Theodore Hesburgh

The Reverend Theodore Hesburgh CSC
Hesburgh in 2008
15th President of the University of Notre Dame
In office 1952–1987
Preceded by	John J. Cavanaugh
Succeeded by	Edward Malloy
Chair of the United States Commission on Civil Rights
In office 1969–1972
President	Richard Nixon
Preceded by	John A. Hannah
Succeeded by	Arthur S. Flemming
Personal details
Born	Theodore Martin Hesburgh (1917-05-25)May 25, 1917 Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Died	February 26, 2015(2015-02-26) (aged 97) Notre Dame, Indiana, U.S.
Resting place	Holy Cross Cemetery
Education	Pontifical Gregorian University (PhB) Catholic University of America (STD)
Awards	Presidential Medal of Freedom Congressional Gold Medal
Signature

Theodore Martin Hesburgh, CSC (May 25, 1917 – February 26, 2015) was an American Catholic priest and academic who was a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross. He is best known for his service as the president of the University of Notre Dame for thirty-five years (1952–1987).

In addition to his career as an educator and author, Hesburgh was a public servant and social activist involved in numerous American civic and governmental initiatives, commissions, international humanitarian projects, and papal assignments. Hesburgh received numerous honors and awards for his service, most notably the United States's Presidential Medal of Freedom (1964) and Congressional Gold Medal (2000). As of 2013, he also held the world's record for the individual with the most honorary degrees with more than 150.

Hesburgh is credited with bringing Notre Dame, long known for its football program, to the forefront of American Catholic universities and its transition to a nationally respected institution of higher education. He supervised the university's dramatic growth, as well as the successful transfer of its ownership from Holy Cross priests to the Notre Dame board of trustees in 1967. During his tenure as president, the university also became a coeducational institution. In addition to his service to Notre Dame, Hesburgh held leadership positions in numerous groups involved in civil rights, peaceful uses of atomic energy, immigration reform, and Third World development. Hesburgh was also active on the boards of numerous businesses, nonprofits, civic organizations, and Vatican missions.