SXU Alum Shapes Life Around Leadership
Saint Xavier University (SXU) alum Ray McGury '82 has taken what he's learned from Saint Xavier and shaped his life around it: leadership. Through various roles including professorial roles teaching leadership, McGury has instilled leadership into every aspect of his life, and his main goal is to prepare those around him to be leaders.
"SXU really taught me how to lead. My professors, especially Sister Denis O'Grady and Professor Jeremiah Joyce, were key instruments in my success. I recall walking into Sister O'Grady’s office once and she was on the phone with the governor. She just had those kinds of connections and others had such respect for her. Through mentors like her, Saint Xavier set me up for success," said McGury.
McGury graduated from Saint Xavier with a degree in criminal justice. He began his work as a police officer in Palos Hills before moving on to Naperville and then Bolingbrook, where he served as chief of police and handled significant cases, such as the highly-profiled Drew Peterson case. While working, McGury earned a master's degree in public administration from Northern Illinois University and graduated from the School of Police Staff and Command at Northwestern University. He also had a short stint in law school.
McGury found the transition from law enforcement into recreation simple, as he believes leadership is transferrable. In 2008, McGury became the executive director of the Naperville Park District, where he was responsible for 1,100 total employees and an average budget of $56 million. He helped the district to become the second in Illinois to attain National Park and Recreation accreditation and served the district for almost 14 years before moving onto executive director of the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association. Though the park district became enhanced over the time he served, he finds his greatest accomplishment was that the director of recreation became the next executive director.
"I don't look at the buildings or accolades. When I leave a place, I look at the fact I made it a better place and prepared someone to step into my shoes immediately. My job is to train future leaders. That's what SXU did for me," said McGury.
McGury has also served as an adjunct professor in leadership and organizational behavior at Northwestern University and Marquette University. At the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association, he will be representing veterinarians across the state of Illinois. He will recruit veterinarians and be involved in securing continuing education and training and furthering the mission of the association.
"I am passionate about leadership. I prepare other people by grooming them to take my job. That is what leadership is about to me. I aim to move an organization forward," said McGury.
McGury finds that his professors at SXU were free thinkers and enjoyed debate, which he believes helped prepare him for the real world.
"Saint Xavier taught me how to handle myself, prepare myself and present myself. The work I did there got me out of my comfort zone, and that's why I believe my career has been interesting and successful. I taught ethics at Northwestern University, and they asked where I got my ethics and values. Saint Xavier is what laid that foundation for me. The value of receiving a liberal arts education is what made me stand out," said McGury.
Some of McGury's favorite memories of his time at Saint Xavier includes the people he met. He kept in contact with Sister Denis O'Grady beyond her retirement. Before it was Gilhooley's Grande Saloon, the bar located across the street from campus was called Harrigan's, and McGury and his friends would hang out there after their evening classes.
In addition to his work with the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association, McGury owns a security company, RJM Security, which is a firm comprised of experienced educators, investigators and security experts dedicated to serving government agencies and businesses across all industries and professions. He also spends free time doing Krav Maga, an Israeli form of martial arts.
"I strongly believe in the education of SXU. Its value has helped me to be successful and to give back to others through knowledge and experience."