Lodge
renamed to honor
popular 40-year employee
The campus building known for years as the Lodge was renamed in honor of a
Missoula woman whose life has been dedicated to education and to the University. The
Emma B. Lommasson Center officially assumed its new name during a Commencement weekend
ceremony.
The name change, approved in March by the Montana University System Board of Regents,
recognizes Emma Bravo Lommasson's seven- decade commitment to UM. Lommasson worked on the
staff and faculty at UM in several capacities for 40 years, retiring as registrar in 1977.
She continued to serve University students in a volunteer capacity for many years.
UM President George Dennison was a student during Lommasson's years as registrar.
"She took a great interest in students and helped many of us in so many different
ways," Dennison remembered. "She helped us to realize our potential and to try
to achieve it."
Emma Bravo was born Dec. 10, 1911, near Great Falls. In 1929 she became the first woman
from Sand Coulee to attend UM. While earning bachelor's and master's degrees in
mathematics, she began her first campus job as a teaching assistant and administrative
secretary in the math department. She married forestry graduate Thomas Lommasson after her
graduation in 1939.
Wartime saw Mrs. Lommasson teaching navigation, civil air regulations and mathematics
to young men who were in training to become Air Force pilots. In 1945 Lommasson began to
assist returning soldiers, holding the position of veterans adviser until 1970. Those
duties were combined with her job as assistant registrar, which she began in 1946. She was
appointed registrar in 1973.
UM Registrar Phil Bain called Lommasson "a very gracious lady who touched the
lives of many, many students and faculty through personal attention and excellent
advising."
She was active in many campus organ-
izations, including Air Force ROTC, Mortar Board and the American Association of
University Women, and continues to be an avid Grizzly football and basketball fan. She has
not missed a Griz/Cat football game since 1935.
Her efforts on behalf of the University and its students have been recognized with a
Faculty Senate Award, a Distinguished Alumni Award, a Pantzer Award and an Outstanding
Volunteer Award. She was Grand Marshal of UM's Homecoming parade in 1998.
The building that now bears Lommasson's name houses student services and administrative
offices such as Griz Central and Human Resource Services, as well as several dining
facilities. A recent addition on the eastern end brings more student services under one
roof.
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