When Bill Mullholland '64 looks back on his years at Bonner, he remembers a large, bustling all-boys school that set high expectations and built lifelong friendships. "We had nearly a thousand boys in our class," he recalls. "Everyone was tracked by section, one through twenty. Because you were with the same group most of the time, you really got to know one another."
For Bill, that structure—and the teachers and priests who modeled discipline and faith—provided a foundation that shaped the rest of his life.
"I grew up in Havertown and went to St. Bernadette," he says. "My parents were devoted Catholics, and faith was a natural part of our home. We went to Mass every week, and I served as an altar boy. My siblings and cousins all followed me to Bonner or attended Prendie. It was part of our family's story."
To the Naval Academy & Beyond
That strong academic and spiritual foundation helped Bill thrive beyond Drexel Hill, PA. Upon graduation, he earned scholarships to the Coast Guard Academy, the University of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Naval Academy, ultimately choosing the latter.
"The discipline at Bonner made the transition to the Naval Academy easier," he says. "We were used to three hours of homework a night and teachers who expected a lot."
Bill studied engineering and went on to serve 20 years as a Navy pilot, flying more than 3,000 hours and completing 150 combat missions during the Vietnam War. "I had three or four close calls," he says quietly. "But the big guy upstairs was watching over me."
After his military service, Bill began a second career as an Operations Analyst with McDonnell Douglas (later Boeing) in St. Louis, then continued in defense consulting in Northern Virginia, where he and his wife, Mary Ellen, still live.
Bill met Mary Ellen while working part-time in high school; they married in 1969, a year after he graduated from the Naval Academy. "She's been my partner through it all," he says. "She taught in Catholic schools wherever we were stationed—California, Florida, Missouri, and Virginia.."
The couple raised three children together and remain active in their parish community. "Going to Mass has always been part of our lives," Bill says. "I've been an usher for years. It keeps us grounded."
Supporting Catholic Education
When a company Bill worked for sold and he received a stock payout, he and Mary Ellen saw an opportunity to give back. "The tuition at Bonner was almost nothing when I was there," he explains. "We knew the school was facing challenges, and we wanted to help today's students."
The Mullhollands established a charitable fund that allows them to direct grants to Bonner & Prendie and other Catholic schools important to them.
"We've supported Bonner & Prendie's Annual Fund for about ten years now," Bill says. "Catholic education shaped who we are. So many alumni give back—it's what keeps the school strong. We're just glad to do our part."
The Bonner Spirit Endures
Even decades later, Bill still credits Bonner for instilling in him the habits of discipline, service, and faith that guided his journey—from the halls of Bonner to the skies above Vietnam and beyond. "The priests and teachers were excellent," he reflects. "They taught us to write well, to work hard, to stay focused. Those lessons stayed with me."
He smiles at the memory of cheering at games and rowing crew. "We had great school spirit," he says. "It was a special time."
Today, through his generosity and example, Bill Mullholland '64 continues to embody the values that Bonner & Prendie stands for: faith, perseverance, and a call to serve others.
"I've been blessed," he says simply. "And when you've been blessed, you give back."
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