University of Rhode Island

Anthony J. Rose, Jr. ('54) has been dedicated toRhode Island athletics since he first suited up for football coachHal Kopp in 1951.

An All-State football, basketball and track star outof New Jersey, Rose competed in all three sports for URI. He playedbasketball for coach Paul Cierzo and competed in track & fieldfor legendary Hall of Fame coach Fred Tootell. During his sophomoreyear, Rose received military notice and spent two years with theUnited States Marine Corps.  Despite being re-recruited to theRams’ football program for the fall of 1954, he decidedinstead to embark on a highly successful business career inWakefield, R.I., and is a member of the URI Business Hall of Fame. 

Rose received the Alumni Association’s RamAward for Meritorious Service in 1989 and received an honorarydoctorate in 1991. Among his many philanthropic endeavors at URI,Rose established endowment funds for academic scholarships, theUniversity library and athletics. 

In 1999, he funded the Rose Team Room in the originalFootball Fieldhouse and, from 2001-06, he provided an off-sitestrength center for the URI football team. Rose also was a majordonor for the Thomas M. Ryan Center fund.