A family tradition

Brothers Matthew Craighead ’83, Dan Craighead ’80 and John Craighead ’80 all owe their education at UD to one person — their father, Bill. 

Though he attended Georgetown University, traditional Marianist values were always important to Bill. He attended a Marianist high school in Cleveland and encouraged all three of his sons to seek a Marianist education, leading them to
Dayton.

Dan said from the instant he and his brother John stepped on campus, something clicked.

“It’s one of those things like a movie — you walk on the campus, and it just felt right,” Dan said.

But UD has long been in their family legacy, as nearly 20 Craighead family members count themselves as Flyers.

“It’s a family, as they say. It truly is a UD family,” John said.

Dan and John attended UD at the same time, majoring in accounting and marketing, respectively. Matt followed his brothers a few years later. 

Matt married Flyer Kathleen Mawby ’84. They knew each other on campus but never went on a date. They met again after graduation by chance at a UD alumni gathering at a game of the Cleveland Guardians’ (then known as the Indians). 

“And as they say, the rest is history,” Matt said in their wedding announcement in the August 1993 issue of UD Magazine.

Kathy passed away in 1997 shortly after their second child was born, leaving Matt an infant and a toddler to raise on his own. But he raised them the only way he knew how — as Flyers.

His son, Brian, studied economics and international business and graduated in 2016, and his daughter, Mary, graduated in 2018 with a degree in marketing. With both of his kids following in his and their mother’s footsteps, Matt said he wanted to give thanks.

“As the years go on, you always want to give back in a special way,” he said.

In 2022, the 25th anniversary of Kathy’s passing, Matt and his family established the Kathleen Mawby Craighead Endowment Fund to support students in the Flyer Promise Scholars program in need of financial assistance.

“It’s really about, be thankful for what you have, and give back,” Matt said. “It’s something that hopefully will go on for a lot of years.” 

All three brothers said they are grateful for the superior education they received at UD, and they’re particularly grateful the tradition will continue.

“My kids have that Marianist foundation that will carry them through life.”

“My kids have that Marianist foundation that will carry them through life,” Matt said, and he is thankful for that. 

It’s the same foundation that still supports the Craighead brothers today and will support the next generation of Flyers through the scholarship in Kathy’s memory.