Cleary University history

P.R. begin construction of the new building in 1889.

Although it was not completed until 1891, he began to hold classes in rooms that had been completed.

With this experience, he published his first book, How to Figure Profit in 1900 which was published by the Huron Press that was owned by the Cleary’s.

In 1912, Cleary College and the Michigan State Normal College formed a joint program where high school business teachers would study education subjects at the Normal College and business subjects at Cleary.

In 1918 Owen was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U. S. Army.

The girls returned to Ypsilanti in early 1919.

Cleary College kept on growing and by 1925 the college had 325 students enrolled.

In late 1933 the Board met and P.R. Cleary was elected president, Helen Cleary was vice president, Irene Hines was secretary and Owen J. Cleary was treasurer.

In 1938, P. R. took a six-week trip to Ireland and England, the first time he had seen his homeland in 40 years.

A year later Helen Jenks Cleary passed away in December 1939.

By 1946, Owen had resumed the presidency of Cleary College and returned to his law practice.

He officially retired from the Michigan State Troops in January 1947.

Both graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1948 and began practicing law in Toledo.

Chuck was drafted for the Korean War in October 1951 after completing two years at Michigan State Normal college.

In 1958 she retired after 40 years of teaching and returned to Ypsilanti to live out her life.

On September 10, 1960, Owen J. Cleary passed away from renal failure and Donald Silkworth was named president.

But, in 1965, Washtenaw Community College opened and Cleary enrollment began to decline.

Ann Cleary Kettles began working at EMU in September 1972.

In March 1975 Ann divorced Patrick Heck.

With college enrollment dropping steeply, in 1978 the Cleary Board of Trustees named Gilbert Bursley President.

A branch college was opened in Livingston County in 1979.

Following his retirement from the Navy in 1980 as a Captain, Pat was employed by Litton Industries and retired as a Vice-President and General Manager of the Warfare systems Division.

By 1989, Cleary’s accreditations were growing, to now include approval by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Anne McKenny, a software engineer and manager for General Motors, was named to the Cleary College Board of Trustees in 1990.

Cleary University reintroduced collegiate athletics in 2011 with the formation of men's and women's cross country and golf teams.

In 2012, Cleary reintroduced its collegiate athletic program with men’s and women’s cross country and golf teams.