Smith Community Celebrates Rudy Lamone

On April 19, 2012, the University of Maryland community joined at the Robert H. Smith School of Business to celebrate the man known to thousands of friends and fans as: “Rudy.”


Launch photo gallery

The name Rudy Lamone has always been synonymous with brilliant teaching, transformative leadership and a focus on incubating some of the most creative entrepreneurs to ever attend Maryland. His effect on thousands of students cannot be quantified, but his legacy will always be represented through the creations of his students and in the Rudolph P. Lamone Chair for Entrepreneurial Leadership, which was announced at the event.

Over the past half-century, Rudy has become an icon at the University of Maryland and a pioneer in the realm of entrepreneurship. He served as dean of the Robert H. Smith School of Business from 1973 to 1992. Under his leadership, it joined other top-ranked institutions as one of the most respected business schools in the world. In 1986, when Rudy set out to establish an entrepreneurial support center for the business school, he found a willing partner in Michael D. Dingman and the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship was born.

As the evening progressed, one thing was clear immediately. Rudy has had a tremendous and profound impact on countless people. Attendees – including alumni from every decade, current and previous faculty/administrators, and students – arrived early and stayed late. They waited patiently for a chance to greet the man of honor, who was as charming, funny and eloquent as ever. The smile on his face was even bigger than usual – if you can imagine that – and he greeted everyone by name. Everyone knows Rudy, but how can Rudy know everyone? He just does. It is one of his many gifts.

In her remarks, Carly Fiorina, former CEO of HP and Smith MBA 1980, said that Rudy has a very special gift, “He sees the potential in other people… Rudy Lamone changed my life.”

There were many people who wanted to speak at the event and share memories of Rudy, but only a lucky few were able to take the podium. Watch video highlights of their remarks:

Alissa Arford, Office of Marketing Communications

About the Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and part-time MBA, executive MBA, MS in business, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.