Belmont Abbey College - Spire Yearbook (Belmont, NC)

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FACULTY SECTION EDITOR Christopher Russell 1 -r X • . ' Jf ■ ■■ ' ■■ l i „ ., «, t ■J i •-• S f. ' H c 1 ■ |C

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Fr. Neil W. Tobin The Very Reverend Provost John P. Bradley was fortunate enough to be born a Scotsman and has brought to Belmont Abbey College a truly delightful Scotch sense of humor in addition to his eruditeness. Fr. Bradley received his S.T.B. in 1940 and was ordained in 1944 at St. Peter ' s College in Scotland. He attended Collegio Scozzesi in Rome and later recieved his B.A. and M.A. at Oxford. Fr. Bradley came to Belmont Ab- bey in 19S2 to teach classics and phyiosophy, and later left the Abbey to take up duties with Goodwill Publishers in Castonia and then as an editor with Doubleday Publishing Company. He specialized in theological books there, returning in 1970 at the request of Abbot Ed- mund McCaffrey to accept the presidency of Belmont Abbey College. Fr. Bradley held this office for eight exciting years, and then became the Provost, a position which he presently holds with great distinction. Among his achievements as president were the establishment of a co- educational curriculum for the Abbey in 1975, and the reorganization of the Board of Trustees in 1976. The Board, originally eight monks, thereaf- ter was expanded to include a more diverse group of individuals from the local area. By introducing businessmen and other leaders of the community the Abbey thus introduced new ideas from the public sector resulting in the improvement of the school ' s overall interests and prospects. Fr. John Bradley feels that through the achievements of its students and the prestige that the college has gained for itself the Abbey will ex- tend its public recognition much more broadly. As a result of strong school pride and school spirit and academic excellence he hopes that the Abbey will receive the funds and attract the philanthropy needed to meet the costs of further developement. Thank you, Fr. Bradley, for your continuing dedication to Belmont Ab- bey College and its future. Ad multos annos! The Very Reverend Fr. Neil W. Tobin was born on July 14, 1932 in Worthington, Iowa. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree at Loras College in 1954, later earning the S.T.B. and S.T.L. at Gregorian University in Rome, and the M.A. and PhD. at Fordham University. Fr. Tobin accepted the Presidency of Belmont Abbey College on |une 1, 1978. Soon after his arrival Fr. Tobin initiated a number of improve- ments. Included was the re-evaluation of the freshman curriculum to provide students with a more effective background in communication skills, the humanities, the sciences, and mathematics. A newsletter Around the Campus was circulated on a weekly basis to improve the exchange of information and campus communication. In addition the preliminary renovation of St. Leo ' s was begun, new furniture was purchased for the dormitory lounges, and two computer systems for the Business and Data Processing departments were added. Fr. Tobin plans to continue renovation of the physical plant by com- pletely overhauling the second floor of the Adminstration Building and the third floor of St. Leo ' s. He is also making plans for a new addition to the cafeteria, Maurus Hall, and the initiation of a new capital fund drive to raise the additional monies needed for all these improvements. Not only is Fr. Tobin interested in the interior and exterior of buildings, but he is also interested in the grounds and general landscap- ing. Clear it is then that Fr. Neil Tobin is extremely well rounded in his in- terests in Belmont Abbey College and the future looks bright both for the Abbey and its new President. Ad multos annosl Fr. John P. Bradley 10