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Remembering Coughlin

Jared Brown’s article on the death of Father Coughlin (“Gonzaga icon dies at 97,” Jan. 29) captured well the warmth and wisdom of a visionary who was, at once, tenacious and gentle. And to the list of President Coughlin’s virtues I would add his generosity of spirit.

From the time I arrived in 1993 as president of Whitworth College (now University), “Barney” treated me as a partner, not a competitor. Without reserve, he ushered me into the higher education and business communities of Spokane. When I followed his footsteps with the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce, he added “tutor” to the links of our friendship.

Soon after Father Coughlin announced his retirement, the Whitworth board of trustees accepted unanimously my enthusiastic recommendation to confer on him an honorary doctorate. To this day, the warm relationship between Whitworth and Gonzaga benefits from the gracious roots of Father Coughlin’s kindness.

Bill Robinson

Spokane

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