Newswise — ST. LOUIS — Saint Louis University has received a $1.1 million gift from the estate of John K. Pruellage, the former chairman of its board of trustees, who passed away in May.
Pruellage committed his gift shortly before he passed and directed that it go toward transforming the 100 N. Tucker Building in downtown St. Louis into a state-of-the-art educational facility for SLU’s School of Law.
“Jack felt very strongly that locating our law school in the heart of the city’s legal community would benefit our students for generations to come,” said University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J. “I would like to thank Jack and the entire Pruellage family for this lasting and generous gift.”
A SLU alumnus, Pruellage had served on the University’s Board of Trustees for nearly 15 years, and Biondi has credited him with much of the University’s recent progress.
Pruellage also was chairman of the respected law firm Lewis, Rice and Fingersh, whose headquarters are located just a few blocks from the new home for the SLU law school. Pruellage spent his illustrious 42-year legal career at the firm, where he was chairman for 22 years.
In addition to his $1.1 million gift, Biondi said that Pruellage also requested that every gift made to the University in his honor be directed toward the project.Fundraising is under way for renovations of the downtown building, including a 300-seat courtroom, large classrooms, offices for the school’s legal clinics, additional study spaces for students, new technologies and sprinklers, among other needs. This support is needed to complete the project.
“It was Jack’s hope that his leadership gift would inspire others to support this very historic move,” Biondi said. “Although he cannot be there when we open our new downtown law center, I know he will be with us in spirit. Jack’s legacy will be prominently remembered in the new law center.”
Annette Clark, M.D., J.D., dean of the School of Law, said Pruellage was an example for all SLU law students of the impact they can have on their communities and the lives of others through their work and service.
“We are honored to receive this gift from an individual who has meant so much to the University and our law school, and we hope it will inspire others to support this project,” Clark said.
More about the Project
With more than 1,100 law students, faculty and staff, the move will make SLU the largest educational institution in downtown St. Louis and represents another major economic investment in the city.
The building was donated earlier this year by St. Louis businessman Joe Scott and his wife Loretta, and will be known as the Joe and Loretta Scott Law Center.
To view renderings of the project, visit www.slu.edu/x52778.xml.
Major construction is expected to begin in October, and the anticipated move-in date is August 2013.
Those who wish to make a gift to the John K. Pruellage Memorial Fund to support the SLU LAW Building Transformation Campaign at Saint Louis University should contact the office of University Advancement at 314-977-2849. Gifts also can be mailed to:
John K. Pruellage Memorial Fund for Law School Expansionc/o Saint Louis UniversityOne North Grand Blvd.Room 306St. Louis, MO 63103
For additional information, contact Clayton Berry at (314) 977-7117 or [email protected].
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