$10 million grant launches Marquette hall honoring Wild

Marquette University's first residence hall built from the ground up in 50 years will be named after one of its most beloved former presidents, the Rev. Robert A. Wild, who still works on campus in fundraising, President Michael Lovell announced Wednesday.

Lovell said during his third annual presidential address that the naming of the two-tower residence hall complex now under construction on the northwest side of campus will be made possible by a $10 million challenge gift from alumni Ray and Kay Eckstein. The gift is being made in appreciation and honor of Wild's exceptional service and dedication to the university, Lovell said.

Wild, who sat in the audience during Lovell's address, was kept in the dark about the naming honor until Lovell surprised him with the announcement. "I'm still kind of wrapping my brain around this," Wild told reporters afterward.

While the residence hall complex will carry Wild's full name, the 76-year-old Jesuit priest joked about what students living there would call it. "If the kids call it Wild Hall, who cares? If I were a kid, I think I would call it that. ... You want people to have fun when they're here getting a great education."

The Ecksteins are challenging the university to raise another $10 million toward construction; once the challenge is met, the couple will match that $10 million. Already, Marquette trustee emeritus John Bergstrom has pledged $500,000 toward the $10 million challenge, Lovell said. Bergstrom will lead the campaign to raise the rest.

This is the Ecksteins' third significant gift to Marquette. The couple in 2007 made a $51 million gift toward Eckstein Hall, home of the Marquette University Law School, and in 2014 the Ecksteins donated to the construction of the Dr. E.J. O’Brien Jesuit Residence.

In recognition of the Ecksteins’ lifelong giving to Marquette, the university will name one of the new residence hall facility’s two towers in their honor. The Ecksteins are one of the university’s two largest all-time donors, and their $51 million gift to the Law School was the largest in Marquette history.

“Ray and Kay Eckstein’s generosity is both inspirational and transformational for Marquette University. I’m so pleased that we can recognize their exceptional lifelong commitment to Marquette in this way,” Lovell said.

Wild's ability to connect with alumni and friends of the university helped transform Marquette's urban campus during his 15-year tenure as president from June 1996 to June 2011. Wild also stepped up as interim president from October 2013 to July 2014, before Lovell started.

Under Wild's leadership, the Jesuit university raised more than $800 million, including more than $200 million for scholarships, and several eight-figure gifts that accelerated campus construction projects, including Rev. John P. Raynor, S.J., Library, the Al McGuire Center, Engineering Hall, and Eckstein Hall.

Wild raised the profile of the university nationally, not only academically, but also athletically with Marquette’s entry in the Big East Conference.

"We are very happy that there will be a place at Marquette that bears his name in recognition of his many contributions revitalizing and building the campus during his presidency," said Ray Eckstein, who founded a marine transportation company and lives in Paducah, Ky.

Wild's honorary degree from Marquette in May 2015 noted his dedication to students.

"Holding firm to Marquette’s founding mission of educating first-generation college students, he was a champion for increasing access," the honorary degree stated. "With more than $200 million raised for endowed and immediate impact scholarships during his tenure and a student body comprised of more than 20% first-generation students, his legacy is the students."

The university broke ground in November for the two connected residence halls. The $96 million co-ed complex will house about 750 freshmen and sophomores.

The half-block construction site directly north of the Humphrey residence hall is south of Wells St. between N. 17th and N. 18th streets. The site formerly housed a child care center, some utility buildings and an academic support center.

The concept is one tower and a shorter, L-shaped building connected through the ground floor by dining and campus community space. Each tower will have about 375 beds in pod- and suite-like settings, as opposed to the traditional model of large buildings with small double rooms.

Once the university completes the new facility, it will develop a plan to raze McCormick Hall, which has 725 beds, and determine what should replace it on that parcel. The new residence halls will primarily be funded through cash reserves, funds from the university's capital budget and a loan.

This is the Jesuit university's first residence halls built from the ground up since McCormick, which opened to students in 1967. Only three of Marquette's nine residence halls — McCormick, O'Donnell and Schroeder — were built as residence halls. The rest were converted from apartment buildings.