University Park in Dayton in Montgomery County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Campaign for the University of Dayton

January 1, 1983 - December 31, 1987

— To Make Our Best Better —

Campaign for the University of Dayton Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 23, 2026

1. Campaign for the University of Dayton Marker

Inscription.

Campaign for the University of Dayton. January 1, 1983 - December 31, 1987. , After years of self-study and planning, The University of Dayton set for itself a most ambitious goal. By 1983, already one of the largest independent universities in the Midwest and Catholic universities in America, the University determined that it could become indisputably one of the best., The Board of Trustees confirmed the priorities and adopted a $38 million campaign goal, the largest campaign ever before attempted either by the University or in the City of Dayton., Under the enthusiastic and effective leadership of Board Chairman, Jesse Philips, behind a national effort chaired by Peter H. Kuntz, '50, with Honorary Co-Chairmen, Rev. Raymond A. Roesch, S.M., '36, and Virginia W. Kettering, with the assistance of hundreds of volunteers and the generosity of thousands, the campaign was an enormous success, raising $43 million, to make our best better., This marker, dedicated on the one hundred thirty-eighth anniversary of the University's founding, stands as a permanent tribute to all whose personal sacrifice has helped to shape the University's tradition of excellence and its proud future of promise., Brother Raymond L. Fitz, S.M., Ph. D. , President , March 19, 1989, Campaign Committee. , William S. Anderson . George C. Cooper . Charles W. Danis, Sr. . Ermal C. Finze . Richard F. Glennon . Virginia W. Kettering . Peter H. Kuntz . James W. McSwiney . Bette Rogge Morse . John L. O'Grady . Jesse Philips . Reverend Raymond A. Roesch, S.M. . Pfeife Smith . John F. Torley . Hugh E. Wall, Jr., Board of Trustees. , William S. Anderson . John W. Berry, Sr. . Jerome P. Bishop . Ferne C. Bömbeck . Very Rev. Bernard A. Buby, S.M. . Jen D. Carder . Victor J. Cassano, Jr. . Junius E. Cromartie, Jr. . L. William Croty . Brother George A. Dehlein, S.M. . Senator Richard H. Finan . Brother Raymond L. Fitz, S.M. . Ermal C. Fraze . Robert E. Frazer . Brother Thomas F. Giardino, S.M. . James J. Gitzany . Richard F. Gannon . Stanley Z. Greenberg . Sarah E. Harris . Eugene C. Kennedy . Maurice F. Krug . Brother Bruno V. Manno, S.M. . Brother Stanley G. Mathews, S.M. . Marie-Louise McInnis . Reverend John A. McGrath, S.M. . James W. McSwiney . Dennis L. Meyer . Brother Gerald S. Miller . Gerald S. Office, Jr. . John L. O'Grady . Brother Ronald L. Overman, S.M. . Jesse Philips . Brother Anthony J. Pistone, S.M. . Brother Bernard J. Ploeger, S.M. . Pfeife Smith . Very Rev. Patrick J. Tonry, S.M. . Frederick S. Wood

After years of self-study and planning, The University of Dayton set for itself a most ambitious goal. By 1983, already one of the largest independent universities in the Midwest and Catholic universities in America, the University determined that it could become indisputably one of the best.

The Board of Trustees confirmed the priorities and adopted a $38 million campaign goal, the largest campaign ever before attempted either by the University or in the City of Dayton.

Under the enthusiastic and effective leadership of Board Chairman, Jesse Philips, behind a national effort chaired by Peter H. Kuntz, '50, with Honorary Co-Chairmen, Rev. Raymond A. Roesch, S.M., '36, and Virginia W. Kettering, with the assistance of hundreds of volunteers and the generosity of thousands, the campaign was an enormous success, raising $43 million, to make our best better.

This marker, dedicated on the one hundred thirty-eighth anniversary of the University's founding, stands as a permanent tribute to all whose personal sacrifice has helped to shape the University's tradition of excellence and its proud future of promise.

Brother Raymond L. Fitz, S.M., Ph. D.
President
March 19, 1989

Campaign Committee
William S. Anderson • George C. Cooper • Charles W. Danis, Sr.

Paid Advertisement

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• Ermal C. Finze • Richard F. Glennon • Virginia W. Kettering • Peter H. Kuntz • James W. McSwiney • Bette Rogge Morse • John L. O'Grady • Jesse Philips • Reverend Raymond A. Roesch, S.M. • Pfeife Smith • John F. Torley • Hugh E. Wall, Jr.

Board of Trustees
William S. Anderson • John W. Berry, Sr. • Jerome P. Bishop • Ferne C. Bömbeck • Very Rev. Bernard A. Buby, S.M. • Jen D. Carder • Victor J. Cassano, Jr. • Junius E. Cromartie, Jr. • L. William Croty • Brother George A. Dehlein, S.M. • Senator Richard H. Finan • Brother Raymond L. Fitz, S.M. • Ermal C. Fraze • Robert E. Frazer • Brother Thomas F. Giardino, S.M. • James J. Gitzany • Richard F. Gannon • Stanley Z. Greenberg • Sarah E. Harris • Eugene C. Kennedy • Maurice F. Krug • Brother Bruno V. Manno, S.M. • Brother Stanley G. Mathews, S.M. • Marie-Louise McInnis • Reverend John A. McGrath, S.M. • James W. McSwiney • Dennis L. Meyer • Brother Gerald S. Miller • Gerald S. Office, Jr. • John L. O'Grady • Brother Ronald L. Overman, S.M. • Jesse Philips • Brother Anthony J. Pistone, S.M. • Brother Bernard J. Ploeger, S.M. • Pfeife Smith • Very Rev. Patrick J. Tonry, S.M. • Frederick S. Wood

Erected by University of Dayton.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical date for this entry is January 1, 1983.

Location.

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 23, 2026

2. Campaign for the University of Dayton Marker

39° 44.405′ N, 84° 10.576′ W. Marker is in Dayton, Ohio, in Montgomery County. It is in University Park. It is at the intersection of Alumni Lane and Stadium Road, on the right when traveling north on Alumni Lane. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1099 Zehler Ave, Dayton OH 45409, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Miami Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. (a few steps from this marker); Blessed (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); St. Mary’s Hall (about 400 feet away); Erma Bombeck (about 400 feet away); First Members of the Society of Mary in North America in 1849 (about 500 feet away); Our Lady of the Pines (approx. 0.2 miles away); Wrights Rest at Woodland (approx. ¼ mile away); Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dayton.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 12, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.