Campus News
Scholarship Established
to Honor Bud Leonard
However, his teaching career was far from finished. He soon took a job teaching inmates at
the Gus Harrison Correctional Facility in Adrian.
Joseph Bergman
Bergman, a professor of
Art, has taught in the
For many, he was simply known as “Bud.” Howart department at Siena
“He was kind of restless, and then he heard
ever, for those who truly knew Ralph Leonard
Heights since 1972. His
about a job teaching at the prison,” Hazel said.
(below), he was so much more. The hall of fame
initial focus at Siena was in
“He would teach inmates how to read and
umpire, World War II naval pilot, elementary
would try to teach the younger prisoners somethe areas of printmaking
teacher, award-winning trap shooter, prison
thing about life.”
and design. However, he
instructor and dog trainer may have been most
shifted his focus to digital graphic design and
proud of this title: college graduate.
Bud taught at the prison until he was diagnosed
the computer applications necessary to teach
with pancreatic cancer at the age of 80. He
At Siena Heights University, he was a 45-yearthat discipline in today’s world. Bergman
passed away in 2004.
old freshman who decided to pursue a college
also helped establish the Mac laboratory and
degree. Never mind he barely finished high
He was also a State Champion Trap Shooter and has consistently worked with the Computer
school and was juggling a full-time job, umpir- an award-winning dog trainer and handler in
Services and Systems Division.
ing and a home life at the time. When he was
his “spare” time. The former Naval Air Corps pilot
Sister Marilee Ewing, OP ’65
turned down for a job he really wanted because in World War II also owned and operated an
he did not have a college diploma, that was
Sister Marilee began
Adrian service station for 19 years.
all the motivation he needed.
teaching as an assistant
According to Siena Heights University Athletic
professor in Teacher
Director Fred Smith, a longtime friend of Bud’s,
Education at Siena in 1997.
he was one of the most recognizable faces in
The culmination of her
Lenawee County athletic circles. For 52 years,
dedication to her students
he umpired baseball and softball games on
came in 2003 when she
most weekday nights and weekends during
was awarded the Sister Eileen K. Rice Award
the spring and summer months. As an umpire,
for Outstanding Teaching. She has served
Leonard was inducted into the Michigan
on numerous committees, most notably the
Amateur Softball Hall of Fame.
Committee on Liberal Arts, commonly known
“Bud was a legend in Lenawee County, not only as COLA. While on COLA she revised the learning
outcomes and the methods of assessing the
as an umpire, but as a teacher and educator,”
accomplishment of the outcomes which are
Smith said. “He was more than an umpire.
currently in use at Siena. Sister Marilee also
He tutored a lot of the guys (he umpired). Bud
was their man. He had a way about him. It was served as interim director of the Teacher
Education Program.
like Bud was part of the family. You felt good
when he was there.”
Sister Magdalena Ezoe, OP ’55
To honor his memory, Hazel helped create a
The associate professor of
newSiena Heights University scholarship in
“It was quite devastating,” Hazel Leonard said
Music began as an instructor
Bud’s name. The memorial scholarship will be
of her husband’s job rejection. “It just inspired
of music at Siena in 1968.
awarded annually to a high school baseball
Bud enough. He said, ‘I’ve never got beat by
During her tenure, she has
player who displays leadership on and off the
anything in my life, and I’m not going to get
received many awards,
field, with preference to Lenawee County
beat by a degree.’ ”
including the Sister Eileen K.
student-athletes, according to Siena Heights
Rice Award for Outstanding
Siena Heights had just started to accept male
Athletic Director Fred Smith.
Teaching in 2005 and the Fred Smith Champion
students when he enrolled in classes as a nonAward in 2006. Sister Magdalena has also
“Siena Heights is privileged to honor Bud’s
traditional student in 1970.
served on the board of the Adrian Symphony
memory in this way,” Smith said. “There are
“He took his grades and showed them to the
going to be many people who are going to have Orchestra and the board of advisors for the
admitting sister,” Hazel said. “He was going to
Siena Heights University Youth Symphony.
joy when they see this (scholarship), because
take just two courses to get started. She said,
She is an accomplished pianist, recognized
they will remember Bud.”
‘Just a minute, Mr. Leonard.’ Then she came
composer and an outstanding accompanist and
For more information on the Ralph “Bud”
back out and says, ‘Mr. Leonard, did you think
performance coach. She coached and directed
Leonard Memorial Scholarship, please contact
about taking just one class?’ ”
the SHU Chamber Ensemble and served as
the Siena Heights University Athletic Departinstrumental music director for 25 years of
Undaunted, Bud not only took the two courses,
ment at (517) 264-7870.
Madrigal Dinner concerts.
he graduated in four years, completing his
teaching degree in 1974—at the age of 50. He Faculty Emeriti
Susan Matych-Hager ’68
went on to earn a master’s degree from Siena
The associate professor
Heights as well. With degree in hand, he began Six members of the Siena Heights University
faculty were recently awarded the rank of Proof Music joined the music
his career in education, teaching at McKinley
fessor Emeritus or Emerita by the Board of Trustdepartment during the
Elementary School more than 15 years before
ees. This rank is recommended by the division
1973–74 academic year.
retiring at age 65.
chairs, deans, the faculty Rank and Promotion
Over the years, Matych“I think one of the biggest thrills a teacher
Committee, the Academic Affairs Committee of
Hager has taught a variety
can get is to see the face of a child light up
the Board and the Board of Trustees.
of courses within the music
when you explain something in a way they
program, with a foc