Ex-NFL Player Named Brother Rice President

CHICAGO - A Brother Rice High School alum who went on to play in the National Football League and rise to a top position with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has been appointed as the next president of the school. Mark Donahue was announced as the new president by Chairman James Kramer recently. Donahue is a 1974 Brother Rice alum who was on the school's board of directors from 2007-2016, according to a news release announcing the appointment.

“I am eagerly looking forward to this new role, continuing the work to fulfill our mission and successfully grow our Brother Rice community,” Donahue said.

Donahue starred in football at Brother Rice, eventually becoming a school Hall of Famer and a charter member of its Circle of Champions. He was then an All-American at the University Of Michigan, where he was part of three Big Ten championship teams.

He played for the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL for two seasons before retiring and beginning a career in insurance. He's been in the insurance industry for the past 36 years and has risen to the position of regional vice president for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.

“His sharp business acumen and his strong management skills will be a great complement to the academic qualifications of the school’s administrative team,” Kramer said.

Donahue will begin his role as president of Brother Rice on Jan. 1. He will work with outgoing president Dr. Kevin Burns until then to ensure a smooth transition, the school said.

“I have worked closely with Mark over the years and am extremely confident that he will provide exemplary leadership to Brother Rice moving forward,” Burns said.

Patch file photo / Tim Moran