing justice." This also describes appropriate criteria when considering nominations for the Backer Award.
Recipients
2018
Fr. David P. Baltz, S.J. '58
Fr. Ralph D. Houlihan, S.J. '52
Thomas W. Santel '76
Mark A. Wilhelm '72
John D. Wunderlich '66
>>> Learn more about the 2018 recipients
2010
Robert Barnidge '58
Fr. David Fleming, S.J. '52
F. Joseph Schulte '54
View Award Presentation for F. Joseph Schulte '54, given by David Laughlin
2009
Rev. Claude B. Heithaus, S.J. '16
Stephen E. Hutchison '68
2007
Carl J. Reis, Jr. '57
2005
Theodore W. Hellman '66
2004
Michael R. DeBaun, M.D. '78
2003
Joseph P. Castellano '71
2001
Timothy L. Drone '68
2000
Robert L. Bannister, Ph.D. '54
1999
Richard D. Perl, S.J. '66
1996
Dcn. Anthony I. Messineo '42
Rev. John W. Padberg, S.J. '44
1995
Donald J. Gunn, Jr. '54
Daniel J. McAuliffe '53
1994
Theodore J. Dubuque, Jr., M.D. '45
The Hon. Edward L. Filippine '48
Bishop Adolph J. Paschang, M.M. '15
1993
William F. James '36
George F. Hellmuth '24
1992
Edward C. Macauley '45
Rev. John B. Warner, S.J. '62
1991
Thomas A. Dooley, M.D. '44
Rev. William B. Faherty, S.J. '31
Robert L. Jackson '52
1990
Henry E. Hampton, Jr. '57
Rev. John F. Kavanaugh, S.J. '59
1988
John D. Bouhasin, M.D. '48
Rev. George E. Ganss, S.J. '24
James S. McClellan '26
The Hon. Melvin C. Price '23
1987
Paul J. Burgett, Ph.D. '64
Robert F. Hyland, Jr. '36
The Hon. Richard J. Mehan '41
1986
Del L. Bannister '24
R. Emmet Kelly, M.D. '26
Paul J. Rodgers '37
Kenneth S. Wild '45
1985
George E. Gantner, Jr., M.D. '45
David A. Hilliard '67
F. William McAlpin '39
1984
The Hon. J. Donald Gunn '26
Prof. Peter W. Salsich, Jr. '55
Msgr. John A. Shocklee '35
Rev. Robert F. Weiss, S.J. '42
1983
Matthias H. Backer, Jr., M.D. '44
Carl J. Rossow, Ed.D. '55
Daniel L. Schlafly, Sr. '28
Qualifications
The Backer Award is presented at the discretion of the SLUH President. It is awarded to a deserving SLUH alumnus, either living or deceased.
The award is presented to those who embody, in outstanding fashion, the mission of SLUH. The mission at SLUH is derived from the Jesuit idea that man is a free son of God who develops and utilizes his talents so that he has more to give to others. In short, striving to do more (St. Ignatius used the Latin term “Magis") in every endeavor, and doing it all for the greater glory of God.
Backer Award nominees shall have achieved outstanding success in one or more of the following areas:
- Service to their family, their church and their fellow man
- Contributions to their business or profession
- Leadership in civic or social work
- Promotion of intellectual or cultural pursuits
Nominate
Any alumnus may recommend his fellow alumni for the Backer Award. Recommendations should be very specific, and include as much detail as possible about the accomplishments and leadership of the nominee. Use the following form to recommend an alumnus for the Backer Award:
If you have a question, e-mail alumni@sluh.org.
Backer Award Nomination Form
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John J. Divine, S.J. Alumni Service AWard
This award, established in 1974, is presented annually by the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors to an outstanding alumnus in recognition of his dedicated service to SLUH. It perpetuates the memory of the Association’s long-time Director, Reverend John J. Divine, S.J.
The SLUH Archive volunteer leaders (pictured above) earned the award for 2016-17.
About
Fr. Divine reinvigorated the Alumni Association in 1941. Before that time, he worked diligently to maintain communication between SLUH and alumni who were serving the country during World War II. The tradition of loyalty and love for the school among its alumni was solidified during this turbulent time, under Fr. Divine’s leadership as the school’s Alumni Chaplain.
Recipients
2016-17
SLUH Archive Project Leaders: Terry Donohue '63, Ron Horst '63, Marty O'Brien '63, Tim O'Connell '63, Lee Schilligo '63, Bob St. Vrain '63, Norm Thomas '63
2014-15
Mark Wilhelm '72
2011-12
Matthew C. Sciuto '70
2010-11
Joseph F. Jedlicka '80
2009-10
Thomas J. Keeline '68
2004-05
John C. Weller ‘70
2001-02
John D. Wunderlich ‘66
2000-01
Deacon James L. Murphy ‘54
1999-2000
Stephen E. Hutchison ‘68
1998-99
Mark J. LaBarge ‘70
1997-98
James G. Blase ‘75
1996-97
Peter H. Benoist ‘66
1995-96
Martin J. Ribaudo ‘68
1994-95
J. Michael Bruno ‘62
1993-94
James A. Walther ‘73
1992-93
Timothy L. Drone ‘68
1991-92
Francis J. Pawloski ‘63
1990-91
Daniel P. Hurley ‘43
1989-90
John W. Williams ‘59
1988-89
James T. Barry, Jr. ‘63
1987-88
George G. Callahan ‘43
1986-87
Henry F. Luepke, Jr. ’53
1985-86
Robert L. Lynch, Jr. ‘65
1984-85
Francis A. Ferrara ‘48
1983-84
Daniel J. McAuliffe ‘53
1982-83
Richard G. Millman ‘68
1981-82
Joseph A. Weber ‘28
1980-81
Donald J. Gunn, Jr. ‘54
1979-80
Jack E. Pohrer ‘58
1978-79
Joseph P. Bannister ‘56
1977-78
John A. Finan ‘30
1976-77
Robert L. Gund ‘36
1975-76
Joseph M. Grana D.D.S. ‘37
1974-75
Robert F. Chickey ‘50
1973-74
Robert X. Holloran ‘26
Nominate
Any alumnus may recommend his fellow alumni for the Divine Alumni Service Award. Recommendations should be very specific, and include as much detail as possible about the accomplishments and leadership of the nominee. Use the following form to recommend an alumnus for the Divine Award:
If you have any questions, e-mailalumni@sluh.org.
Divine Alumni Service Award Nomination Form
Robert Barnidge ’58 (left) and Fr. David Fleming, S.J. ’52 were recognized with the Backer Award in 2010. Though not pictured, Joe Schulte ’54 was also recognized with the award the same year.