Person:Lawrence Boll (1)

Brother Lawrence Boll, S.M. is a native Daytonian. He was born in 1884 and lived in the neighborhood of St. Mary's parish, where he attended the parochial school. As a youngster, Lawrence Boll often wandered to the property of St. Marry's Institute (now the University of Dayton) to use the athletic facilities and to talk to the Marianists. He became very attracted to the Brothers of Mary, and so he attended elementary school at the Institute from teh fifth grade on. At the age of 13, he was drawn toward religious life. At 17, he took his first religious vows, with final profession coming six years later. In 1902, Bro. Boll began teaching. He has taught in all phases of education, from St. Barbara's elementary school in Brooklyn, to West Catholic high school in Philadelphia, and Cathedral Latin in Cleveland, to Trinity Collge in Sioux City, Iowa. Brother Bool was named Professor of English at the University of Dayton in 1927. In 1929, he obtained his Ph.D. in English at the Catholic University of America. From then until 1947 he alternated betweenTrinity College and U.D. In 1947, he returned to U.D. and has been here ever since. Bro. Boll is one of the oldest Brothers in the United States. He has dedicated 66 years of his life to God through the Society of Mary. Throughout his teaching career Brother Boll could be singled out for his special love for literature, both English and German. He is especially fond of the works of Shakespeare and Francis Thompson, from which he often recites just for the sheer pleasure of it. Other favorites are Dante, Newman, and Browning. Besides having a love for literature, Bro. Boll was a musician. He loved to direct glee clubs, and he himself had a wonderful bass voice. He also wrote the words to the University of Dayton Anthem. In his earlier days at U.D., he enjoyed working with the debate teams and the dramatics society. As a teacher, Bro. Boll has been described as "fabulous". He received the "outstanding professor" citation in the late 1950's. Many of his students were of the opinion that they should "major in Boll", that is, take Bro. Boll for all courses. He is one o fthe few people alive who still practices the art of conversation. He likes to gather a group of young people around him and tell them about the "old days." Incidents from his personal life and contacts with many Brothers and Priests of the Society are his favorite topics of conversation. Brother enjoys fishing and camping; they are his favorite hobbies. He never passes up an opportunity to go to the Marianist's summer home at Govenor's Island on Indian Lake. Despite his personal knowledge, his skill in teaching others, and his proficiency in literature and allied subjects, Bro. Boll is still a humble man. He knows where his strength of character comes from. He relishes his vocation to religious life, which God gave him in the Socity of Mary. Today he is still in the classroom, for limited time it is true, due to his advanced age. His interests, though, are just as keen as when he was a young profesor. In closing, Father Andrew Seebold, S.M., past president of the University of Dayton had this to say about Bro. Boll: "Brother Lawrence Boll has always been first, a religious of the Society of Mary, and then, in virtue of the duties assigned to him, a gentleman, a scholar, and the professor and inspiration for many a younger member of his religious family as well as his students."

Kennedy Union Theater was renamed Boll Theater in his honor

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Marianist Archives, Address: University of Dayton, Dayton, OH
   official record for Bro. Lawrence Boll.
2. ↑ Dayton, Ohio Births
   1881-1887, pg. 101, b. 1884 OCT 3 Lawrence Boll.
3. ↑ Marianist Archives, Address: University of Dayton, Dayton, OH
   "News from the University of Dayton Department of University Relations" 31 JUL 1972.
4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 Marianist Archives, Address: University of Dayton, Dayton, OH
   "The Biography of Brother Lawrence Boll", given at the Boll Theatre dedication, University of Dayton.
5. ↑ Montgomery, Ohio, United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication T623)
   Ward 8, St. Mary's Institute, pg. 170B.
6. ↑ Dayton Daily News. (Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio, United States)
   25 JUN 1922, pg. 1.
7. ↑ Montgomery County, Ohio Probate Court
   Case #62980, estate of Jacob Boll.
8. ↑ services from Immaculate Conception Chapel, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH
9. ↑ he's a pupil there
10. ↑ survived death of mother, Mary Louise Boll
11. ↑ from the University of Dayton