For 50 Years You've Put The ‘GO’ In Go Bulls

Past USFAA Presidents

“I’m so proud to have been there from the start!”

Julian Piper, ’63, Life Member
Association president, 1963

 

 

 

 

 

“In the early years, each president and executive board chose a priority for their one-year tenure and achieved their objectives as time and resources allowed. There was often little continuity from year to year and goals changed with new USF administrations. During my term, we established the association’s first long-term strategic plan, with objectives and goals for three-to five-year periods. This allowed incoming leadership and USF administration to continue moving forward toward longer-term goals.”

Ray Fleming, ’67 and MSE ’68
Association president, 1977

  

“The association wanted to start a leadership development organization for students, but we didn’t have money for it. Association director Joe Tomaino and I made an appointment with executives of the major local department store, Maas Brothers, to ask if they’d sponsor it. To give them an idea of what we envisioned – students in professional uniforms serving as USF’s ambassadors – I borrowed a suit from the dean of the College of Engineering, who always wore beige slacks and a green jacket to USF events.

Not only did Maas Brothers agree to sponsor the USF Ambassadors, they offered to give all of them green jackets and beige slacks or skirts. And that’s how the famous Green Jacket tradition began.”

Anna Marie Ippolito, ’65 and MA ’72, Life Member
Association president, 1979

 

“1980 was the first full year of the USF Ambassadors attending alumni events, which was a big highlight. A personal favorite memory is the dedication of the Sun Dome before the USF v. Duke basketball game on Dec. 2, 1980.”

James Loper, ’70
Association president, 1980

 

 

 

   

“The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Endowed Alumni Scholarship was established during my tenure. It has provided more than 50 scholarships to students who represent the ideals and philosophies of Dr. King.”

Les Miller, ’78, Life Member
Association president, 1987

 

 

 

“I was involved with the planning for the Gibbons Alumni Center, and we had some big hurdles to overcome. First, we wanted it to be on campus in a highly visible location and on a site that could accommodate parking for guests and events. USF land planners wanted it to be off campus – or not built at all.

Fortunately, President Frank Borkowski, who put high value on the importance of alumni to USF’s future, agreed with us, and the Alumni Center’s location next door to the president’s house (Lifsey House) reflects that. It’s as symbolic as it is practical.”

R. Patrick Hill, ’70, Life Member
Association president, 1990

“During my presidency, I had the distinct pleasure – along with others – to work with the association board, staff and USF administration in developing the architectural design and choosing the architect for what was to become the Sam and Martha Gibbons Alumni Center.”

Ken Rollins, ’64, Life Member
Association president, 1991

 

 

 

“Alumni all over the state wanted football and it was something I’d been pushing for through the USF Green Jackets Club (now called the Bulls Club). When I joined the alumni association board, I was able to combine supporters under the flagship of the association. I worked with USF President Frank Borkowski, also a football supporter, and he implemented a feasibility study that found football would be a positive step for USF’s development. That really helped us. In January 1994, President Betty Castor came to USF and eagerly took up the cause. We reorganized our efforts and USF was approved in 1996 to start football.”

Richard Lane, ’68, Life Member
Association president, 1992

 

“I have many special memories from my tenure on the board:

• I had the privilege of working with Joe Tomaino (first executive director) as a student Ambassador and as an alumna, and with every executive director since, including today’s Bill McCausland, MBA ’96
  
  
• I was the first Ambassador to be elected chair of the association
  
  
• I was chair when we cut the ribbon on the Gibbons Alumni Center expansion”

Dr. Anila Jain, ’81, Life Member
Association president, 2003

“One of the highlights of my tenure was creation of the Student Alumni Association, which builds a relationship with our future alumni while providing them with programs that help them succeed as students.”

Michele Norris, ’79, Life Member
Association president, 2008

 

 

 
 

“Our board left some strong legacies, including the robust relationship we’ve forged with the university; new “seats at the university table;’’ the lead role we played during the budget cut crisis; the hiring of Bill McCausland, our transformational executive director; and the new credit card affinity relationship with our very own USF Federal Credit Union.”

Richard Heruska, ’11, Life Member
Association president, 2011

 

 

“The Outstanding Young Alumni Awards became a separate ceremony and event during my tenure and we had a great, diverse inaugural class of recipients. We also achieved record revenues for the association and gained many new Life Members.”

Jim Harvey, ’88, Life Member
Association chair, 2016

 

 

 

“As president, my favorite memories are attending the graduations. It is a distinct honor to be part of such a wonderful moment in so many lives. I teared up at the end of almost every ceremony, when the graduates celebrated, parents applauded, and we sang the Alma Mater.”

April Monteith, ’01 and MBA ’03
Life Member, Association chair, 2017

 

 

 

“The highlight of my term as chair was the success of our revamped signature event, the Green & Gold Gala. The event now truly demonstrates our Bull pride while raising record revenue for scholarships.”

Merritt Martin, ’04 and MPA ’06
Association chair, 2018-2019