1997 Assembly Joint Resolution 82
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: the life and service of the Reverend John P. Raynor, S.J.
Whereas, the Reverend John P. Raynor, S.J., was born on October 1, 1923, in Omaha, Nebraska, and died on November 14, 1997, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and
Whereas, the Reverend John P. Raynor, S.J., entered the Society of Jesus in 1941 and was ordained a priest in 1954; and
Whereas, the Reverend John P. Raynor, S.J., received a bachelor of arts degree in 1947 and a masters of arts degree in 1948 from St. Louis University and received his doctoral degree in higher education from the University of Chicago in 1959; and
Whereas, the Reverend John P. Raynor, S.J., came to Marquette University in 1960 and later was appointed academic vice president, a position he held until he became Marquette University's 20th president, by which time he was affectionately known by the Marquette community as "Buck" Raynor; and
Whereas, the Reverend John P. Raynor, S.J., was president of Marquette University from September 9, 1965, through August 14, 1990, the longest tenure as chief executive in the 116-year history of the university; and
Whereas, the Reverend John P. Raynor, S.J., strengthened the quality of the Marquette faculty, and during his tenure its undergraduate, graduate and professional programs grew steadily; and
Whereas, in 1969, the Reverend John P. Raynor, S.J., established the Marquette Education Opportunity Program, which was hailed as a model for providing educational opportunities to low-income, first generation college students; and
Whereas, the Reverend John P. Raynor, S.J., during his tenure as president strengthened Marquette's Catholic, Jesuit tradition, enhanced its reputation among the nation's prominent universities and continued its firm commitment to the greater Milwaukee community as an urban institution; and
Whereas, the Reverend John P. Raynor, S.J., was president of Marquette when the men's basketball team won the 1970 National Invitational Tournament and the 1977 NCAA Championship; and
Whereas, more than half of the university's 96,000 living alumni graduated during Father Raynor's presidency; and
Whereas, the Reverend John P. Raynor, S.J., served as a mentor to all through the virtues he exemplified; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature commend the decades of devoted service that the Reverend John P. Raynor gave to Marquette University's students, faculty, members and administrators and to the community of Milwaukee, recognize the sterling qualities that he exhibited as a Jesuit priest, express their sorrow at his death and extend their condolences to his family and the entire Jesuit community; and, be it further
Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide copies of this joint resolution to the Reverend John P. Raynor's family.
