The 1974 Awardees

Dr. Robert J. Coffey MD
(1908-1995)

MD 1932, Honorary degree 1977
Washington, DC

Robert J. Coffey, chairman of the surgery department at Georgetown University from 1947 through 1969, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the Stouffer Riverfront Inn in St. Louis, MO on October 19, 1974.

Born in Elmira, NY in 1908, Coffey received his undergraduate degrees at St. Bonaventure before earning his medical degree from Georgetown in 1932. Following residency and a term at the Mayo Clinic, he received a Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota and joined the staff at Georgetown University Hospital in 1938. Dr. Coffey served in the Navy in World War II, where his 1995 obituary noted he had treated an ailing President Roosevelt during the 1944 Tehran conference.

In 1947, Dr. Coffey was named as chairman of the surgery department, a post he held for 22 years, and taught in the medical school until his retirement in 1980. A nationally recognized surgeon and medical researcher, an endowed chair was founded at Georgetown in his honor.

Robert Coffey died in 1995 at the age of 86.

Howard Gunlocke
(1912-1985)

AB 1934
Wayland, NY

Howard Gunlocke, a furniture company executive, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the Stouffer Riverfront Inn in St. Louis, MO on October 19, 1974.

Gunlocke was the second generation executive at his family owned business, which produced chairs for businesses and schools. Gunlocke joined the company three years out of college, expanding its efforts within government offices. In the 1930's, a Gunlocke chair was adopted by President Roosevelt, and one of its chairs was in the Oval Office for the next eight U.S. presidents. In 1945, following service in World War II, he became president of the company.

The company was sold to Sperry & Hutchison in 1969 for $16 million. A benefactor to both Georgetown Prep and the University, Gunlocke received an honorary degree from Georgetown in 1970 following his gift to the new Lauinger Library.

Howard Gunlocke died in 1985 at the age of 73.

Capt. Rita Lenihan
(1913-1989)

MA 1934
Washington, DC

Rita Lenihan, former assistant chief of Naval Personnel, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the Stouffer Riverfront Inn in St. Louis, MO on October 19, 1974.

Born in Monroe, NY, Lenihan received an undergraduate degree from the College of St. Elizabeth (NJ) . Following graduate studies at Columbia, she enrolled in the U.S. Navy and completed officer training in the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, or WAVES. A Latin major in college, Lenihan created the motto for the unit: Honoris Est Nobis Navare Navales ("It is an honor for us to serve the fleet.")

Following a master's degree from Georgetown in 1945 (one of the first women to hold a graduate degree from the University), she served in London as the Aide to the Chief of the Joint Planning Staff and later returned to Washington as Director of Officer Personnel for the Potomac River Naval Command.

In 1966, Lenihan was named as Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel and director of the WAVES served until her retirement in 1970, whereupon the organization was fully integrated into Naval operations.

Captain Lenihan served on the Board of Governors of the Georgetown University Alumni Association as its vice president from 1967 to 1969, and served on the Board of Regents from 1972 to 1978, serving as the first woman to chair the Regents.

Lenihan died in 1989 at the age of 75.

Hon. Paul F. McArdle
(1920-1992)

AB 1941, LLB 1948
Washington, DC

Paul McArdle, former associate judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the Stouffer Riverfront Inn in St. Louis, MO on October 19, 1974.

Born in Albany, NY, McArdle joined the U.S. Marine Corps soon after completing his undergraduate studies at Georgetown, and served as a captain in World War II. He returned to Georgetown after the war and earned a law degree in 1948. A senior associate at the Washington firm of Covington and Burling, McArdle served as president of the D.C. Bar Association and was named to the court by President Nixon in 1972, serving for 14 years on the bench.

A former vice president of the Georgetown University Alumni Association, McArdle served as an arbitrator following his retirement from the bench. He died in 1992 at the age of 72.

Dr. Charles B. Murto
(1909-1983)

DDS 1932
Washington, DC

Charles Murto, former dean of the Georgetown University School of Dentistry, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the Stouffer Riverfront Inn in St. Louis, MO on October 19, 1974.

Born in 1909, Murto received his degree from Georgetown in 1932 and joined the Dental School faculty in the mid-1930's. He was later named chairman of the Department of Crown & Bridge, and was elevated to dean in 1966, serving through his retirement in 1977. A member of the American Dental Association, Dr. Murto received numerous honors from the University over his 40 years on the Hilltop, including its vicennial medal and the 175th Anniversary Medal.

Charles Murto died in 1993 at the age of 83.