William M. Bulger served as the twenty-fourth President of the University of Massachusetts from January 4, 1996 to September of 2003.
Under President Bulger’s
leadership, the five-campus University saw dramatic increases in private
support, alumni activity, research funding, and the academic scores of incoming
freshmen. President Bulger also
launched an award-winning television advertising campaign featuring prominent
alumni, and a scholarship program that rewards students who finish at the top of
their high school graduating class.
President Bulger’s appointment
by the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees followed his 35-year career
as a leading state lawmaker. From
1978 to 1996, he served as President of the Massachusetts Senate, elected every
two years by his colleagues. His
tenure as President was the longest in state history.
He was first elected to the
Senate in 1970 representing the First Suffolk District.
Prior to serving in the Senate, he served in the House of Representatives
from 1961 to 1970. Throughout his legislative career, Mr. Bulger played a
pivotal leadership role in issues that shaped the physical, cultural and social
landscapes of Massachusetts.
During the 1960s, he led efforts
to write the first child abuse reporting laws in this state and during the
following three decades continued to focus much of his attention on the plight
of children. He was one of the
architects of a groundbreaking education reform law that reduced the funding
inequities between rich and poor communities.
He was among the first advocates of charter schools and public school
choice. During the 1980s, he made
funding of public libraries a top priority and also advocated for the expansion
of childhood nutrition services and fuel assistance programs.
Under Mr. Bulger's leadership,
Boston Common and the Public Garden were beautified and protected.
He secured funding to keep both parks well lit at night, and he led the
fight for a law prohibiting the building of any skyscraper that would cast a
shadow upon either. He also won funding to beautify Castle Island in South Boston
and preserve the 19th-century fort there, while also securing funds to help
clean up the Boston Harbor.
President Bulger led
the Senate through its debate on welfare reform in the early 1990s, often
reminding lawmakers that "after we have eaten, we forget there is such a
thing as hunger.'' The resulting
legislation, less punitive than some hoped, became the model for a national law.
Mr. Bulger is a past president
of the Boston Public Library Board of Trustees and continues to serve on the
board. He is also Overseer Emeritus
of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
He is a former member of the
Massachusetts General Hospital Board of Trustees, Museum of Fine Arts Board of
Trustees, McLean Hospital Board of Trustees and Citizens Bank of Massachusetts
Board of Directors. He is also a
former overseer of the Children's Museum in Boston and former corporator of The
Winsor School in Boston.
Upon his graduation from Boston
College High School in 1952, President Bulger enrolled at Boston College.
His undergraduate career was interrupted when he joined the United States
Army in 1953. He returned to Boston
College in 1955 and completed his undergraduate degree in English in 1958.
He then entered Boston College Law School, from which he received his
Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 1961.
Known for his independence of
mind, regardless of the political consequences, President Bulger has been
singled out for special recognition by one of the Commonwealth's most
prestigious institutions. In
bestowing its 50th Anniversary Award upon President Bulger, Boston College Law
School described him as one "whose career reflects great honor on the Law
School."
President Bulger is the
recipient of more than 20 honorary degrees from institutions of higher learning.
Mr. Bulger is the author of the
best selling political memoir, "While the Music Lasts, My Life in
Politics.''
He was born on February 2, 1934,
the son of James and Jane (McCarthy) Bulger.
In 1960, he married Mary Foley.
He continues to make his home in South Boston where he and his wife of 47
years have raised their nine children: William, James, Sarah, Patrick, Mary,
Daniel, Kathleen, Christopher and Brendan.
There are now 29 grandchildren: Bridget Bulger, Monica Bulger, Michael Hurley, Deirdre Hurley, Mary Hurley, Charles Webb, Ian Webb, Alannah Bulger, Christopher Bulger, James Hurley, Patrick Bulger, Thomas Bulger, William Webb, Grace Bulger, Elizabeth Hurley, Mary Kate Bulger, Brendan Webb, Margaret Bulger, Jean Marie Bulger, Daniel Bulger, Brian William Bulger, Evelyn Hurley, Claire Bulger, Andrew Webb, Katherine Bulger, Michael Patrick Bulger, Eleanor Bulger, Phoebe Jane Piscatelli and Declan Webb.
At
Boston University, Professor Schwoegler assisted in the creation of school
science curricula. He has also
served on the AMS Board of School and Popular Meteorological and Oceanographic
Education. Boston’s Museum of
Science nominated him to a six-year term on their Board of Overseers.
Bruce has presented numerous environmental programs there, at Harvard
University and at regional elementary and secondary schools.
He created and presented Boston’s first inner-city youth science summer
series.
He has
also performed several times with the Boston POPS Orchestra, Wellesley’s
Symphony Orchestra and the Civic Symphony Orchestra.
Other noteworthy appearances include NBC’s Today Show and CNN Network
News.