Marian High School has announced the recipients of the 2025 Distinguished Alumnus Award: Keith R. McCall (’77) of Summit Hill and Dr. Richard J. O’Donnell (’81) of San Francisco. The awards will be presented on May 3 during the Distinguished Alumni and Hall of Fame Celebration at the John P. Malarkey ’51 Gymnasium in Hometown.

Keith R. McCall

A Summit Hill native, McCall served as the 136th speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, the first from Carbon County in the legislature’s 327-year history. First elected after the passing of his father, Thomas J. McCall, he pledged to restore public confidence in government and advance key legislative priorities.

McCall chaired both the House Consumer Affairs and Transportation Committees, securing funding for numerous local infrastructure projects, including the Jim Thorpe Bridge, Route 54’s “S” curve elimination and the D&L Trail expansion. Before becoming speaker, he served as majority whip, the House’s second-highest leadership position.

He is a lifetime member of several organizations, including the Summit Hill Diligence Fire Company, Knights of Columbus, and Ancient Order of Hibernians. He co-founded Panther Valley Renaissance, Carbon County Partners for Progress, and the Jim Thorpe Sportsman Club.

McCall and his wife, Betty Wehr, have two children, Courtney (’16) and Keith Robert (’19), both Marian graduates. His siblings, Tom (’76) and Kelly McCall Sherkness (’81), are also alumni.

Dr. Richard J. O’Donnell

A Summit Hill native, O’Donnell graduated from Harvard College, Harvard Medical School, and the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program. He trained in musculoskeletal oncology at the University of Washington.

O’Donnell began his career at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, where he was chief of Musculoskeletal Oncology. In 1998, he joined UCSF, leading the Orthopedic Oncology division and Sarcoma Program, specializing in tumor surgeries for children and adults.

His expertise extended to Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he helped develop advanced surgical techniques for amputee rehabilitation under an American Red Cross and DARPA-funded initiative. After retiring in 2024, he remains professor emeritus of clinical orthopedic surgery at UCSF. O’Donnell has received numerous honors, including The Permanente Medical Group’s Above and Beyond Service Award and UCSF’s James M. Morris, M.D. Memorial Award for compassionate care.

He and his wife, Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, live in California with their son, Richard F. O’Donnell.

Event details

“Marian High School is proud of its many outstanding alumni. The Honorable Keith McCall and Dr. Richard O’Donnell exemplify the qualities of a Distinguished Alumnus through their dedication to Marian, Catholic education, and their impact on their communities and professions,” said Head of School Michael Brennan (’06).

Established in 2023, the Distinguished Alumnus Award honors graduates of Marian High School and its predecessor schools for achievements in their fields and service to others.

The May 3 event will also induct eight individuals and one family into the Marian High Hall of Fame. Honorees will be announced soon.

The celebration begins at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and the program at 7 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the Marian High School Scholarship Fund.

For sponsorships, program book opportunities, and tickets, contact Erin Marek, director of advancement, at (570) 467-3335 or emarek@mariancatholichs.org. More details are available at www.mariancatholichs.org.