Saint Mary's Magazine Fall 2004 - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Distinguished Alumnus
Governor Mike Johanns ’71
Elected governor of Nebraska in 1998, Mike Johanns has
promoted an agenda of property tax relief, reducing the size of
government, building the state’s economy, protecting families,
and ensuring the health, safety, and success of Nebraska’s
children. He was reelected governor in 2002, the first Republican
to repeat in that office since 1956. After graduating from Saint
Mary’s in 1971, Mike earned a law degree from Creighton University in
Omaha, Neb., and practiced law for several years. He served in public office
in Nebraska for more than 22 years as a member of the Lancaster County
Board of Commissioners and the Lincoln City Council. He was elected mayor
of Lincoln in 1991 and reelected in 1995.
Religious Service
Stephen Judd ’53
As part of a national effort to introduce sacrificial giving and
tithing, Stephen Judd and his wife, Marilyn, have spoken in more
than 200 parishes around the country and Canada, encouraging
people to consider tithing or an alternative form of committed
giving. In 1982, they helped introduce the Sacrificial Giving Program
to the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, managing a speakers’
bureau for the program and publishing a nationally circulated newsletter
called “Thanksgiving.” In the early 1990s, Steve and Marilyn developed a
program called Response, which was designed to help people discover their
motivational gifts and how God has equipped them for ministry.
Alumni Appreciation
Roger Laven ’54
An active member of the Saint Mary’s Alumni Association, Roger
Laven has served as a class representative, volunteered with the
alumni phonathon program, participated in numerous alumni
events and been a generous benefactor to the university. Roger
organizes a yearly class newsletter, complete with information
about fellow classmates and updates about the university. He also
created a scholarship to assist undergraduate students with financial need.
Roger accepted this recognition on behalf of his fellow classmates of 1954.
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