Nov. 12, 2008

USC associate athletic director Ron Orr has been named the recipient of the USC Alumni Association's 2009 Fred B. Olds Award, presented on special occasions to alumni for their extraordinary and unparalleled service to the university over a long period of time.

Orr will be presented with the award at the 76th annual Alumni Awards Gala, celebrating the achievements and contributions of the university's alumni, on May 2, 2009, at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles.

Other alumni awardees at the event will be Chinese property developer Ronnie C. Chan (Asa V. Call Achievement Award), Sequoia Capital managing partner Mark A. Stevens and National Defense University president Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Frances C. Wilson (Alumni Merit Awards), and United Pharmacists Network CEO Dr. David M. Breslow, Cappello Group chairman/CEO Alexander L. Cappello and Half Century Trojans James A. Eddy and Dr. Janet Eddy (Alumni Service Awards).

For ticket information, contact the Widney Alumni House at 213-740-2300.

Orr joined the USC athletic department in 1984 as an assisant athletic director before being promoted to senior assistant athletic director in 1993 and to his current post in 1995. He handles annual giving operations in a department that has raised up to $75 million annually.

He also established and administers "Swim with Mike," a fundraising swim-a-thon entering its 29th anniversary that has raised $8.7 million for physically challenged athletes and provided scholarships to more than 75 recipients at universities throughout the country.

Orr came to USC after spending a year-and-a-half with the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, serving as venue manager of all swimming, diving and synchronized swimming events at USC's Olympic Swim Stadium during 1984 Games.

He was a 6-time All-American swimmer at USC (he was second in the 1650-yard freestyle at the 1975 and 1976 NCAA meets) and once held the school record for the 1650-yard freestyle. He then was a USC assistant swim coach for 2 years after receiving his degree in 1978 in marketing and management before coming an associate director of USC's annual giving office from 1979 to 1983.

He received the President's Award for Staff Achievement at USC in 1992.