# UX157 FDC - 1991 19c Postal Card - Notre Dame Administration Building
Father Theodore Hesburgh
Hesburgh knew he wanted to be a priest since he was six years old. After attending Most Holy Rosary High School, he enrolled in the Holy Cross Seminary at Notre Dame. He performed so well there, his instructors sent him to Rome, Italy to attend the Pontifical Gregorian University. Hesburgh returned to the US in 1940 and earned his doctorate in sacred theology in 1945.Â
In 1952, Father Hesburgh began his 35-year Notre Dame presidency and quickly set a goal of turning the school into one of the best colleges in America. Up until that point, the school was mostly known for its football program, but Hesburgh sought to transform the school “into a nationally respected institute of higher learning.â€Â Under Hesburgh’s leadership, Notre Dame introduced the Distinguished Professors Program, to encourage top educators to come and teach there. While head of the university, Hesburgh doubled enrollments, brought in millions of dollars in research grants and admitted Notre Dame’s first female students in 1972.
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Father Theodore Hesburgh
Hesburgh knew he wanted to be a priest since he was six years old. After attending Most Holy Rosary High School, he enrolled in the Holy Cross Seminary at Notre Dame. He performed so well there, his instructors sent him to Rome, Italy to attend the Pontifical Gregorian University. Hesburgh returned to the US in 1940 and earned his doctorate in sacred theology in 1945.Â
In 1952, Father Hesburgh began his 35-year Notre Dame presidency and quickly set a goal of turning the school into one of the best colleges in America. Up until that point, the school was mostly known for its football program, but Hesburgh sought to transform the school “into a nationally respected institute of higher learning.â€Â Under Hesburgh’s leadership, Notre Dame introduced the Distinguished Professors Program, to encourage top educators to come and teach there. While head of the university, Hesburgh doubled enrollments, brought in millions of dollars in research grants and admitted Notre Dame’s first female students in 1972.
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