Fontbonne's Golden Named 2014 Lee McKinney Distinguished Service Award Recipient

Fontbonne University President Dr. Dennis Golden has been named the 2014 recipient of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Lee McKinney Distinguished Service Award.

Golden, who has worked 47 years in higher education including the last 19 years associated with the SLIAC, will be retiring at the end of the 2013-14 academic year. Golden was named President of Fontbonne in 1995 and since his appointment he has added several sports including men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse, and men's volleyball.

In addition to serving as President, Golden was a Professor of Education and on campus was often referred to as a "student's president." Golden has written and published numerous articles in regards to a wide range of topics related to higher education including executive leadership, enrollment management, strategic planning, and community service. During his tenure he has also served as the SLIAC Chair of the President's Council several times.

Golden has received the 25th Anniversary Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. State of Missouri Distinguished Education/Community Service Award, the Bobby E. Leach Award for significant contributions to multicultural relations, and the Norman A. Stack Community Relations Award.

Dr. Golden has always held the importance of athletics in high regard, having played football collegiately and professionally, and has been an advocate for sports and the development qualities they can provide young people. A former active duty officer in the United States Marine Corps, Golden earned his B.S. from College of Holy Cross, M.A. from Assumption College, and Ed.D. from Boston College. He has also attended the Harvard University Institute for Educational Management and the Harvard University Seminar for New Presidents.

He has served as the President of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Urban League of Metropolitan and a member of the Advisory Board of the St. Louis Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Upon retirement Golden plans on remaining active in athletics, serving as a coach with his son's high school team, while continuing to assist in the development of youth.

About the Award - The Lee McKinney SLIAC Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to the individual that has served or competed in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and best exemplifies the qualities of leadership, dedication, service and perseverance displayed by longtime Fontbonne University director of athletics, Lee McKinney.

Dr. McKinney served as director of athletics at Fontbonne for 23 years, seeing the athletics program at the institution grow from three teams and 19 student-athletes when he arrived in 1988 to 19 teams and over 350 student-athletes at the time of his retirement. Dr. McKinney was instrumental in the formation of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference as he joined representatives from Blackburn College, Maryville University, Parks College, Principia College and Webster University in chartering the Conference in September 1989.

During his years of service to the Conference, Dr. McKinney chaired the SLIAC Administrative Council and represented the Conference nationally, serving on the NCAA Management Council, Financial Aid Committee and Nominating Committee.

Dr. McKinney, who was a two-time cancer survivor, passed away on April 4, 2011. He had dedicated countless hours of service to local community organizations and raising money for various charities, mainly the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Coaches vs. Cancer.