In Memoriam

George R. Houston, Jr.
Former Mount St. Mary's President

George R. Houston, Jr., 23rd president of Mount St. Mary’s University, died peacefully on Jan. 19, 2008 from pancreatic cancer. He was 68 and had served as president of the university from 1994 to 2003.

“President Emeritus Houston was an inspiration and an effective leader, said Mount President Thomas H. Powell. “He was honored with a (MSM) Bicentennial Medal recognizing his generosity of spirit and his unyielding support to strengthen the Mount’s foundation. “His legacy will continue to benefit future generations of Mount students.”

A seventh-generation Washingtonian, George Houston attended Georgetown University where he also spent more than three decades as a faculty member and an administrator. He graduated first in his business administration class and later earned an MBA at George Washington University. The Mount recruited him in 1994, when he was the managing director of Georgetown’s endowment fund.

It was under George’s leadership that the Mount saw many facility changes; including construction of Knott Auditorium and the Keating wing at the seminary, beginning stages of the renovation of Borders Learning Center and Coad Science Building and the construction of the McGowan Center. He led the school’s fund-raising campaigns with generous personal contributions, and the university established in his honor the George R. Houston, Jr. Endowed Scholarship Fund for aspiring business students.

A friend to St. Joseph’s College Alumnae Association, George honored the Mount-SJC legacy, advocated for and secured membership of SJC graduates on the Mount board of trustees, and inaugurated the annual tea at his home in Emmitsburg for SJC Alumnae attending spring Reunions.

At his retirement, George’s long time friend Cardinal William H. Keeler, former Mount Trustee said: "George Houston has brought great energy and extraordinary leadership qualities to his work as president …which helped the whole Mount family better appreciate and deepen the strong Catholic identity that is our heritage.”

A funeral mass was offered at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Mount St. Mary’s. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mount or to Georgetown University.

Survivors include his mother Lillian Houston, several siblings and many nieces and nephews.

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