Bradley and Caterpillar Relationship Highlights
1897
Lydia Moss Bradley founded Bradley Polytechnic Institute.
Bradley Hall
1909
Holt Manufacturing Co., Caterpillar Tractor’s predecessor, opened a factory in East Peoria.
Holt Manufacturing Co.
1939
A four-year engineering degree was added to Bradley’s curriculum.
1946
Bradley Polytechnic Institute became Bradley University.
Industrial Arts Division housed in Duryea Hall
1949
Caterpillar made an initial gift of $70,000 to Bradley University.
1949
Technical College was renamed Bennett College, offering industrial education, automobile, drafting, metalwork, and electricity classes.
Charles A. Bennett (at right) was a professor of industrial arts from 1897 to 1920
1951
The College of Engineering was formed. Caterpillar provided co-op opportunities for students.
1954
Caterpillar gave $100,000 for the construction of the engineering building.
1955
Caterpillar initiated the Educational Assistance Program, offering continuing education opportunities to employees.
1963
Caterpillar Tractor began the visiting professor lecture series at Bradley with “Concepts of Thermodynamics.”
1963
Former Cat chairman Louis Neumiller led fundraising after Bradley Hall was destroyed by fire.
1963
Bradley established a formal cooperative education relationship with Caterpillar that continued through 1992. During these years, Caterpillar employed the largest number of co-op students among participating organizations.
1971
Bradley president Martin Abegg organized Bradley-Caterpillar Conference. Cat executives spent a day on campus while Bradley deans and department chairs toured Caterpillar.
Dr. Martin G. Abegg ’47 HON ’93 in 1971
1976
Haussler Hall was dedicated, funded in part by a $250,000 gift from Caterpillar.
1979
Hartmann Center for Performing Arts was dedicated, funded in part by $300,000 gift from Caterpillar.
1979
Caterpillar began its Matching Gifts Program. To date, this program has generated nearly $9 million.
1981
Caterpillar donated $100,000 for the Caterpillar Excellence Fund. Bradley was selected to participate in the Caterpillar Scholars program.
1983
Caterpillar Fellows program began, providing financial support for research by junior faculty in business and engineering.
1986
Caterpillar announced a gift of $5.6 million to the Campaign for Bradley.
Former Caterpillar president George Schaefer
1991
“Management for the 1990s” executive certificate program was initiated and later renamed “Management for the 21st Century.” To date, more than 1,000 Caterpillar managers have participated, and the program continues to grow.
1994
Caterpillar pledged $20 million to the Bradley Centennial Campaign. Cat employees set a $4 million goal for the campaign and surpassed it with pledges of $5.3 million.
John Brazil, former Bradley president; Bob Viets, former Bradley Board of Trustees president;
and Don Fites, former Caterpillar president
1994
Bradley established the Caterpillar Lecture Series.
1995
Bradley initiated the Caterpillar Dependents Scholarship Program.
1999
Bradley initiated and gave the Caterpillar name to the Endowed Professorships Program, New Initiatives Program, Graduate Fellowship Program, and Global Communications Center.
2000
Caterpillar Professorships were established and the first awarded. Today, there are eight Caterpillar Professors on Bradley’s campus.
Dr. Kevin Stein, Illinois poet laureate, is a Caterpillar professor at Bradley
2001
Bradley and Cat became founding members of Peoria NEXT, a collaboration focused on local science- and technology-based economic development.
2004
Bradley established The Fites Chair in the College of Engineering and Technology to honor Donald V. Fites, retired Caterpillar chair and CEO and chair of Bradley’s Centennial Campaign.
Donald V. Fites
2007
The 50,000-square-foot Innovation Center opened on Main Street in the heart of Renaissance Park. Built under a collaborative partnership between Peoria NEXT and the Heartland Commerce & Economic Development Foundation, the Center houses a technology incubator designed to stimulate regional development and new economic growth.
Ribbon-cutting ceremony
2008
Caterpillar announced a $30 million gift to Bradley — the largest in the University’s history — that included two matching grants aimed at attracting an additional $18 million. Plans called for naming the College of Engineering and Technology in Caterpillar’s honor.
From left, Gerald Shaheen ’66 MBA ’68, chairman of the Bradley Board of Trustees
and chairman of the Campaign for a Bradley Renaissance; President Joanne Glasser;
and Jim Owens, former Caterpillar Chairman and CEO
2012
Bradley engineering majors and business majors joined 10 "Young Professionals of Caterpillar" teams to launch the first annual YPC-BU Six Sigma Case Competition, a convergence initiative.
