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    July 11, 2016

    Ted Grant '51 Posthumously Awarded an Honorary Degree

    On Saturday, July 2, at a funeral Mass celebrated in the Panasci Family Chapel on the Le Moyne campus, G. Edward Grant, a member of the College's inaugural class, was posthumously presented with an honorary degree.

    Grant passed away peacefully on April 4 in Florida at the age of 86. He was a long-time supporter in time, talent and treasure to his alma mater.

    The following is the honorary degree citation that was read by Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Matt Bassett at the service. The degree was presented to the family by President Linda LeMura.

    G. Edward Grant was a man of many passions - for his family, for his profession, for his community, for sports, and for his alma mater.

    It was the combination of his many passions that made Ted Grant a modern renaissance man. In the truest Jesuit sense, in everything he did Ted was a man who lived his life for and with others.

    For Ted, family was first, and he and Jane's five children were part of a loving home where all friends were welcomed. They gave their children the latitude to find their own way in everything they did. As son David stated so eloquently at the dedication of the turf field in his father's name in 2012, "Mom and Dad allowed us to stand alone in the spotlight with our successes, but were always there to help shoulder the burden of our failures."

    Supported in all that he did at home and work by Jane, Ted grew Tallmadge Tires from a single store in Cortland in 1963 to more than a dozen throughout Central and Northern New York. It was a classic story of a business growing by operating under the philosophy that everyone - from the greenest employee to the most loyal customer – should be treated with respect and compassion.

    With five children born within six years and a burgeoning business, most would be content to let that keep them busy - but not Ted. In addition to numerous professional affiliations, he spent much of his time volunteering for the betterment of his community. His volunteer efforts included being president of the United Way of Cortland County; a member of the YMCA Board; director of the Chamber of Commerce; member of the Farm Bureau Cooperative Extension Service; chairman of the Cortland County Farm Show; member of the Zoning Board of Appeals; and member of the Kiwanis Club.

    A lifelong sports and recreation fan who recognized the inherent value they play in building character and strengthening community, Ted was an integral part of the Homer Recreation Commission, working to build several major projects in the town. He is considered one of the founding fathers of the lacrosse program at Homer High, which has grown to become one of the region's most successful.

    Fortunately for Le Moyne, much of his largesse of both time and treasure served to benefit the College. Though the Grant family's life journey took them far from the Heights before eventually settling in Cortland County, Ted’s love for Le Moyne and the influence it had on him as a member of its inaugural class never waned.

    He served as a Le Moyne trustee from 1981 to 1987, co-chaired the 1982 annual fund, and received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1987. Two years later, then-President Kevin O'Connell S.J. recruited him to chair the athletic director search committee, and in 1998 he was awarded the Simon Le Moyne Award, the College's highest honor.

    For many, Ted is best known as the man whose name graces both the College's basketball court and turf field. He was a stalwart supporter of athletics throughout the years, in particular lacrosse where he was in the stands for all but one of eight men's lacrosse team national championship games. And though he passed before this year's team captured its fifth D-II title, he was there in spirit, as all team members wore a "TG" helmet sticker for the championship game.

    In recognition of his indomitable spirit, unwavering support, infectious enthusiasm and indefatigable joie de vivre, Le Moyne College is proud to posthumously present G. Edward Grant the degree of doctor of humane letters - honoris causa.
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