Alfred F. Horrigan facts for kids

Alfred F. Horrigan (1914–2005) was an important leader and the very first president of Bellarmine University. He served from 1949 until 1972. Monsignor Horrigan helped build the university from the ground up, making sure it would be successful for many years. He was also a well-known person in Louisville, helping his community in many ways. He worked as a civil rights activist and a local pastor.

Msgr. Horrigan cared a lot about social justice issues. He led the Human Relations Commission in Louisville, Kentucky. He was also a good friend of the famous writer Thomas Merton. Today, the preschool at Saint James Elementary School is named after him.

Early Life and Education

Alfred F. Horrigan was born on December 9, 1914. His parents were William and Anna Kienle Horrigan. Alfred grew up with four brothers and two sisters. For his early schooling, he went to Saint James Catholic Church in Louisville, Kentucky.

Later, Alfred attended Saint Joseph's high school in Rensselaer, Indiana. After that, he went to Saint Meinrad Seminary, where he earned a bachelor's degree. He continued his studies at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., earning both a master's degree and a Ph.D.

Horrigan began his career as a priest in 1940. He first served as an associate pastor at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Louisville. In 1944, he became the assistant pastor at the Cathedral of Assumption. Later, he returned to his childhood church, Saint James, to serve as its pastor.

Leading Bellarmine University

In 1949, when Alfred Horrigan was 35 years old, Archbishop John A. Floersh asked him to become the president of a brand new university. This new school was called Bellarmine. Horrigan and Raymond Treece, who became the vice president, were given the big job of making this new university a success.

Bellarmine was special because it was the first school in Kentucky to welcome students of all races. The first day of classes was October 3, 1950. On that day, one hundred and fifteen students enrolled.

Horrigan was president for 23 years, until he resigned in 1972. During his time, he shaped Bellarmine into the strong university it is today. In 1963, the Thomas Merton Center opened at Bellarmine. This center holds all the writings and works of Thomas Merton from his time at the Abbey of Gethsemani. Merton was a friend of Horrigan's, which is why his important works are kept at Bellarmine University. The collection includes his letters, books, and artworks.

Thomas Merton's ideas were very important to Bellarmine University when Horrigan was president. Merton was a unique thinker who even explored ideas from Eastern religions like Buddhism in his writings. Alfred Horrigan believed strongly in the importance of education. He also thought it was important for different schools to work together. In 1966, he encouraged greater teamwork between Louisville area schools, especially for philosophy and theology classes.

In 1968, Bellarmine joined with Ursuline College, another school in Louisville. By the time Horrigan left in 1972, Bellarmine had grown into a very important university in the city.

Community Work and Civil Rights

Monsignor Horrigan was very active in the Louisville community, even while leading Bellarmine. He worked tirelessly for racial justice throughout his life. Alfred Horrigan served as vice chairman of the Louisville Human Relations committee. He also helped start the Council of Peacemaking. He was the executive director of the Archdiocesan Commission on Peace and Justice. Because of his hard work for civil rights, he was honored and inducted into the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame in 2003.

Besides his civil rights work, Horrigan also appeared on TV. He was a member of the WHAS 11 panel called "The Moral Side of the News." In 1990, he was the first person to receive Saint Meinrad's Distinguished Alumnus Award. Alfred Horrigan became a Monsignor in 1955. This title was given to him by Pope Pius XII.

Later Years

Alfred Horrigan retired from Saint James Catholic Church in 1997. After retiring, he moved to the Christopher East Health Care Facility. Later, in 2005, Horrigan moved to the Nazareth Home in Louisville. He passed away there later that year at the age of 90.