Temp, UW-Green Bay friend, leader and housing namesake, dies at 79
James A. Temp
James A. Temp, an ardent community supporter whose leadership and vision helped shape the UW-Green Bay of today, died Sunday (Nov. 25). He was 79.
Temp, for whom the University’s James A. Temp Hall is named, was a UW-Madison football star who played four seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He co-founded the UW-Green Bay Founders Association, serving as its president in 1980 and ’81. Temp’s dedication to the University only grew thereafter, as in 1984 he joined Donald J. Long, Sr., to chair the University’s first capital campaign.
“Jim Temp exemplified the kind of community support that is one of our greatest strengths as a University, an impact that began decades ago and still endures today,” UW-Green Bay Chancellor Tom Harden said Monday (Nov. 26). “It was his vision that helped launch UW-Green Bay’s first capital campaign, paving the way for on-campus housing, named professorships and other critical initiatives that make our University what it is. That campaign, and his support throughout the years, helped fuel our growth and success as an institution, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without Jim Temp. He will be sorely missed, but we celebrate his legacy.”
The campaign Temp co-chaired raised more than $2.5 million and helped establish a robust on-campus housing presence via University Village Housing, Inc. (UVHI). Temp worked closely with UVHI from its founding in 1984, an event that forever altered the UW-Green Bay landscape both physically and metaphorically. The addition of on-campus housing was a critical step for the University, opening new doors for students seeking a complete residential experience.
In 1985, Temp received the UW-Green Bay Chancellor’s Award, the University’s highest community honor, during spring Commencement ceremonies. The citation that honored him read, in part, “Throughout the years — whenever we have asked — you have generously given of both time and talents to lead the teams of study, or promote or raise funds for our University.” James Temp Hall opened in 1989 and recently was remodeled, offering fully furnished rooms for 60 UW-Green Bay student residents.
In addition to his philanthropic and housing roles, Temp also served on a special UW-Green Bay commission on intercollegiate athletics in the mid-1990s. The group was tasked with identifying and evaluating options to ensure the financial success of the Phoenix athletic program. Temp was one of several high-profile community members of the group. For many years he was an executive with the Murphy Insurance Division of Alexander & Alexander, Inc..
Funeral services for Temp had not been set as of Monday. Cotter Funeral Home is handling the arrangements, and a full obituary is slated to appear in Wednesday’s (Nov. 28) Green Bay Press-Gazette.
