Niagara University: A Legacy of Notable Alumni
Niagara University (NU), a private Catholic university rooted in the Vincentian tradition, has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1856. Over the years, it has fostered a diverse community of students, many of whom have gone on to achieve remarkable success in various fields. This article explores the notable alumni of Niagara University, highlighting their contributions to society and the legacy they carry forward.
Niagara University: An Overview
Founded by the Congregation of the Mission on November 21, 1856, as Our Lady of Angels Seminary, Niagara University has evolved from its humble beginnings to a comprehensive institution offering undergraduate and graduate programs across five academic colleges. These include the College of Arts and Sciences, Holzschuh College of Business Administration, College of Education, College of Nursing, and the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
The university's commitment to providing a well-rounded education is reflected in its curriculum, which emphasizes the liberal arts and encourages students to explore various disciplines before choosing a major. Niagara University also has academic programs in Canada, operating under the consent of the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence, and Security of Ontario.
Niagara University's dedication to academic excellence has earned it recognition in national rankings. U.S. News & World Report has consistently ranked Niagara among the best regional universities in the North, particularly for its value and support for veterans. Money Magazine recognized Niagara University as the best college or university in the Buffalo-Niagara region for delivering the most value for a student's educational dollar. Kiplinger's Personal Finance has also acknowledged Niagara's affordability, placing it among the top values in private universities.
Athletics at Niagara University
The Niagara University Athletics Department sponsors 18 Division I sports. Known as the Purple Eagles, they compete in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in all sports except ice hockey, where they compete in Atlantic Hockey America. The men's basketball team has won the MAAC Championship multiple times, earning bids to the NCAA tournaments. Calvin Murphy led the Purple Eagles to the Sweet Sixteen in 1970. The men's hockey team has also achieved success, winning the College Hockey America Championship several times and appearing in the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship.
Read also: Discover Brock University
Notable Alumni
Niagara University boasts a diverse array of accomplished alumni who have made significant contributions to their respective fields. Here are some notable individuals who have walked the halls of NU:
Arts and Entertainment
Jim Hutton: An American actor known for his role as Ellery Queen in the 1970s TV series and his screen partnership with Paula Prentiss. He is also the father of actor Timothy Hutton.
John O'Hara: An American writer known for his short stories and novels, including "Appointment in Samarra" and "BUtterfield 8." He is credited with helping to invent The New Yorker magazine short story style.
Eric Gale: An American jazz and jazz fusion guitarist.
Sports
Calvin Murphy: A former professional basketball player who played for the San Diego/Houston Rockets from 1970 to 1983. He is the shortest NBA player inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Read also: A Guide to NCCC Programs
John Beilein: A professional basketball coach who has coached the Cleveland Cavaliers, Michigan Wolverines, West Virginia Mountaineers, and other teams.
Hubie Brown: An American professional basketball analyst and former coach and player. He is a two-time NBA Coach of the Year and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Frank Layden: A former basketball coach and executive of the National Basketball Association's Utah Jazz.
T. J. Cline: An American-Israeli professional basketball player for Hapoel Eilat of the Israeli Basketball Premier League and is also a member of the Israeli national basketball team.
Tremmell Darden: An American professional basketball player who currently plays for Crailsheim Merlins of the German Basketball Bundesliga.
Read also: Discover Stella Niagara
Antoine Mason: An American basketball player for London Lightning of the Basketball Super League.
Tahjere McCall: An American professional basketball player for Lokomotiv Kuban of the VTB United League.
Chris Watson: An American-Israeli former basketball player, who has played on the Israel national basketball team.
Matt Ryan: A Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played for several teams in Europe as well as the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL.
Ben Harpur: A Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Shad Barry: An American professional baseball player who spent ten seasons, from 1899 to 1909, in Major League Baseball.
Ray Keating: An American professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the New York Highlanders / Yankees of the American League from 1912 to 1916 and in 1918 and for the Boston Braves of the National League in 1919.
Jim Doyle: A professional baseball infielder he played for two seasons in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs.
Joe McCarthy: An American manager in Major League Baseball, most renowned for his leadership of the "Bronx Bombers" teams of the New York Yankees from 1931 to 1946.
Earle Mack: An American player and coach in Major League Baseball, and, during parts of two seasons, manager of the Philadelphia Athletics when his father, Connie Mack, was too ill to manage.
Politics and Public Service
William J. Donovan: An American soldier, lawyer, intelligence officer, and diplomat. He is best known for serving as the head of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the precursor to the CIA, during World War II.
Bill Press: An American talk radio host, podcaster, liberal pundit, and author. He was chairman of the California Democratic Party from 1993 to 1996.
Nick Langworthy: A politician serving as a U.S. Representative for New York's 23rd district since 2023. He was formerly the chair of the New York State Republican Committee.
Dan Schaefer: A former U.S. Representative for Colorado's 6th congressional district from 1983 to 1999.
Leo William O'Brien: An American journalist, radio and television commentator, and politician. A Democrat, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York from 1952 to 1966.
Brian Higgins: representative for New York's 26th congressional district, based in Syracuse, from 2015 to 2023.
Walter C. Young: An American educator and politician.
Earl Brydges: A politician.
Dave Levac: A retired Canadian politician who was the 41st speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2011 to 2018.
Religion and Spirituality
Michael J. McGivney: An American Catholic priest who founded the Knights of Columbus.
Nelson Baker: An American Catholic monsignor in Lackawanna, New York, whom the Vatican has declared as venerable.
David M. O'Connell: An American Catholic prelate who has served as Bishop of Trenton since 2010.
Edmund Michael Dunne: An American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Peoria in Illinois from 1909 until his death in 1929.
Louis Iasiello: A Catholic priest and retired US Navy officer who served as the 23rd Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy from 2003 to 2006.
Military
John P. Bobo: A United States Marine Corps second lieutenant who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Vietnam War on March 30, 1967.
Vincent E. Boles: A military officer.
Walter Kross: A retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as Commander in Chief, United States Transportation Command/Commander, Air Mobility Command from 1996 to 1998.
Other Fields
George Fell: An American surgeon and inventor, known for his early development of artificial ventilation and his research on electrocution.
Alexandra Sahlen: An American former professional soccer player and entrepreneur. She played for the Western New York Flash of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and was also the club's president.
Dennis H. Holtschneider: Most recently served as president of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities with his term ending June 30, 2024.
tags: #niagara #university #notable #alumni
