Marilyn and Robert O’Leary have been
friendly faces and given many generous contributions to YSU
Athletics and Youngstown State University for a long time. This
evening, the O’Leary Family is being honored as 2011 Penguins
of the Year.
Life-long Penguins sports fans, the
O’Learys contribute to the athletic department in numerous
ways. The two have shown their support by being basketball
season-ticket holders for more than 50 years and have held football
season tickets for over 30.
Robert is a member of the Penguin Club Board of
Trustees and serves as a trustee for the Youngstown State
University Foundation. The two are also Champions Level members of
the Penguin Club - the highest donor level possible within the
organization.
For their spirit and enthusiasm toward their
beloved Penguins, Robert and Marilyn were enshrined in the YSU
Athletics Hall of Fame as contributors in 2006.
The O’Learys also created an Athletic
Department Operating Endowment for the men’s and
women’s basketball programs as well as The Robert and Marilyn
O’Leary Scholarship, which was created in 2005 and is awarded
yearly to a most-worthy student-athlete.
The scholarship was established by the two,
along with their children Denise, Brian, Alan and Carole. As
prominent members of the Youngstown business community and
long-time Penguin fans, the O’Learys created the endowment
for a student-athlete with the same drive for success and
commitment to Youngstown State that they have demonstrated through
the years. This scholarship is awarded to student-athletes who
compete in an Olympic sport and are majoring in business.
They were also the leading contributors in the
remodeling of the Coaches Court in the Beeghly Center, a beautiful
room for members of the Courtside Coaches Club to gather before and
during basketball games.
The O’Learys also generously donated
$100,000 for the WATTS, an indoor athletic training facility that
is currently under construction on campus.
They also contributed $100,000 to the Andrews
Student Recreation and Wellness Center, which opened in September
2005. The walking bridge in the facility has been named in their
honor.
Robert and Marilyn credit three individuals for
helping their passion for YSU grow. Joe Malmisur introduced them to
YSU athletics, Marty Dorris introduced them to the Penguin Club and
Dr. Robert Morrison introduced them to the class for Seniors.
One of their fondest memories was being at the
1991 National Championship Game in Statesboro, Ga., when Youngstown
State beat Marshall 25-17 for the school’s first title.
Robert’s heart has always been part of
the school. He earned a degree in business and economics from
Youngstown State.
Robert currently serves as the Chairman of the
Board for Patterson Buckeye Inc. He is the retried chairman of the
board for Miller Buckeye Biscuit Co. At Miller, his business grew
from 50 employees to more than 300.
Robert and Marilyn, who are both graduates of
South High School, reside in Canfield. They have four children -
Denise, Brian, Alan and Carole - along with four grandsons and two
granddaughters.
