April, 1976, Crossroads, Page lOi
st)crLienT
S.V,
Abbot Walter Coggin, O.S.B.
Loved by Students
and College
There is no member of
the college community
better known or more
loved than Abbot Walter
Coggin, O.S.B. He wears
a warm smile for
students and colleagues
alike and is a great sport
about the good-oatured
ribbing he receives from
his many friends and
admirers.
Abbot Walter was born
in the last capital of the
Confederacy, Richmond,
Virginia-the Civil War
had, of course, been
concluded by this time.
He attended Benedictine
High there for two years
but then the family
moved to Los Angeles
and he completed his
schooling at Loyola High.
In 1934 he entered
Belmont Abbey Junior
College and proceeded to
distinguish himself in
football as a guard --
earning the nickname of
“Coal Car” because of
his irresistible charges
through the opposing line
to tackle ballcarriers. He
\^as also a stellar pitcher
for the baseball team. In
addition to achieving
excellence in academics,
he participated in
dramatics, the chorus,
and the “Piedmont
Club.” A glance at the
Spire for that year
reveals a snapshot Of a
slender young student
with a great shock oi,^
black hair -- Abbot'
Walter grudgingly ad
mits that since then what
he has lost from on top he
has made up for in the
midsection!
After receiving the
associate of arts degree
he decided to become a
member of the
Benedictine community
and was sent to St.
Vincent’s Archabbey in
Latrobe, Pa. to make his
novitiate year. Next he
travelled to Atchison,
Kan. to pursue the
bachelor’s degree at St.
Benedict’s College.
Upon his return to
Belmont, Walter began
his studies for the
priesthood at the Abbey
seminary. This was to
stretch over the next four
years during which time
he also acted as prefect in
the dormitory, taught
mathematics, and
coached the prep school
football team, the
“Ramblers.’’ He was
ordained by Bishop Peter
Ireton in Richmond in
1943. He continued to
instruct in the college, at
Mercy School of Nursing
in Charlotte, and at
Sacred Heart College. He
also filled the post of
Chaplain to the students
of the Abbey. Each
summer he went up to
Washington, D.C. to do
graduate work in
philosophy at the
Catholic University of
America. In the fall of
1948 he was awarded the
Master’s degree.
Eventually he obtained
permission from Abbot
Vincent Taylor to attend
the University as a full
time student, and in 1954
he completed the Ph.D.
in philosophy. It is
curious however, that his
thesis, St. Thomas’
Concept of the Will in
Personality Develop
ment, has never been in
heavy demand by Abbey
students. Abbot Walter is
a member of the Catholic
Philosophical Asso
ciation and served as
president of the North
Carolina Philosophical
Association.
In 1956 he was chosen
by his fellow monks to be
the Vicar of Abbot Vin
cent with full respon
sibility for the affairs of
the monastery and, upon
the Abbot’s death in 1959,
he was elected his suc
cessor. He had the rare
privilege of attending and
voting with the bishops at
the Second Vatican
Council at all of its
sessions between 1962
and 1965. It was during
these prolonged stays in
the Eternal City that he
acquired a
discriminating taste for
veal parmigian and
chicken cacciatore ~ to
be savored with a glass of
Frascati wine! His in
terest in photography
was honed at the Council
and he returned to the
U.S. with truly
remarkable color slides
the rich ceremonial of the
historic meeting as well
as views of the
magnificent churches
and landscapes of Italy.
From 1964 to 1967 Abbot
Walter held the positions
of both Chancellor and
President of the college.
It was during his tenure
as superior that the
college embarked on an
ambitious ‘brick and
mortar’ program which
witnessed the con
struction of the library,
the three dormitories, the
student dining hall, the
science building, and the
Wheeler athletic center.
Alumni of twenty years
ago who return to the
campus are astounded to
see the transformation
which has taken place.
After exercising the
Abbatial charge for ten
years, he decided that it
was now time to turn over
the cares and concerns to
another and return to the
more peaceful business
of teaching philosophy.
'This he has done for the
past five years and his
courses are always given
to an overflow crowd of
students, to whom he also
offers himself as coun
sellor and confidant. He
has also served as
moderator of the Abbey
Radio in recent years,
and his current avocation
is the assembly of quality
“hi-fi” stereo systems.
Bradley Comments On Lay Board
Expects Major
Change By Fall
by Jessie Brackett and Anthony DeCristofaro
“When I became president of Belmont Abbey
College, I set four goals which I believed I should try
very hard to achieve,” explained Father Bradley.
The first of these objectives was to establish as
clearly as possible a consensus on the identity, goals,
and purposes of the college. Secondly, educational
consultants were called in to examine whether or not
Belmont Abbey should become co-educational. Third,
Fr. Bradley felt that a start should be made on the
development of the 500-plus acres owned by the
Southern Benedictine Society to provide long-range
endowment for the College and funds for other
charitable purposes as the Benedictines may decide.
“Fourth and most important, I wanted to see
changes implemented in the governing structure from
the present structure to a lay-participant board of
trustees. A lay-participant board of trustees would
bring men and women whose experience and financial
resources can benefit the College greatly.
“A college like this, with over a $2 million budget, is
a sophisticated enterprise. We need people who can
contribute different kinds of expertise in running the
college. The time has come when the college needs this
type of Board of Trustees,” stated Fr. Bradley.
“However, more important, these men and women
could contribute to the policies of the college. Of
tentimes inbreeding - the entire selection of board
members from men in the same profession - poses
problems. People who are educated similarly and"
faced with the same problems tend to draw their
knowledge from the same reservoir. A Board, which is
comprised of lay persons, would have a wider
background of knowledge from which to draw the
answers to questions facing the Abbey during these
complex times in which we live. The diversity of the
Board members is important in establishing a healthy
college atmosphere. Some of the trustees should be
civic leaders who are capable of relating the College to
the local community. It is said that Trustees should
provide three ‘W’s’ ~ work, wealth, and wisdom.
Financial contribution is not one of the most important
reasons for the transition. The college needs men and
women of expertise who can funnel objective
viewpoints into the college policies.”
Shall we get the type of board of trustees which is
being discussed? “The question of transition to a lay-
participant board of trustees is one of the longest
running issues ever,” explained Fr. Bradley. “It is a
topic which has been more thoroughly discussed than
any other issue.
“However, when you address the question there is
one thing you must realize ~ the decision to change can
only be made by the Benedictine community.
“My belief is that the Benedictines understand the
reasons this change in structure is needed but some
feel that there is a danger of losing the Catholic,
Benedictine identity of this institution.”
For all practical purposes, Fr. Bradley and Abbot
Jude have reached a meeting of the minds.
“Realistically, I would expect that by fall we will have
the lay board. It is not a new issue and no doubt will be
settled this semester,” said“Fr.“ Bradley.
A new board will not automatically solve all the
problems a private college encounters. But it will
supply the college with efficient methods of facing
them.
A.P.O. Alumni
Brothers!
Alpha Phi Omega, Rho Mu chapter will celebrate
its tenth anniversary in February 1977.
Preparations are underway for a banquet. All
alumni brothers are requested to send their current
aaddress:
Alpha Phi Omega, PM Chapter
Care of P.O. Box 1S5
Belmont Abbey College
Belmont, North Carolina 28012