John O’Malley Scholarship

The John O’Malley Scholarship Fund was launched in 2013 with a $100,000 pledge, payable over 10 years, from Keller (formerly) Case Foundation Company to fund a scholarship in honor of O’Malley, past president and chairman of the company, for his 40 years of exemplary service and leadership to the construction industry. The Fund is part of the Trust’s At-Large Scholarship program and provides a total of $15,000 in scholarships each year to undergraduate civil engineering students who have financial need and an interest in the deep foundations industry.

Applications are made through the At-Large Scholarship Program. See Application Instructions for details.

John E. O’Malley

John E. O’Malley has spent most of his life in the deep foundations industry, having worked continuously for Keller companies for more than 50 years. He rose through the ranks at Case Foundation starting as a laborer while attending Loyola University, and advancing to labor foreman, estimator, project manager, vice president, president and finally chairman. He held the position of president of Case for over 20 years. Under O’Malley’s leadership, Case Foundation Company (now Keller) grew into a widely respected and successful full-service deep foundation specialist company.

During his tenure as president, he and the company were recognized in Chicago for two High-profile projects; the straightening of the S-Curve in Chicago and “plugging” the tunnel that caused the “Great Flood of 1992.” Under O’Malley’s direction, the company was also responsible for the piling foundation that supports the highly publicized and beautiful Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa, Florida.

O’Malley is a member of the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI), Association of Drilled Shaft Contractors (ADSC); and Associated General Contractors (AGC). He has served on the DFI Board of Directors and is a past member of the 100 Day Roundtable.

The 2023 Application period is closed. The 2024 Application period will open April 2024.

John O’Malley Scholarship
Founding Donors

Leader
Case Foundation Company

Premier
Equipment Corporation of America

Cornerstone
Malcolm Drilling Company

Supporter
Petrifond Foundations
Underpinning and Foundation Skanska

Donors
David Coleman
Thatcher Foundations
Tri-State Drilling Inc.
M. Byrl and Frances Williams