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    Fr. Brian Lhota , OFM, served as the 13th president of St. Bonaventure from 1955 until 1961. Fr. Brian was born on December 25, 1913, in Millvale, Pennsylvania. He attended St. Anne and St. Anthony elementary schools there before entering St. Fidelis Minor Seminary in Butler, Pennsylvania. On August 31, 1935, he entered the Franciscan Order and on June 11, 1940, he was ordained a priest in Immaculate Conception Shrine, Washington, D.C.  In 1937 he was granted a a bachelor of arts degree From St. Bonaventure University. He received his master of arts degree in 1944 and the doctor of philosophy degree in 1947, both from Catholic University of America. 

    Fr. Brian came back to St. Bonaventure as an instructor in 1947 and was named Assistant Professor of Philosophy,  later he served as the head of the department. He also coached the varsity tennis  team and served as the director of minor sports. During Fr. Brian's presidency, the University expanded both its instructional and building programs.  An administration building, Hopkins hall, an arts classroom building , Plassmann Hall, and accommodations for clerical faculty members, The Friary, now Doyle Hall, were built while he was in office.  After his term as president he served as Definitor and Director of  Studies for the Holy Name Province of the order of Friars Minor. He also served as Visitor General to the English Province and Visitor General to the California Province.  After his return to St. Bonaventure, in 1967, he served as a professor of philosophy and retired on Christmas of 1978. He died on January 1, 1984 at St. Francis Hospital in Olean, after a brief illness.  He was seventy years old. 

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Biographical Information:

NAME: LHOTA, BRIAN (GEORGE) (FR) (OFM)

DATE OF BIRTH:1913-12-25

PLACE OF BIRTH: MILLVALE, PA.

RECEPTION INTO ORDER: 1934-08-29

ORDINATION DATE: 1940-06-11

WHERE ORDAINED: WASHINGTON, D.C.

SERVED AT SBU: 1941-, 1955-1961, 1967-1978

SERVED AS PRES: 1955-1961

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: RECEIVED MASTER OF ARTS AND DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY FROM CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY

LOCATION OF PHOTOS: ARCHIVES, BONAVENTURE , FOUNDERS ROOM

Bibliography:

"Fr. Brian Receives Tribute ' To Show Our Appreciation For What You Did For Us'." The Olean Times Herald,  3 June 1974.

"New President Named at Bona." The Era  25 June 1955.