Former University of Richmond rector makes $10M gift

Former University of Richmond rector Paul Queally and his wife, Anne-Marie, have donated $10 million to the private university, the lead gift in a donor-funded project to help build a facility for men’s and women’s lacrosse, UR announced Thursday.

Both 1986 UR graduates, the Queallys have made numerous private gifts to the university, and Paul Queally received the University of Richmond’s President’s Medal, one of the university’s highest honors, in 2022.

“This is another extraordinary gift to the university from Anne-Marie and Paul Queally,” University of Richmond President Kevin F. Hallock said in a statement about the gift. “They have contributed in so many ways to make Richmond an even better place.”

The donation comes as the University of Richmond’s men’s lacrosse team completed an undefeated Atlantic 10 Conference season. Women’s lacrosse captured the A-10 regular season title.

The lacrosse facility is expected to open in summer 2029, according to a news release. Located at the north end of Robins Stadium, it will include locker rooms, strength and conditioning space, meeting rooms and offices.

The Queallys previously led the creation of an endowment to help launch the university’s men’s lacrosse program around 2012.

The couple made the lead gift for construction of Queally Hall, an addition to the Robins School of Business, in 2007, and in 2013, the Queallys donated $10 million for the construction of the Queally Center for Admission and Career Services. In 2018, they gave $7.5 million toward construction of the $15 million Queally Athletics Center, a practice facility for Spider men’s and women’s basketball.

Paul Queally previously served as co-president of New York investment firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, and chairs the board of Spider Management, the investment office for the University of Richmond.

He served twice as a member of UR’s board of trustees, from 1999 to 2007 and from 2010 to 2022. However, his 2018-22 tenure as rector was marked by controversy.

In April 2021, the university Faculty Senate passed a vote of no confidence in Queally and called for his resignation as rector, following a highly publicized debate over renaming university buildings named after an enslaver and after a supporter of eugenics and segregation.

At that time, the board members elected not to change the building names, and, according to faculty members quoted by The Washington Post, at a March 2021 meeting with faculty and students, Queally said that he wished “to help Black, brown and ‘regular students,’” a quote that Queally did not dispute.

“Our conversation with a small number of faculty and staff leaders … was intended to be candid, personal, and open,” Queally said in the article. “Those present spoke with honesty, passion, and conviction. The evidence of our commitment to equity and inclusion on our campus is abundant, and our support for all students is unwavering.”

Queally remained rector, and served on the board until his term ended in June 2022. That month, he became the 10th recipient of the University of Richmond’s President’s Medal, which honors “individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious service to the university.”

The board later elected in September 2022 to rename six buildings on campus, including those named Ryland Hall and Mitchell-Freeman Hall, which was Freeman Hall until early 2021.

Queally could not be reached for comment.