Hall of Fame
Steve Beckenholdt was inducted into the 16th Hall of Fame Class in 2006.
Beckenholdt was Notre Dame’s NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) for over ten years until he passed away last summer after a battle with cancer. Beckenholdt’s influence was widespread around the Notre Dame community, which he was a part of since 1979 when he joined the College as an associate faculty member with the Weekend and Graduate Colleges. Beckenholdt began his career in the banking world in 1969 and progressed through the ranks to become Vice President for Acquisitions and Development for Miller Built Corporation in Columbia.
Beckenholdt became a full-time faculty member of the Department of Business and Economics at the College in 1992. Within four years of becoming a full-time faculty member, he received the Mullan Distinguished Teacher Award, the College’s highest honor for teaching excellence.
While Beckenholdt touched many lives at Notre Dame, he left an indelible mark on the Department of Athletics when he became the Faculty Athletics’ Representative in 1995. He was an ever-present face at Notre Dame athletic events, even during the fall semester of 2002 when he was on sabbatical from teaching, yet he would “sneak” onto campus to support the teams.
Beckenholdt’s wisdom and guidance extended not only to student-athletes, but also to the coaches and staff of the department. He was a tremendous advocate for Notre Dame’s student-athletes, counseling them in times of need, speaking up on their behalf, and celebrating in times of joy.
Upon Beckenholdt’s illness and death, the Department of Athletics received an outpouring of phone calls and e-mails from student-athletes and alumnae expressing their feelings of remorse and admiration. Many student-athletes and alumnae said they may have not completed their studies at Notre Dame if not for Beckenholdt’s encouragement.
Beckenholdt was represented at his Hall of Fame induction by by his children Kiersten Poss and Daniel Beckenholdt.
