Official Athletic Site, Marquette University Golden Eagles

2009 Athletic Alumni Awards

_{Friend of Marquette Athletics - Jim and Ginny Wheeler Jim and Ginny Wheeler have been active supporters of Marquette for close to 30 years, and their devotion to the university, particularly athletics has had an enormous impact. In 1989, they helped lay the groundwork for the Blue & Gold Fund to support athletic scholarships and have been active leaders of it since. They also have been generous benefactors of the Al McGuire Center and established the Rev. Albert J. DiUlio Athletic Scholarship Fund for varsity sports, which is the largest endowed athletic fund at MU. In 2008, the Wheelers established the James and Virginia Wheeler Endowed Basketball Scholarships, which will be fully funded through their estate plans. Both men's and women's basketball will be beneficiaries.}

Distinguished Alumnus of the Year - John Madden _{John Madden, Bus Ad, '56, who was a tackle on the football team, has devoted his life to helping others, especially youth. He spent 47 years volunteering at Maryville Academy, a Chicago school serving abused and neglected youth, including 30 years as chairman of its board. He spent four years chairing the advisory board of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and is a board member of Chicago Catholic Charities. In 1990, he was one of three people on Chicago's archdiocese Commission on Clerical Misconduct with Minors in the wake of a church sexual abuse scandal establishing guidelines and review procedures. John is also an emeritus trustee of Marquette University.}

Lifetime Achievement Award - Robert Gansler _{Robert Gansler, Arts '64, Grad '68, earned international recognition in the sport of soccer as a player and coach. As one of the premier players in the US, Gansler earned a spot on the US Olympic team as an MU student. He played 25 games with the Olympic and US National squads and captained the Olympic team twice. He also was a two-time selection to the US Pan-American team. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Marquette and went on to be head coach at the high school, collegiate, amateur and professional ranks winning numerous championships. Among his highlights was coaching the US National U-20 Team to a fourth place finish in the world, the highest-ever finish for a US team and the US National Team to its first World Cup appearance in 40 years, a feat only achieved twice.}