Alumni Spotlight
For the Cullen Brothers, It’s Time to Give Back
John Cullen ’65 and brother Frank Cullen ’68, both enjoyed notable careers in business and academia. Now, they have decided to give back in a big way.
John Cullen ’65
Francis ‘Frank’ Cullen ’68
John Cullen ’65 and his brother Frank Cullen ’68 have made a substantial gift to The English High School Association through which each year, a deserving EHS graduate will receive a college scholarship.Both John and Frank, whose father Francis T. Cullen was a member of the English High School Class of 1939, devoted their careers to Academia and Business – and they excelled at all their endeavors – “through the similar educational trails” as they describe it.
The Roots Run Deep
Their mother, Justine C. Cullen, graduated from Dorchester High School and was a homemaker, always home when her sons returned from St. Gregory’s School and then English High School. She had immigrated from Ireland.
Francis T. Cullen ’39 from the English High Yearbook
Their father, Francis, grew up in Brighton, where his father (their grandfather) was a Boston police officer. He served in the U.S. Merchant Marine during WWII as a radio operator on cargo ships in the North Atlantic, a dangerous shipping lane. After the war, given his experience with radios, he joined the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company where he spent his entire career, eventually moving into management. At night school he earned a BA from Harvard University’s extension college, and later earned an MA from Suffolk University.
He was extensively involved in the Boy Scouts and won various awards for his service. As the Cullen boys grew up, he was the adult leader of Troup 66 at St. Gregory’s in Dorchester—leading in succession the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Explorers. He gave a lot not only to his sons but also to so many other boys and the larger community. His favorite expression, for which he is still remembered fondly, was: “You damn fools!”
Frank, left, and John Cullen enjoy a day on the water.
Influential Teachers: Lessons for Life
Asked about any English High teachers or courses that had a strong influence on his life, John replied, “I remember Mr. Langley giving me advice to choose my own path and not be concerned about what my friends thought was best. I remember interesting history classes from Mr. Kenney.
“My first major in college was History, although later I moved toward Sociology and its application to business issues. I knew Fred Gillis from track as a legendary coach. In my junior year he took over the crew team as Mr. Ruggiero was sick. I felt he did not know much about rowing but he did specialize in pain. We got plenty of it — and did win the city championship that year.”
Frank said, “It’s so many years ago that I fear I will omit naming influential teachers simply due to a faded memory. That said, I recall that History teachers nourished my interest in human behavior. I went to college as a history major (studying ‘dead’ people) and became a Psychology major (studying ‘live’ people). But the connecting tissue was delving into why people behaved the way they did.
“Two English High History teachers I remember most were Edward Mosher and a younger teacher, Joseph Zitomersky. I had excellent English teachers as well, which helped me to become a good writer: Russell Langley and Thomas Eccles. I took typing for a year. Little did I know that it would be an invaluable skill the rest of my life with the advent of computers and keyboards!
“I was a manager of the basketball team in 1968 when we won the State Championship so I enjoyed coaches Patrick King (head coach) and Ed Burley (assistant). I also liked gym teacher William Duffy who had a separate boxing/wrestling gymnasium on the side that my brother and I attended.
John Cullen: Author, Educator, Fulbright Scholar
John Cullen and wife at the Abu Simbel Temples
After EHS, John graduated from Bridgewater University, graduating in 1969. He attended the University of Rhode Island where he majored in Sociology, then attended Columbia University where he earned his PhD in 1977. From 1967-73 he served in the Mass. National Guard.
John’s first academic job was at the University of Nebraska Business School. After 10 years, he and his wife taught at URI for 2 years, then went to Washington State University for the remainder of their careers. He retired in 2018 as the Huber Chair of Entrepreneurship and Associate Dean for Graduate Programs. Because one of his areas of specialization was International Business, he got to spend a lot of time overseas. A year in Japan as a Fulbright Scholar, a year in France, two years at the University of Amsterdam, and other short-term gigs. He’s the author of a few popular books in business and business ethics.
The author or co-author of eleven books in business and business ethics and over 100 articles published in respected journals, John’s most recent research examines the effects of national culture and social institutions on entrepreneurship and national rates of innovation. He also has researched ethics management, the management of trust and commitment in international strategic alliances, ethical climates in multinational organizations, and is a Senior Editor for the Journal of World Business, and has served on various editorial boards.
John is still a Red Sox fan and plays tennis daily. He enjoys many activities with wife Jean — hiking, running, biking, and kayaking, “in beautiful central Oregon.” He smiles as he admits his major goal now is “to never play tennis indoors again.”
Frank Cullen: Recipient of the 2022 Stockholm Prize in Criminology
Frank Cullen and Paula Dubeck at the EHSA 200th Anniversary Gala
Frank’s career, although in a different area, roughly follows John’s through the same “educational trail.” After receiving his PhD from Columbia, Frank taught for four decades in the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati. He is a Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus, but still teaches half time and advises doctoral students. He was honored with the 2022 Stockholm Prize in Criminology, viewed by many as the Criminology Nobel Prize. Read more about this high honor in the article that appeared in this newsletter.
Frank became a fellow of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) in 1989, and served as its President from 1993 to 1994. In 1996, he received the ACJS’s Bruce Smith, Sr. Award, followed by the Founders Award in 2002, making him one of only four people to receive all three of the ACJS’s awards. He served as President of the American Society of Criminology (ASC) from 2003 to 2004. In 2010, he received the ASC’s Edwin H. Sutherland Award. From 2010-2014, he was on the Office of Justice Programs’ Science Advisory Board for the U.S. Department of Justice.
Like his older brother, Frank continues to play tennis regularly. He was on the tennis team and hockey teams at Bridgewater State College. In 2013, Bridgewater awarded him an Honorary Doctorate in Public Service and established the Francis T. Cullen Criminal Justice Graduate Research Scholarship.
A Few Words of Wisdom for Today’s Students
John Cullen offers current students solid advice, summed up in three words: “Never give up.”
And Frank offers three pieces of advice:
- “You are the ‘architect of your own career. To be successful, plan your future and be proactive in achieving your goals.”
- “Be organized. Take care of business. Make lists and cross off the tasks at hand. Always answer emails, finish assignments on time, let everyone know you can be relied upon.“
- “Be nice and help others. Not every nice thing you do will bring a reward, but over a lifetime, the more you give, the more you shall receive. Your legacy will be a bunch of people who value or love you.”
Supporting Future Generations of English High Students
Asked about the impetus to make their generous gift to the English High School Association, Frank said, “We and our father, Frank, Class of ’39, had a deep affection for English High. As young men, English High was crucial in exposing us to social diversity and to giving us educational opportunity. Our Cullen Family Scholarship is a way for us to show this affection and to reciprocate for all we received.”
The brothers add, “Annual recipients will be highly motivated students who need a bit of a financial boost to kick off their education. They will be students who love to learn and wish to make the world a better place.”
