"He was always telling me to give back, always preaching about the cycle of poverty and bad decisions and hardship... He's always in the background, always just a great cheerleader and supporter... Bob never had an agenda other than to help me become the person, the basketball player, and the woman I am today... There's so much that comes down to race in our society today. But a beautiful story like this one ­ a white man reaching out to help a young African-American girl ­ had nothing to do with color of our skin."

West Virginia Society of CPAs - MAP Conference




Authoring nineteen Professional Development, Practice Management and Marketing CPA Programs for CPA's as well as a book entitled "Merging Your CPA Firm - A Guide to Successful Acquisition or Sale of an Accounting Practice" which was published in 1988 by Shepard's McGraw Hill; his articles have also appeared in "The Practicing CPA", "The Practical Accountant" and CCH Practice Management Publications. He was a former member of the distinguished faculty of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.


Inside Public Accounting has selected him as one of the Top Consultants to the CPA Profession for 2005, 2006, and 2007.

   



Bob has also presented Management and Leadership Development Workshops to over 1200 CPAs in Enhancing their Leadership, Practice Management and Business Development Skills.

Bob is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs, the Duquesne Club, Oakmont Country Club and has been President of Western Pennsylvania Youth Basketball Club, Inc. for the past fifteen years. He is also a member of the Champions Committee for the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.

from: King's College Pride Winter 2007, p. 26

Alumni Profile - Bob Gallagher '63

Listen to an athlete talk about non-family members who were influential in his or her life and you inevitably hear about coaches. But for one world-class female basketball player, a person she credits for her development is a King's alumnus who never blew a whistle or diagrammed a play. Their relationship has been featured in a book by Academy-award winning actor Denzel Washington and has resulted in an appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

Robert Gallagher '63 developed a relationship with Swintayla "Swin" Cash when she was an 11-year old basketball player from a single parent home in the Pittsburgh suburb of McKeesport. Gallagher met Cash at an event for the Western Pennsylvania Youth Basketball Club, Inc., a nonprofit organization he founded in 1990 for the purpose of bringing more recognition and respect to the sport of women's basketball. Gallagher's daughter, Anne Semanco, was involved in girl's basketball and he wanted to start a nonprofit organization to showcase the talents of the young players as well as to help them obtain college scholarships.

"Since the establishment of the organization, we've been able to host many events which have involved more than 3,000 female athletes and resulted in scholarships to an average of 50 to 60 young women a year," Gallagher said modestly. "We have raised more than $1million for the support of girl's basketball since the beginning of the organization."

Gallagher's commitment to women's basketball also coincided nicely with his professional responsibilities. The recipient of an accounting degree from King's and former partner with a Big Four firm, Gallagher runs a consulting firm for CPA companies on issues of leadership, business development and management. "My down time is normally February through April because my clients are too busy during tax season. That time period happens to coincide with the end of the high school basketball schedule."

According to Cash, Gallagher was "a nice person to me and my family, a person who was always there for me to help in any way he could." His assistance ranged from making sure Swin had a ride to practice and games (Swin's mother often worked two jobs) to arranging a car service for her when, as a 12-year old, she misunderstood how to get to a basketball camp in Terre Haute, IN, and was stranded at a bus stop in Indianapolis.

Swin was named Player of the Year in Pennsylvania High School basketball and was given a full scholarship to attend the University of Connecticut, a perennial power in women's basketball. "He (Gallagher) helped me pick a college, helped me understand what I needed to do academically. He jumped in the car with us - me and my mom and my god mom - and drove those seven hours up to Connecticut when I started college. He was always telling me to experience everything life had to offer, to never settle, to always be inspired and to give back - that was his big thing.

"I started calling him my 'Paps.' My grandfather passed away when I was too young to remember, so for me he was really like a grandfather figure in my life."

"He inspired me to start my own charity, to work with kids, to touch other lives the way he's touched mine. Without Bob, I don't believe I could have done the things I've done. Bob never had an agenda other than to help me become the person, the basketball player, and the woman that I am today. That's something amazing."

Cash's accomplishments are many. She was part of two national championship teams at Connecticut, won an Olympic gold medal and has been on two championship teams with the Detroit Shock of the WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association). She is also preparing for life after basketball by doing broadcasting work for ESPN.

Cash's first-person account of their relationship is part of a book titled "A Hand to Guide Me: Legends and Leaders Celebrate the People Who Shaped Their Lives," edited by Denzel Washington. Of the 74 stories in the book, the one featuring Cash and Gallagher was highlighted on a recent episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Gallagher and Cash both appeared on the show and afterward Gallagher received a compliment from Denzel Washington's mother. "She said to me, 'you did okay Paps'."

Cash never told Gallagher that the story of their relationship would be featured in a book and broadcast to the world. "She told me she would rather ask for forgiveness than permission," said Gallagher. "I never expected accolades for what I've done with the basketball organization or for what I've done for Swin. It was simply a matter of me being there for her when she needed something or someone to talk to. During the past fifteen years, I tried to help many young players reach their potential and dreams."

Coincidentally, Cash's chapter in the book is titled "always there."

Gallagher's twin brother, Richard '64, works with youth football in upstate New York. "King's set a foundation for my brother and me to give back to our communities." Gallagher said.



R.J. GALLAGHER & ASSOCIATES, INC.
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