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Generous
University
supporter dies at 93
Philanthropist
Rosemary Gallagher, whose name graces UM's business building,
died July 6 in her Missoula home. She was 93.
Gallagher
and her husband, William, owned the prosperous Westmont
Tractor business, the Caterpillar dealership for western
Montana and eastern Idaho. The couple firmly believed in
civic responsibility, and over the years they shared their
success with many area charities, social programs and educational
institutions.
UM's
William and Rosemary Gallagher Building, a $15 million structure
with 110,000 square feet that was completed in 1996, was
named in their honor after they provided a $1 million donation
to jump-start its construction. Mr. Gallagher, who died
in 1995, was a 1925 graduate of the business school.
The
Gallaghers also provided a major donation to UM's 1993 Capital
Campaign and started several scholarships for University
students. The scholarships serve a wide variety of purposes
-- everything from helping College of Technology and business
students to assisting scholars from Hobson, Mr. Gallagher's
hometown.
"Rosemary
and Bill Gallagher took a strong supporting but usually
private role in virtually every beneficial organization
in Missoula during the past 50 years," UM President
George Dennison said. "They made contributions of their
time, energy and resources because they cared, not for publicity.
In fact, they rarely allowed publicity for their contributions.
After Bill died, Rosemary carried on the tradition herself."
A
Columbia Falls native, Mrs. Gallagher was the daughter of
a banker and had business in her blood. After graduating
from Columbia Falls High School in 1926, she attended the
Northwestern Business College in Spokane, Wash. She then
started work at the Caterpillar dealership in Pullman, Wash.,
and later transferred to the Missoula dealership. It was
there she met her future husband, the company owner, and
the Gallaghers married in 1952.
Dennison
said, "Rosemary -- as Bill -- loved life, enjoyed it
to the fullest and had a deep and abiding interest in people.
Always feisty and deeply committed in terms of her values,
Rosemary invested much of her energy and resources to assist
young people. The Gallaghers, as a couple, exemplified the
meaning of abiding the 'habits of the heart' to create a
decent society. With Rosemary's passing, we have reached
the end of an era in Missoula and Montana."
Beyond
UM, the Gallaghers made substantial gifts to Community Medical
Center, the United Way, Missoula schools and local youth
organizations. Their charitable largess will continue with
the establishment of the Gallagher Western Montana Charitable
Foundation Inc., which is directed by a board of community
leaders.
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