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Fire Chief Dahlquist receives Citation for Achievement T
he University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Alumni Association bestowed its Citation for Alumnus Achievement upon Robert Dahlquist during the University’s winter commencement ceremony Dec. 17, at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. Dahlquist is chief of the Omaha Fire Department. The Citation, instituted in 1949, is presented at each UNO commencement. The Association’s highest honor, it encompasses professional or career achievement, community service, involvement in business and professional associations, and fidelity to UNO. Stephen G. Bodner, 2004 chairman of the UNO Alumni Association Board of Directors, presented the award to Dahlquist, the 136th Citation recipient. Dahlquist earned an associate’s degree in fire protection technology from UNO in 1988 and a BGS in health education in 2002. In April 2003, Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey appointed Dahlquist fire chief, replacing Joe Napravnik. He also succeeds his father and fellow UNO alum, Horton Dahlquist, who held the post in the early 1980s. Horton Dahlquist graduated from then-Omaha University with a BGS in 1966. Robert Dahlquist joined the Omaha Fire Department in July 1981, less than half a year before his father became chief. He slowly and steadily climbed the chain of command while serving in various capacities, including as an emergency medical technician and arson investigator and with hazardous materi-
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ew members and a new executive committee were among the changes made to the UNO Alumni Association Board of Directors during the organization’s annual meeting December 21. The board of directors sets policy and oversees the management of the UNO Alumni Association. Adrian Minks (pictured), a 1978 UNO graduate (MBA), was named the association’s Chairman of the Board for 2005. She is a vice president for Omaha Public Power District.
2005 UNO Alumni Association Board of Directors Executive Committee: Chairman of the Board, Adrian Minks (OPPD); Past Chairman, Stephen Bodner (U.S. Bank); Chairman-elect, Mike Kudlacz (Transportation Security Admin.); Vice Chairmen, Cookie Katskee (Friedel Jewish Academy),
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Longtime donor wins 2004 Annual Fund Caribbean cruise
als response. In 1993 Dahlquist was certified as a law enforcement officer through the Omaha Police Department. He was promoted to fire captain in 1990 and to battalion fire chief in 1998. In the latter post Dahlquist headed the department’s training bureau and was responsible for recruitment and training of Omaha’s firefighters. Dahlquist is the 28th chief of the Omaha Fire Omaha Fire Chief Robert Dahlquist Department. The department became the 136th recipient of the Citation for Alumnus Achievement. today has 23 fire stations throughout the city and a complement of nearly 650 firefighters, fire apparatus engineers, captains, battalion chiefs and assistant chiefs. An Omaha Creighton Prep graduate, Dahlquist is a board member of the American Red Cross (Heartland Chapter) and of the National Safety Council (Omaha Chapter), and belongs to several associations of fire chiefs. His wife, Pamela, also is a UNO graduate (BA, 1990). The couple has three children. Rodney Oberle (UNO), John Wilson (Durham Resources), Kevin Warneke (Ronald McDonald House Charities Inc. of Omaha); Secretary, Angelo Passarelli (Millard Public Schools); Treasurer, Dan Koraleski (KPMG Peat Marwick); Legal Counsel, Deb McLarney (First National Bank); President & CEO, Jim Leslie (UNO Alumni Association). Directors Term Expires 2005: Jacquie Estee (Westside Community Schools), Mark Grieb (AAA Nebraska), Mark Healy (Vente, Inc.), Maggie Lehning (Business System Architects), Rodrigo Lopez (AmeriSphere Multifamily Finance, L.L.C), Shirley Spieker (First Data Resources). Term Expires 2006: Gary Domet (Omaha World-Herald), Jim Garbina (Harry Koch Co.), Patricia Lamberty (Nebraska District Court Judge), Luanne Nelson (Omaha Public Schools), Kelli Sears (Union Pacific Railroad). Term Expires 2007: Ray Barr (Apartment Management Consultants. Co.), Bob Danenhauer (Omaha Public Schools), Kevin Munro (U.S. Bank), EvaJon Sperling (U.S. Post Office), Patricia Taylor (Qwest Corp.), Thomas Warren (Omaha Police Dept.), Martha Ridgway Zajicek (Mutual of Omaha Ins. Co.) Ex-Officio Directors: Chancellor Nancy Belck; Faculty Senate Rep. Ann Fruhling; Student Regent Elizabeth Kraemer.
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essage No. 1 that the UNO Alumni Association left on Bruce Clure’s answering machine asked him to call back on a matter related to the UNO Annual Fund. Bruce Clure neglected to return the call. Message No. 2 referred once more to the Annual Fund, again asking for a return call and promising the 1980 UNO graduate he’d be happy if he did. Still no call. Message No. 3 was a bit more direct: “It’s about our Caribbean Cruise drawing,” Clure was told. Finally, a call. Don’t think, though, that Clure has poor phone etiquette or that he was avoiding what he thought was a phone-a-thon request for more money. Turns out Clure and his wife, Janet, were in Hawaii. Some people, it seems, have all the luck. Clure was randomly selected by the UNO Alumni Association to receive a Caribbean Cruise for two through a promotion for the 2004 UNO Annual Fund. His name was selected in midJanuary after the UNO Alumni Association had recorded all 2004 donations of $50 or more. The trip, arranged by AAA Travel Agency, Inc., was planned for the Grandeur of the Seas, departing from New Orleans and with ports of call in Cozumel, Mexico, George Town, Grand Cayman, and Costa Maya, Mexico. Round-trip airfare from Omaha to New Orleans also was to be provided. The trip goes to a longtime donor with longtime ties to UNO. Clure’s father, H. Lou Clure, graduated from Omaha University in 1949. Bruce followed in his footsteps, but only after a detour. After graduating from Omaha Northwest High School he enrolled at the University of Northern Colorado. “I enjoyed it out there,” Clure says. “Probably enjoyed it too much.” After
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two years he transferred to UNO. He graduated in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in management. His stepdaughters, Stacy and Shonda Molacek, also are UNO grads (with honors) as are his aunt, Jean Clure Bedell, and two nieces, Suzanne and Stephanie Sobota. Clure made his first gift to the UNO Annual Fund two years after graduating. In 1985 he joined the Century Club, comPhoto by Tim Fitzgerald posed of donors of Past Chairman of the Board Stephen Bodner, left, and Caribbean $100 or more and has Cruise winner Bruce Clure. done the same every year since 1988. The “I believe in what UNO is doing for generosity is a family affair, too; his the city and for education,” says Clure, father is a member of the Chancellor’s general manager of Midland Computer Club Society, donors whose cumulative Inc. “I think it’s been fantastic how lifetime gifts total from $10,000 to $24,999 (may also reflect gifts given both much it’s grown and expanded, in stature and facilities, in the last 20 to 25 to the NU Foundation and to the UNO years.” Alumni Association).
2004 Annual Fund Annual Report T
he 2004 UNO Annual Fund Annual Report will be available for online download by April 15. The publication can be accessed as a PDF document on the Alumni Association’s website at: www.unoalumni.org/give_to_uno/annual_reports The 2004 Annual Report features the names of the thousands of contributors to the UNO Century Club and UNO Annual Fund. Also included are the names of donors to the Legacy Societies, which recognize lifetime giving, and reports on the various Alumni Association activities throughout 2004. To order a free printed copy of the report call the Association’s Records Department at 402-554-2446, or toll-free at UNO-MAVALUM (866-628-2586).
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