La Salle University Awards Honorary Degrees to Alum Timothy O’Toole and Buntzie Ellis Churchill

La Salle University awarded honorary degrees to two individuals who have made significant contributions in their fields on May 14 at Commencement. Timothy O’Toole, a 1977 La Salle graduate, and Managing Director of the London Underground, and Buntzie Ellis Churchill, outgoing President of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, received honorary degrees in recognition of their accomplishments and dedication to service.

On July 7, 2005, 52 people died in terrorist bombings on three subway trains and a bus in London. O’Toole helped coordinate the evacuation of thousands of passengers and station staff to safety and was honored by Queen Elizabeth II for his rescue efforts.

“The Queen has made him an honorary commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, and one media outlet declared him the second most important person in London—his boss; the mayor was first,” said Brother Gerard Molyneaux, a La Salle Communication Professor. “I think La Salle can proudly join both the Queen and the London media in recognizing the outstanding leadership and inspirational courage of Tim O’Toole.”

“O’Toole was an outstanding student in the Honors Program and the student speaker at his graduation in 1977,” said Molyneaux. “It is a tribute to him and his staff that within hours of the bombing the system was running as if nothing had happened. That almost instant recovery of poise and effectiveness were remarkable messages and clear signals to send to terrorists that England would go about its business unafraid.”

During the Commencement Ceremony, La Salle President, Brother Michael J. McGinniss, F.S.C., Ph.D., praised O’Toole for his service. “You have accomplished much since the 1977 Commencement address to your classmates. You have managed to balance a successful career with meaningful leadership, a combination we would hold up as a model for today’s graduates. Your focus on helping today’s young people echoes the work of St. John Baptist de La Salle and the continuing mission of the Christian Brothers.”

O’Toole joined Conrail as a corporate and commercial attorney and Assistant to the President. He was later appointed Senior Vice President for several divisions, and in 1998 he was named President and CEO of Conrail.  

When Conrail was sold, he became Chairman of a capital campaign for the Support of Child Advocates, a pro bono effort that represents abused children in the courts, and Finance Chairman for the Metropolitan Area YMCA of Philadelphia. O’Toole had been active in both organizations for many years.

In 2001, he was named Managing Director of the London Underground system, the oldest metropolitan railway in the world, which serves 3 million riders per day. In just his second year there, the system saw an all-time record in passengers and service volume.

In addition to O’Toole, La Salle presented an honorary degree to Buntzie Ellis Churchill. Churchill’s retirement from the World Affairs Council in June will mark an end of an era for world affairs education in Philadelphia.

Cornelia Tsakiridou, Associate Professor of Philosophy at La Salle, presented Churchill with the honorary degree and shared “Ms. Churchill’s passion to make Philadelphia known to the world has been made both evident and effective. She has helped Philadelphia become a player on the world stage. In the course of this effort, what’s most impressive is her ability to relate equally well with world leaders and inner city students.”

First introduced to the World Affairs Council while a student at Philadelphia High School for Girls, Churchill was inspired by the work of the organization. So inspired, she enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania to major in international relations.

Churchill has worked for the World Affairs Council since 1964, when she joined the organization as Director of Student and Teacher Programs. She was elected President in 1983 and, during her tenure, Churchill has established the Council as one of the most prestigious and respected organizations in the area.

Established in 1949, the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia is recognized as one of the top public policy forums in the country. It fulfills its mission of creating an informed citizenry on matters of national and international significance through speaker events, educational outreach in schools, and travel programs.

Recognized with numerous honors and awards for her commitment to the community, Churchill is a member of the Union League, Sunday Breakfast Club, the Athenaeum, and Drexel University’s Board of Trustees.