Lou Galen (2005) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Lou Galen

Induction:
2005

Lou Galen–after whom USC’s on-campus arena is named–was a devoted Trojan fan and supporter for 60 years. He and his wife, Helene, donated $35 million to the 10,000-seat Galen Center, the home to USC’s basketball and volleyball teams, as well as cultural events. The couple also gave $1.25 million toward establishment of a sports-themed dining facility at Heritage Hall that opened in 1999. In 2000, to enhance USC education in the arts, the Galens donated $300,000 to endow the Helene and Louis Galen Ceramics Studio in the USC School of Fine Arts. An honorary trustee at USC who graduated from the USC Law School, Lou Galen was a prominent banking industry executive. In 1960, he became president of Lynwood Savings and Loan (a company he founded) and changed its name to World Savings. He then formed Trans World Financial, a holding company for World Savings, which merged with Golden West Financial and grew into a multi-state institution. Lou proposed to Helene at a USC-Notre Dame football rally and “Fight On” was played at their wedding. He died at age 82 on Nov. 12, 2007.