Hilary Thimmesh, OSB '54

Professor of English & Faculty Resident in Tommy Hall - He came to Saint John’s from Osakis as a college freshman in 1945, entered the monastery as a novice in 1947, was ordained priest in 1954, and began teaching English in the college in 1956. He took time out to get a doctorate from Cornell University in 1963. Since then his life has been a mix of teaching and administration as academic dean, 1967-1969; apostolic administrator of Saint Martin’s Abbey in Olympia, Washington, 1978-1980; prior of Saint John’s Abbey, 1980-1982: and president of Saint John’s University, 1982-1991. He served as one of the original members of the Regent Candidate Advisory Council for the University of Minnesota for six years and chaired the Central Minnesota Community Foundation from 1992 to 1995. He is the editor of Saint John’s at 150.