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Larry Dolan '50 and Family Earn Award from Greater Cleveland Sports Commission

By Joe Ginley '12 , 01/15/20, 3:30PM EST

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The Dolan family will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award next Wednesday.

Since the turn of the century, the Dolan family has owned the Cleveland Indians.

During that time, the Indians have enjoyed plenty of success and Northeast Ohio has benefitted from the family's philanthropy. For that reason, the Dolan family will be honored at the 20th Greater Cleveland Sports Awards on Wednesday, January 22. 

Lawrence "Larry" J. Dolan '50 and the Dolan family have been named the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. 

A proud Saint Ignatius alumnus from the Class of 1950, Dolan has done wonders for both the Indians and the community in Northeast Ohio. Since Dolan purchased the team in 2000, the Indians have won the American League Central Division five times (2001, 2007, 2016, 2017, and 2018) and finished as American League Champs in 2016. The Tribe fell just short in a heartbreaking Game 7 in the 2016 World Series, but it was still an incredible season.

Since 2000, the Indians have surpassed 90 wins in nine seasons and finished .500 or better in 13 campaigns. The Dolan family is the longest-tenured ownership group in the club's history. 

As owner of the Indians, Dolan served on the Major League Baseball Ownership Committee, Executive Council, and co-chair of the MLB Diversity Committee. In addition, Dolan was an honorary board member for the Catholic Community Foundation and the Catholic Charities Corporation.

Dolan has stayed involved with Saint Ignatius, as well. Along with his wife, Eva, Dolan established The Allen J. Goebl ’50 Department of Languages here at Saint Ignatius. It commemorates the lifelong friendship between the two men that began their freshman year at Saint Ignatius.

In 2012, Dolan won The Honorable John V. Corrigan '38 Distinguished Alumnus Award for his work with the school and in the community. Dolan truly serves as a model of a "Man for Others" for Ignatian men. 

During his time at Wildcat High, Dolan played baseball, football, and also boxed. 

Dolan is the second Saint Ignatius alum to win the Lifetime Achievement award, as Chuck Kyle '69 received the honor in 2008. Current assistant basketball coach Zydrunas Ilgauskas also won the award in 2017. 

Dolan has six children, including Paul, who became the primary control person of the franchise in 2013. 

“On behalf of my entire family, I want to thank Greater Cleveland Sports Commission for this incredible honor and their great support through the years,” Paul Dolan, Cleveland Indians Owner/CEO, said in a press release.  “From the day we purchased the club we recognized the role the Cleveland Indians play in the fabric of this entire community and have enjoyed over the years being stewards of this iconic organization.”

Saint Ignatius is fortunate to continue to have a great connection with the Cleveland Indians to this day. Every season, weather-permitting, the Wildcats' baseball team plays a game at Progressive Field. Several Saint Ignatius alumni also work for the Indians, including Matt Kata '96. 

On behalf of all of us here at Saint Ignatius, congratulations to Larry Dolan '50 and the Dolan family on this great award!