Ed Devitt ’32

Fr. Walter Reger, OSB – priest, professor, prefect, dean and friend – was the driving force behind the Saint John's University Alumni Association for years. He had ties to thousands of Johnnies, corresponding with many of them long into their alumni years. So ardent was his dedication that he became known as "Mr. Saint John's."

Since 1971, the Saint John's University Alumni Association has presented the Fr. Walter Reger Distinguished Alumnus Award in honor of Fr. Walter's dedication. The award recognizes outstanding service to the Saint John's community by an alumnus. It is the highest honor given by the Alumni Association.

1977 Fr. Walter Reger Distinguished Alumnus
Ed Devitt ’32
U.S. district court judge and Congressman

Judge Edward Devitt found ample time during his years on the bench as Minnesota’s chief U.S. district judge and as representative in Congress to serve his alma mater. Soon after graduation he was on the board of directors of the Grand Forks chapter of the SJU Alumni Association. He was president of the Alumni Association board in 1941-43, one of the youngest presidents ever. He was a member of the University’s Board of Regents from 1958-73.

Recipients

2008 Dave Wendt '63
2007 Dick Nigon ’70
2006 Steve Slaggie ‘61
2005 Dan Whalen ‘70
2004 Bob Wicker ‘64
2003 Al Eisele ’58
2002 Dan Coborn ‘52
2001 Joe Mucha ‘66
2000 Thom Woodward ‘70
2000 Bill Sexton ‘55
1999 Don LeMay, OSB ‘48
1998 Len Mrachek ‘58
1997 Frank Ladner ‘48
1996 Mike Dady ‘71
1995 John Agee ‘70
1994 John Rogers ’63
1993 Tom McKeown ‘52
1992 Cleve Cram ‘38
1991 Tom Joyce ‘61
1990 Bob Shafer ‘54
1989 Don Talafous OSB ‘48
1988 Jerry Donovan ‘53
1987 George Hawkins ‘49
1986 Frank Grundman ‘48
1985 Jack O’Connell ‘42
1984 LeRoy Lilly ‘55
1983 Martin Schirber, OSB ‘39
1982 Jerry Terhaar ‘48
1981 Harry Holtz ‘39
1980 Joe Ryan ‘31
1979 Fran Miller ‘48
1978 Paul Huber ‘55
1977 Ed Devitt ‘32
1976 Matthew Kiess, OSB ‘21
1975 Henry Borgerding ‘07
1974 Fr. Dunstan Tucker, OSB ‘25
1973 Herb Adrian ‘29
1972 George Durenberger ‘28
1971 Fred Hughes '31