It Wasn’t All Hard Work

As the first dean of engineering, George Sullivan earned the moniker, “The Iron Chancellor,” by running a tight ship—he demanded hard work, didn’t cotton to “monkey shines,” and expected students to be of the highest moral fiber. But as Bill Nicholson ’36 noted in 1999, Dean Sullivan and his wife Eunice, dubbed “The Hostess,” also fostered a family atmosphere, hosting whist parties, picnics, and get-togethers for faculty and students. One such event was documented in Santa Clara’s yearbook, The Redwood, in 1914:

The Smoker

“On Tuesday evening May fifth, the Engineering Society enjoyed the hospitality of Professor and Mrs. G.L. Sullivan at their pretty home on Madison Street. Reverend Fathers Brainard and Buckley, and Professors Donovan, Grimes, and B. Sullivan were present besides members of the society.

“Smoking was indulged in until refreshments were served and they were in turn followed by short impromptu speeches on engineering topics. All the Engineers expressed the opinion that within a few years, Santa Clara’s Engineering College would equal if not surpass that of any other University on the coast. The gathering dispersed near midnight and all spoke highly of the ‘one grand time’ they had received.”