Donald Swain, former University of Louisville president, dies at 92

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Former University of Louisville President Donald C. Swain has died. He was 92.

Swain led the university from 1981-95, an era that saw a growing endowment, the addition of new buildings on the Belknap Campus and the launch of the prestigious Grawemeyer awards program, among other achievements.

"Under his watch, U of L began the transformation from an urban commuter school to the Research 1 powerhouse it is today," President Kim Schatzel told campus members in an email on Monday. She said Swain died last week.

Swain was a history professor in the University of California system and later a vice president there before taking the reins in Louisville, where he helped boost the school’s endowment from $18 million to $183 million, according to U of L.

During his tenure the university raised $61 million in a private fundraising effort — the first of its kind — and exceeded a $40 million goal. Swain also helped establish a task force on women that is credited with making more than $1 million in salary adjustments at U of L.

The College of Business building and the Student Activities Center were among more than a dozen buildings completed while he was in office. Swain's athletic director, Bill Olsen, hired football coach Howard Schnellenberger, and Swain oversaw early planning for what is now L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium.

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a statement that Swain transformed U of L "into a magnet for higher education and leading research.

"He ushered in a golden era of unprecedented growth – from establishing a nationally recognized athletics program to steering the university hospital toward success to jump-starting the McConnell Center on campus together."