Give Marquette

Marquette University Alumni Association
Marquette.edu

Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
Award Recipients

Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award

 

WILLIAM R. O'TOOLE, SP '79 WILLIAM R. O'TOOLE, SP '79
Pleasant Prairie, Wis.

Soccer was Bill O’Toole’s game as one of the first scholarship recipients of the sport at Marquette. And he has been winning on a different field since, scoring on behalf of area Catholic institutions.

Bill is president and CEO of Catholic Financial Life, a nonprofit life insurance organization/company. Previously, he served as a development leader for religious institutions in Wisconsin, including Sisters of Divine Savior in Milwaukee, St. Joseph High School in Kenosha and Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners. But his accomplishments behind the business titles are more remarkable, reflective of his winning game plan as a man of faith.

Bill always has been struck by St. Ignatius' words: “Act as though it all depends on you; trust and pray as though it all depends on God.” And so Bill does. His passion for Catholic education led him to chair Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki’s Catholic Schools Dinner in the past year and to be an ardent supporter of the Greater Milwaukee Catholic Education Consortium through Catholic Financial Life for several years. This collaborative group combines the expertise of the area’s five Catholic institutions of higher education, providing a resource to K-12 Archdiocesan Catholic schools as they seek ways to enhance educational quality and institutional sustainability.

Also through Catholic Financial, Bill is committed to providing volunteer services and financial assistance that benefit Catholic schools, parishes and organizations. Outside of work, Bill takes time to coach youth soccer and serve on civic and charitable boards.

Bill O’Toole: retired student-athlete … former director of development … ever a man dedicated to his faith and serving his community.

Get to Know: William R. O'Toole

Hometown: St. Louis

Someone past or present he’d like to have dinner with: Abraham Lincoln

Favorite Marquette memory: When the basketball team won the NCAA championship in 1977.  So many great friends, roommates and teammates.

In grade school, Bill wanted to be a United States representative or senator.