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George Dennison has passed away.
- Thread starter SACCAT66
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UMGriz75
Well-known member
Oh gosh, sad news to read. I saw him in Albertson's, maybe last spring, and he looked a lot smaller and kind of diminished, but he said he was doing fine. I didn't think so. He was a terrific president of the University. He antagonized a lot of people by actually making decisions and making them decisively. His successor adopted an opposite approach. I think Dennison's approach served the University extremely well. He restored the "The" to the "University of Montana," just to antagonize Bozeman, but it was in the Charter. He had an immense pride in the institution, down to every last detail.
He and Bob Duringer, the VP Finance, were a formidable team. There was never a lack of new ideas, things always seemed to be moving forward. George Dennison kept more moving parts moving than anyone could have imagined. He was very supportive of students and student groups. I had a team of athletes one year that was running short on fund-raising for a national event and didn't want to put the burden on me, because I usually covered the tab, and to their credits, they just didn't want to do that.
Unknown to me, they went to President Dennison and explained their problem. They had gotten their ASUM grant, fund-raised, sold T-shirts, and some other things, but were still short a couple thousand bucks to cover all the plane tickets. He listened politely, said he thought he could help, and wrote them the check out of the "President's Fund." I nearly had a cow when I found out, and went and apologized to him, but he was so extraordinarily gracious about stuff like that. He thought it was the University's job to help the students, and he particularly appreciated being able to help student athletes. That team was forever grateful to him.
He adopted the motto, "Body, Mind, Spirit," for UM which was a good one, and did not meet its match with the later "Thrive," or the current "Let's Go There."
Since WWII, I'd rank the Montana University System as having had two truly great Presidents, Roland Rennie at MSC, and George Dennison at UM.
He and Bob Duringer, the VP Finance, were a formidable team. There was never a lack of new ideas, things always seemed to be moving forward. George Dennison kept more moving parts moving than anyone could have imagined. He was very supportive of students and student groups. I had a team of athletes one year that was running short on fund-raising for a national event and didn't want to put the burden on me, because I usually covered the tab, and to their credits, they just didn't want to do that.
Unknown to me, they went to President Dennison and explained their problem. They had gotten their ASUM grant, fund-raised, sold T-shirts, and some other things, but were still short a couple thousand bucks to cover all the plane tickets. He listened politely, said he thought he could help, and wrote them the check out of the "President's Fund." I nearly had a cow when I found out, and went and apologized to him, but he was so extraordinarily gracious about stuff like that. He thought it was the University's job to help the students, and he particularly appreciated being able to help student athletes. That team was forever grateful to him.
He adopted the motto, "Body, Mind, Spirit," for UM which was a good one, and did not meet its match with the later "Thrive," or the current "Let's Go There."
Since WWII, I'd rank the Montana University System as having had two truly great Presidents, Roland Rennie at MSC, and George Dennison at UM.
...billingsgriz
Well-known member
The University of Montana thrived under his leadership, both on the fields and courts and , more importantly, in the classroom. (Both of our 1-AA NC's were won when George was our president.)
He was a great president, a kind and decent man, and very approachable, having open office hours weekly where a student or faculty member could drop into his office to discuss something of importance to that individual as it related to UM.
God bless you, George, President Dennison, and RIP--The University of Montana benefited for 20 years from your leadership and continues to benefit to this day !!!
He was a great president, a kind and decent man, and very approachable, having open office hours weekly where a student or faculty member could drop into his office to discuss something of importance to that individual as it related to UM.
God bless you, George, President Dennison, and RIP--The University of Montana benefited for 20 years from your leadership and continues to benefit to this day !!!
UMGriz75
Well-known member
The Missoulian did a very nice coverage on George Dennison.
http://missoulian.com/news/local/updated-university-of-montana-former-president-george-dennison-dies/article_6f2b3168-7888-59ca-bd86-82678b8b0e1f.html
I particularly enjoyed Clay Christian's anecdote about his first meeting with George after being appointed to the Board of Regents, and asking what he could do to help. Dennison's reply: "Stay out of my way."
http://missoulian.com/news/local/updated-university-of-montana-former-president-george-dennison-dies/article_6f2b3168-7888-59ca-bd86-82678b8b0e1f.html
I particularly enjoyed Clay Christian's anecdote about his first meeting with George after being appointed to the Board of Regents, and asking what he could do to help. Dennison's reply: "Stay out of my way."
Great leader that did right by UM, sad indeed
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While George, like any competent leader, received his share of criticism, some certainly deserved, his accomplishment's on behalf of the University, the City and the State are unparalleled in recent memory.
I am sorry to hear of his passing. The people of Montana have lost a true friend who never missed an opportunity to extol the virtues of the University of and State of Montana!
RIP Mr Dennison.
I am sorry to hear of his passing. The people of Montana have lost a true friend who never missed an opportunity to extol the virtues of the University of and State of Montana!
RIP Mr Dennison.
