Eamon Kelly (academic administrator)

Eamon M. Kelly
President of Tulane University
In office
1981–1998
Preceded by Sheldon Hackney
Succeeded by Scott Cowen
Personal details
Born April 25, 1936
New York City, New York
Alma mater Fordham University
Columbia University

Eamon Michael Kelly (born April 25, 1936) was the president of Tulane University from 1981 to 1998.[1][2] He was born in New York City and earned a bachelor's degree from Fordham University and a Ph.D. in economics from Columbia University.[3]

Kelly is best known for shutting down the basketball program in 1985 due to a massive point-shaving scandal. Several players, including future NBA star John "Hot Rod" Williams, had had been plied with cocaine in order to induce them to shave points.[4] This revelation, combined with reports of academic irregularities, led Kelly to shutter the program in order to "demonstrate unambiguously this academic community's intolerance of the violations and actions we have uncovered."[5] As it turned out, the outrage was such that several faculty members had demanded that Tulane drop athletics altogether, and were only appeased when Kelly offered to disband the basketball team.[6] Kelly initially didn't intend to ever allow its return, but relented in 1988 after several students convinced him that they were being punished for something that occurred when they weren't at Tulane.[7]

References

  1. Who, W. (2001). Who's who in Finance and Industry 32. Marquis Who's Who. ISSN 0083-9523. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  2. "Tulane University - Past Presidents". tulane.edu. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  3. http://www.ifesh.org/content.php?info_id=138
  4. Looney, Douglas S. (April 8, 1985). "Big Trouble at Tulane". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  5. Keteyian, Armen (1985-04-15). "The Tulane Scandal: A Time for Harsh Measures". Sports Illustrated.
  6. Looney, Douglas S. (1985-04-22). "All I Want Is to Be Happy". CNN.
  7. Vanglider, Perry. A Sad Anniversary: 25 Years Since Tulane Basketball's Point Shaving Scandal. NewOrleans.com, 2010-03-25.
Academic offices
Preceded by
Sheldon Hackney
President of Tulane University
1981-1998
Succeeded by
Scott Cowen