Fourth President, 1936-1944
Birth: September 2, 1898, Derby, Conn.
Death: December 1, 1944, New Haven, Conn.
“To the Memory of John Jordan Dillon, O.P. ’24, Fourth President of Providence College, who can truly be considered a casualty of World War II, and the memory of all other Alumni who gave their lives that their friends might live in peace and concord with their fellow men . . .”
–Senior Classes [May and August 1945], “Dedication.” In The Veritas 1945: Silver Jubilee Edition
In the summer of 1936, a member of the PC Class of 1924 was tapped to become the fourth president. After three years in the U.S. Navy, John Dillon enrolled in 1920 as a freshman in the College’s second class. Upon successful completion of two years as a pre-ecclesiastic student, he was accepted as a candidate for the Order and went to St. Joseph’s Priory in Somerset, Ohio. Ten years after leaving PC as a pre-novitiate, Father Dillon returned as a philosophy professor and soon also became an assistant dean. On September 11, 1936, the Corporation elected John Jordan Dillon, O.P. as Corporation treasurer and confirmed the appointment of PC’s first alumnus president.
Father Meagher’s successor as provincial, Rev. T. S. McDermott, O.P., named Father Dillon both superior and president, thus resuming the earlier practice of having one person oversee both the Dominican and academic communities. Father Dillon was active in several Catholic and Rhode Island educational associations throughout his presidency and served on the city Civilian Defense Council during World War II.
The Dillon Years at Providence College
Expansion of the Extension School, undergraduate enrollment and facilities marked the years of the Dillon presidency. Aquinas Hall opened in the Fall of 1939, giving students in the general population–not just Dominican pre-novitiates–the option of on-campus residence life. Wartime instability and shortages of men and material forced the president to concentrate on College survival. The surprise decision by the U.S. Army to use the facilities and staff for an Army Specialized Training Program basic engineering unit sustained PC from July 1943 to March 1944. PC began its second quarter-century in September 1944 with two-thirds of its 3,000 graduates in military service, a closed Aquinas Hall dormitory, and an undergraduate enrollment of 162–the same number as were registered in the College’s second year. Yet, the President looked forward to postwar resumption of raising the academic recognition won by his predecessor. In November 1944, he initiated a fund drive for construction of a gymnasium. After several years of ill health, he died on December 1, 1944.
The Providence College Alumni Association proudly hosted a testimonial dinner for the first alumnus president on April 14, 1937. This form of inaugural celebration was followed by the next three presidents. Other recognition of Father Dillon included the following: dedication of two undergraduate publications, The Cowl and Alembic (1936), College Alumni Association Torch and Triangle Club Honorary Presidency (1937), The Veritas PC senior class yearbook dedication (1945), Providence City Council resolution on his death (1945), the establishment and naming of Knights of Columbus Council # 3563, and the PC Commuters’ Club (1952 and 1965).
Education
John was the second of five children of David J. and Mary J. (Houlihan) Dillon. His sister became a Dominican of Blauvelt, Sister Jordan Marie, O.P., and a brother, William, was a member of the PC administration and faculty as a layman (1928-1935) and as a Dominican priest (1946-1974). John attended public schools in Derby, Conn., and joined the U.S. Navy shortly after graduating from high school in 1917. He took basic training in Newport, R.I., and was assigned to a submarine tender during World War I.
From 1920 to 1922, he was a member of the Dominican pre-ecclesiastic group studying at PC. His undergraduate years included writing for the College’s literary magazine and performing in student theatrical productions. He was enrolled at St. Joseph’s Priory in Somerset, Ohio, from 1922 to 1923, receiving the Dominican habit there in 1922 and professing in 1923. He continued his studies at St. Rose Priory in Springfield, Ky., from 1923 to 1925 and at the Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, Ill., from 1925 to 1926. He received his bachelor of arts (B.A.) degree from PC in 1926 and also received a master of arts (M.A.) degree from The Catholic University of America and lectorate in sacred theology (S.T.Lr.) from Immaculate Conception College, both located in Washington, D.C. Shortly after his ordination in Washington on June 17, 1929, Father Dillon was sent to the Angelicum in Rome to pursue doctoral studies. In 1932, he received his degree of doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) with honors. He was awarded two honorary doctor of laws (LL.D.) degrees, from Brown University in 1941 and Rhode Island State College in 1942.
Other Assignments
Shortly after receiving the Ph.D., Father Dillon had his first assignment—priest and educator at PC. He continued in those capacities until he died 12 years later.