AT HIS RETIREMENT THIS YEAR, BROTHER LOUIS ALTHAUS IS THE LONGEST SERVING CHRISTIAN BROTHER IN THE HISTORY OF CBU. “I’ve been around,” Brother Louis Althaus responded succinctly, when asked about his 54 years at Christian Brothers University. At the commencement ceremony this past May, Academic Vice President Frank Buscher honored the newest Professors Emeriti at CBU, a distinction that is granted upon retirement to select members of the faculty in recognition of their highly distinguished service in the classroom and to the University. Brother Louis, as Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering, was one of the two so honored. Fittingly, Brother Louis was also working as he received this honor, serving as faculty marshall for the commencement procession as he has done for the past nine ceremonies (and as a student marshall for countless ceremonies prior to that). And
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while the recognition deservedly honored his tenure as a teacher, Brother Louis has actually held many additional positions at CBU—including the one Dr. Buscher currently holds, which empowered him to grant this emeritus status to his predecessor. Brother Louis came to CBU in 1960 to teach electrical engineering. Over the years, he also served as co-director of the Computer Center, assistant dean of students, dean of students, bookstore manager, chair of the Electrical Engineering Department (twice), chair of the Engineer-
ing Division (the equivalent of dean, prior to the establishment of the School of Engineering), academic vice president (twice), and executive assistant to the president (twice). He has also served on the CBU Board of Trustees (1988-93) and on various boards, councils, and committees for the Midwest District of the Christian Brothers and Christian Brothers Services. Asked if he had a favorite or least favorite amongst all of those duties, he said, “I never had an awful job at CBU. I never had to be president.” BROTHER LOUIS ALTHAUS WAS BORN in Mundelein, IL in 1931. He entered the
John A. Donahue, CBC’s first AfricanAmerican student, went on to become Brother Ernest Capistran.
Original Bell Tower
St. Joseph Hall was constructed in 1955. Maurelian Hall, the first dorm, opened in 1958.
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B E LL TOWE R winter 2015
New computer system installed
CBC becomes the first integrated private college in Memphis.