On May 22, 2019, Saint Louis University鈥檚 Board of Trustees and members of the Father Biondi Recognition Committee held an event to formally announce recognition honors for former SLU President Lawrence Biondi, S.J.
Recognizing the significant role Biondi played in reshaping the Midtown area and the University鈥檚 urban campus, the stretch of Grand Boulevard that fronts SLU鈥檚 campus was honorarily renamed 鈥淔ather Biondi, S.J. Way.鈥�
Working with city government leaders, the section of Grand from Lafayette Avenue to Lindell Boulevard is marked by honorary street signs, underwritten by supporters of Biondi. Addresses of buildings along this stretch will continue to be listed as Grand Boulevard.
In addition to the honorary street naming in St. Louis, a plaza at SLU鈥檚 campus in Madrid, Spain, has been named in Biondi鈥檚 honor.
The special event drew numerous University and civic leaders, including SLU President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D.; St. Louis Archbishop Robert J. Carlson; St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson; former St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay (Law 鈥�80); and August Busch III, former member of SLU鈥檚 Board of Trustees.
The event was also covered by the local archdiocesan newspaper, the
Biondi served as president of Saint Louis University from 1987 to 2013, making him the longest-serving president in University history. He currently serves as SLU鈥檚 president emeritus and a trustee emeritus.