If you’ve spent time at Illinois Tech, you’ve probably noticed the Galvin name.
It’s on our library, our tower, faculty chairs, and numerous scholarships. It’s even the last name of the chair of our Board of Trustees. That’s for good reason. The Galvin family of Motorola have given multi-generational support and guidance toward the education and innovation happening at Illinois Tech.
Why do the Galvins have such an interest in supporting Illinois Tech and its students? Because they have always seen what is possible. In 1928 Mike’s grandfather Paul V. Galvin founded the Galvin Manufacturing Corporation in Chicago—you might know it as Motorola. Paul and his early Motorola team of inventors were the first to commercialize the car radio, creating the first of many whole new industries which Motorola would go on to invent.
Paul Galvin thought of the name “Motorola” one morning while shaving. It was a combination of “Motor” and “Victrola.”
As far back as 1931, Motorola was sourcing some of its pioneering engineers and technologists from the diverse student body at Illinois Tech.
In the early days of Motorola, Paul worked with his brother Joe and his wife Lillian, the company’s board secretary, on battery eliminators, and then on their first big success: the car radio. Motorola’s line of car radios continued increasing until there was a model of radio for nearly every model of vehicle.
Paul Galvin, for whom Illinois Tech’s library is named, was a man of vision and a force for staying in productive motion. He respected the dignity of people. He hired both men and women and listened when they spoke. He believed in the value of a team with “varied interests and faiths,” and he encouraged his staff to always try, fail, and try again.
Always looking toward the future, Paul introduced his only child, Robert W. Galvin (who everyone called Bob), to work at Motorola very early. Though Bob began by spending his summers in the mail room, he quickly and ably rose through the company, and the two spent years growing and guiding the company together.
Motorola founder Paul V. Galvin was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2008 for his work on the car radio.
From consumer electronics to semiconductors, from radio communications during World War II to public safety systems, father and son together grew Motorola into a global company until the beloved founder’s death in 1959.
“It was a lifelong commitment of Mr. Galvin to support men and women of venture and vision.” —Virginia Galvin Piper
Paul Galvin left behind a family and a company that loved him dearly. His second wife Virginia Galvin Piper and his son Bob kept his legacy alive through extensive charitable giving, often in the name of technology or education. Illinois Tech was a regular recipient of such gifts.
The years of collaboration between Paul and Bob proved an invaluable benefit for the company, as it defined not just Motorola’s position on the shifting edge of technology, but also a commitment to human-focused leadership that embraced humility and valued diversity, ethics, and ongoing education.
The first words spoken on the moon from Apollo 11 were carried to Earth by a Motorola transceiver on July 20, 1969.
Robert Galvin quickly became the leader of Motorola in his father’s stead. Under Bob’s leadership the company continued to innovate both in its management of people and its pursuit of the latest technological applications, which took Motorola quite literally to the moon.
It was during his ascension to Motorola leadership in the 1950s that Bob Galvin started to become part of the Illinois Tech story—a relationship that continued for nearly six decades. Bob joined the Illinois Tech Board of Trustees in 1953, eventually becoming its chair and later a University Regent, our highest honorary leadership role.
In the late ’80s and early ’90s, Motorola developed the now-iconic “Six Sigma” process for manufacturing excellence. Bob credits a nun, one of his elementary school teachers, with first introducing him to the idea that perfection was achievable when she required all students to score 100 percent on a test.
Bob’s unique take on management was influential to Illinois Tech’s leadership, while his corporate knowledge helped us build degree programs that produced even more well-prepared graduates. Bob’s support was monetary as well—he contributed some of the largest gifts in the history of our institution. As Bob grew Motorola, he was also growing Illinois Tech.
In 1996, Bob Galvin and Bob Pritzker each contributed half of their legendary $120,000,000 gift to fund the “IIT Challenge Campaign.” To date, these are the largest individual gifts ever given to Illinois Tech.
The next frontier for Bob Galvin and Motorola was the global digital communications space, where the company became a pioneer in the mobile phone market and others—all with the ingenuity of Illinois Tech engineers and other alumni.
Illinois Tech alumnus Marty Cooper is considered the “father of the cell phone.” He’s also cited as the first person to make a cell phone call in public (1973), as mobile phones prior to that time were all in vehicles.
Michael P. Galvin (LAW ’78), this tower’s namesake and one of Bob Galvin’s four children, grew up seeing the immense benefit offered by Motorola and Illinois Tech in the technology and innovation space. Inspired by his parents’ involvement with the institute and employment of so many of its alumni, Mike chose to attend the Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Tech and graduated in 1978.
Like his father and grandfather before him, Mike possessed a keen business sense and a commitment to public service. He first became a corporate finance transactions partner with Winston & Strawn before finding his way to our nation’s capital as the assistant secretary of the United States Department of Commerce for Export Administration. After returning from his time in public office, Mike and his brother Chris co-founded Harrison Street Real Estate Capital, named for Motorola’s very first physical address. Soon after came Galvin Enterprises, Inc., a venture capital investing firm.
Mike’s mother, Mary Galvin, was an inspiring self-improvement fanatic. One of her most creative initiatives was for Mike to hone his public speaking skills while speaking from a loud microphone in front of a full length mirror in the barn of their family farm.
Mike’s work in law and finance has enabled him to make a big impact in the nonprofit and education space, both through donations and volunteer positions, and especially here at Illinois Tech. A long-time member of the Board of Trustees, a frequent funder of scholarships and programs, and a donor so generous his name is on our tower, Mike has continued his family legacy with pride.
Even more importantly, he has continued a legacy of leadership that centers on people. As Illinois Tech’s board chair, Mike welcomes the power of collective difference each faculty member, student, and opportunity offers. He believes in seeking diverse input. He believes that leadership should be inclusive and that innovation should be ethical. He believes that you have a voice and that you should use it.
In fact, you can start now.
