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Bill W. Bradley, former U.S. senator, two-time NBA World Champion and Olympian, will deliver the 2017 Commencement address for Maryville University. He will receive an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree.
Maryville’s Commencement ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on May 6, at the St. Charles Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo.
“Bill Bradley is a renowned and reasoned voice on politics and culture in our nation today. Our graduates will benefit from his unique experiences and his amazing gifts. We are honored to welcome him to Maryville University,” said President Mark Lombardi, PhD.
Bradley, who was born and raised in Crystal City, Mo., served in the United States Senate from 1979-1997, representing the state of New Jersey. He gained prominence in the Senate as a bipartisan leader who brought people together to solve complex problems. In 2000, he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.
Prior to serving in the Senate, Bradley was an Olympic gold medalist in 1964 and a professional basketball player with the New York Knicks from 1967-1977, during which time they won two NBA championships. In 1982, he was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Bradley now serves as a managing director of Allen & Company LLC. He acted as chief outside advisor to McKinsey & Company’s nonprofit practice from 2001-2004, and was a senior advisor and vice chairman of the International Council of J.P. Morgan & Co., Inc. from 1997-1999. During that time, he also worked as an essayist for “CBS Evening News” and was a visiting professor at Stanford University, University of Notre Dame and the University of Maryland.
Bradley has authored seven books on American politics, culture and economy, including his latest book, We Can All Do Better. Currently he hosts “American Voices,” a weekly show on Sirius SM Satellite Radio that highlights the remarkable accomplishments of Americans both famous and unknown. He holds a BA in American History from Princeton University and an MA from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.