By Katie Knapp Schubert
Omaha, NE – A key to the city and a street named for him are among the honors Creighton's president is receiving as he prepares to retire.
The Creighton community, city and state leaders gathered Tuesday afternoon at the University's Kiewit Fitness Center for a ceremony honoring Father John Schlegel. He's retiring in June after 11 years as Creighton's president.
He says Creighton's growth and success during his tenure as president is a testament to the University community. "There's no words that can encapsulate the 11 years of experience that I've had here, from what we've done physically to the campus, it's just an external manifestation of what is the essence and the heartbeat of this institution, and that's the men and women that populate 2400 California Street."
Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle presented Father Schlegel with a key to the city. Also, 19th Street along Creighton's campus will be renamed "Schlegel Way." Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy announced April 26th as Father John Schlegel Day in Nebraska.
Schlegel says he plans to spend his first few months of retirement hiking, biking, and reading.
Father Timothy Lannon, the current president at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, becomes Creighton's new president in July.