A crowd of people gathered Wednesday at the University of
Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Sports and Fitness Center to remember Paul
C. Duke III and to honor his generosity to the campus.

In a ceremony held outside the aquatic center, Dr. Livingston
Alexander explained why that portion of the campus will bear Duke’s
name.

“It is no secret to anyone that the success we have enjoyed
during our short history is due in large part to the support we’ve
received from the Blaisdell family,” Alexander said, referring to a
legacy of generosity that began with Duke’s grandfather, George G.
Blaisdell.

Duke, who died on Sept. 28, 2005, at the age of 52, gave
$500,000 to the university, which was equally matched by the
Zippo/Case Technology Challenge Fund, to support the university’s
technology needs and to establish the Paul C. Duke Endowed
Technology Fund.

“In making this gift to Pitt-Bradford, Paul Duke, of course,
continued the well-established tradition that began with his
grandfather, George Blaisdell, of sharing his success with his
beloved hometown,” Alexander said.

“Paul Duke considered Pitt-Bradford important to this community
and this region,” he said. Duke’s intent with his donation was to
insure that Pitt-Bradford’s technology needs would be served in
perpetuity.

“In an ever-changing technology world, there is no end to the
cost of keeping up and providing the best possible education for
our students,” Alexander said.

Alexander explained the technology funds are currently being
used to install Internet access in all classrooms, to ensure that
all faculty have computers and software, and to acquire equipment
and provide training to faculty to serve non-traditional students
in a distance-learning environment.

Howard Fesenmyer, executive director of the Philo and Sarah
Blaisdell Foundation and Pitt-Bradford Advisory Board member, spoke
about how the donation from Duke to Pitt-Bradford came about.

“I tried to set up a meeting with Paul to discuss his interest
in Pitt-Bradford, but to no avail,” Fesenmyer said, adding Duke
would “forget” about the meeting or would be busy with something
else.

So one night, when he ran into Duke at the Bradford Club, he
suggested a $500,000 donation for a technology endowment, a match
through the Zippo/Case Challenge and that the University would name
the aquatic center after him.

“It only took 30 seconds,” Fesenmyer said with a laugh. “He was
ready to act. He didn’t even require my full sales pitch.”

Referring to Duke as a man who was “full of spirit,” Fesenmyer
said, “He along with his family have made an indelible mark on this
community.”

Following the remarks, Duke’s daughter, Sarah, along with his
brother, George, cut the ribbon in front of the aquatic center.
Then George Duke and his mother, Sarah Dorn, unveiled the sign
naming the Paul C. Duke III Aquatic Center.

Beginning this fall the Duke Aquatic Center will be home to
Pitt-Bradford’s men’s and women’s swim teams, which begin NCAA
Division III competition. The college joins three other Allegheny
Mountain Collegiate Conference schools sporting swim teams; Penn
State-Altoona, Penn State-Behrend and Frostburg State.

The pool will also serve as the site for health and physical
education classes, intramural activities and life-guarding
classes.

The university has also entered into a one-year agreement with
Bradford Area School District and the YMCA where the Duke Aquatic
Center will serve as host site for the Bradford Area High School
swim meets.