Creighton University - Bluejay Yearbook (Omaha, NE)

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iiifii ■ i© EDWARD CREIGHTON INSTITUTE. Former home of the Colleges of Law and Dentistry. from parish work. Accordingly, he called in the Jesuits. In 1878 the new school, manned by five Jesuits, threw open its doors to a thin trickle of pioneering students. In 1879 the institution was incorporated as The Creighton Universi ' v. Of that first little band of teachers, only one remains, the Rev. Michael Eicher, S. J., of Milford, Ohio. The great Father Rigge was one of the five, but he died last year. When [ Turn to Page 23 ] [ Page 21 ]

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FATHER RIGGE. In Father William Rigge, S. ]., Creighton University possessed for many years the dean of American astronomers and one of the fore- most mathematicians of his day. Father Rigge, whose death occurred only last year, was a brother of Father Joseph Rigge, S. }., who was one of the earliest members of the Creighton faculty. Father Joseph Rigge was transferred from Creighton to a missionary post in 1894 and was succeeded at the University by his younger brother. city of Omaha and named the Right Reverend James O ' Con- nor, the first bishop of Omaha, trustee of the fund which she left for the purpose. The harvest, however, was great and the laborers few, so that Bishop O ' Connor was unable to spare any of his clergy [ Page 20

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REV. F. X. McMENAMY, S. J. It was during the presidency of Father F. X. McMenamy, S. J., that Creighton University came to the front as an institution of higher learning. From 1911 to 1914 he acted in the capacity of vice president. When appointed to the rectorship in 1914, which position he held until 1919, he was well acquainted with conditions here and was able to do the great service for the institution which he accomplished. After the term of Father McMenamy expired at Creighton, he was made Provincial of the Missouri Province of the Society of Jesus. Father McMenamy is remembered for the work, he accomplished in putting Creighton University on a sound financial basis. The greater Creighton had its initial impetus when the gymnasium was built in 1913 under his able direction. Page 22 }