Note: This message was originally sent on November 6, 2018
Colleagues,
Another wonderful GU family featured below. Their legacy continues, not just in the students they support through their scholarship, but also by the service/support of Regent Gerard Centioli. You will have likely spotted the Centioli name around campus, including the Centioli lounge at the Jepson Center. Colonel Sanders…..pretty fun, eh?
Alma and Gill A. Centioli Scholarship
Established in 1986
105 unique, individual students awarded
135 awards totaling $275,868
“Thank you so much for your contribution to my education. People like you and your family embody the spirit of Gonzaga, and I feel extremely honored to receive this scholarship from you. This money has made a huge difference in my financial security and made it possible for me to study abroad next semester. I cannot thank you enough for your generosity in this scholarship.” – 2018-19 recipient, Molly
Gill and Alma Centioli’s first restaurant was Gill’s Beach Head. It was one of the first eateries in Washington with a license to sell liquor by the drink. Ravioli—handmade by Alma—was one of the most popular items on the menu. Gill was ready to open his second restaurant when he heard about a new-fangled concept: fast food. The couple drove to Los Angeles for a first-hand look at one of the country’s first burger joints. Back in Seattle, they opened Gil’s Drive In, selling 19-cent hamburgers. According to family lore, one "l" was dropped from the name to save money on the neon sign. In 1957, during a restaurant conference, Gill met the then-unknown Col. Harlan Sanders, who was trying to convince operators to pay him a five-cent royalty to use his fried-chicken recipe. After tasting Sanders’ chicken, Centioli was impressed and soon converted his three hamburger stands to Kentucky Fried Chicken units. Centioli eventually expanded his franchise to 42 stores. Alma supported the family businesses in a quiet way. But in her own kitchen, she was the maestro. She aced all the traditional Italian specialties, of course. When her husband pioneered fast food in Seattle, she embraced hamburgers. Penne pomodora remained her favorite, though. And when Colonel Sanders stayed at the family’s home, Alma would find the Southern gentleman up in the morning before everyone else, raiding the refrigerator for leftover spaghetti. The family’s passion for food was rooted in southern Italy. Both Gill and Alma’s parents were born there and immigrated to Seattle. Catholicism was central to the Centioli’s life, and they belonged to several church and civic organizations. In 1986, they established this scholarship for full-time junior or senior business students attending Gonzaga. Gill died in 1995 at 80, and Alma in 2006 at 91. The couple had four children: Phyllis, Dorene, Gloria (’69), and Gerard (’76). Their grandson, Todd Biesold (’85), also attended Gonzaga. Photos are of Alma and Gill.