Dec. 10, 2005
Four members of the Monogram Club were honored with 2005 awards from the Notre Dame Alumni Association. Basketball star Ruth Riley (`01) was presented a Distinguished Alumnus Award in April while former Notre Dame football player Michael Parseghian (`77) and his wife Cindyalso received a Distinguished Alumnus Award, presented in Greenwich, Conn., at a May 25 fundraiser for the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation. Another former Irish football player, Mike McCoy (`70), received the Harvey Foster Award during halftime ceremonies at the ND-BYU football game (Oct. 22) – and retired Lt. Col. Jack Matthews(`63), who captained the Irish basketball and baseball teams, was presented the Rev. William Corby, C.S.C., Award during halftime of the ND-Navy football game (Nov. 12).
Established in 1985, the Corby Award is conferred on alumni who have distinguished themselves in military service. The award is named in honor of the Notre Dame priest who served as a Civil War chaplain and is best remembered for the general absolution he gave at Gettysburg.
Colonel Jack Matthews (pictured with his wife Marie) – who captained the Irish baseball and basketball teams in the early 1960s – received the 2005 Corby Award, in recognition of his military service.
|
 |
Colonel Matthews received his Marine Corps commission in 1964 and served 22 years – including tours in Vietnam (where he twice was wounded) and Beirut. A member of the military faculty, he earned advanced degrees from Washington State and became associate dean of academics at the Marine Corps University in Quantico, Va., until his retirement in March. The two-time recipient of the Elihu Rose Award for Teaching Excellence lectures extensively to young people around the world on the impact of alcoholism. He is credited with helping countless numbers of Marines recognize the need to seek help with alcoholism. Matthews is working on a book reporting the Marines’ experience in Lebanon and U.S. policy in the early 1980s. He and his wife Marie live in Bend, Ore., and are the parents of three children.
Established in 1982, the Foster Award is presented annually to a graduate distinguished for athletic endeavors and civic or University service. It is named in honor of former Monogram Club president Harvey Foster.
Mike McCoy received the Foster Award, in recognition of his extensive work with several youth service organizations.
|
|
A consensus All-America defensive tackle, McCOY was selected second overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 1970 NFL draft. He was named the Packers’ rookie of the year and twice led the team in sacks during seven seasons. He later played two years with the Oakland Raiders and two more with the New York Giants. McCoy has taken a leadership role in many service organizations, including Special Olympics and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. As national director of youth for Champions for Life, McCoy visits prisons, juvenile detention centers, churches and schools – promoting abstinence of sex, alcohol and drugs. He was appointed by President Reagan to the Council on Sports for a Drug-Free America and is an active member of the board of directors for the Atlanta YMCA’s Camp High Harbour and Camp Hope for children of prisoners. McCoy and his wife, Kia, have four children.
This Distinguised Alumni Award is presented on occasion in recognition of exemplary service to Notre Dame or community.
Dr. Michael Parseghian (’77) and his wife Cindy received 2005 Distinguished Alumni Awards, in recognition of their medical research roles with the Ara Parseghian Foundation.
|
|
Cindy Parseghian is president of the Ara Parseghian Foundation, created to fund research projects to treat and find a cure for Niemann-Pick Type C disease, which has taken the life of three of the Parseghian’s four children. She also serves on the board of directors for the National Niemann-Pick Disease Foundation. Michael – son of the legendary ND coach and a practicing orthopedic surgeon in Tucson – serves as secretary/treasurer of the foundation and is involved in its research. Their eldest child, Ara, is a student at Princeton. For more information, see: www.parseghian.org and www.nnpdf.org.
Ruth Riley (’01) received a 2005 Distinguished Alumni Award, in recognition of her status as a professional and Olympic basketball player who is active in various youth education programs.
|
|
Riley was honored for her dedication to community service and programs designed to improve educational opportunities for children. After leading Notre Dame to the 2001 national title, Riley was named national player of the year and CoSIDA Academic All-American of the year (for all sports) in addition to receving the athletic department’s Zorich Citizenship Award. A member of the WNBA’s Detroit Shock, she has continued her active support of programs such as Read to Achieve, Read Like a Champion and Head Start.