Bing Crosby went to Gonzaga High School (now called Gonzaga “Prep”) from 1916 to 1920. One year short of getting his law degree in 1924 from Gonzaga Law School, he dropped out to join a band called the Musicaladers (what a great decision for all music lovers!).
Over the years Bing Crosby used his celebrity continuously to help promote Gonzaga University. In 1937, he presided over several events that raised about $10,000 for GU. In 1949, he went to GU to give $75,000 towards building Gonzaga's Dillon Hall, the new Engineering building. In 1950, Bing, his four sons, and some family friends and GU alumni played a softball game against a team of Gonzaga High School students in a benefit game for the Gonzaga High School building fund. In 1957, he put on a TV show (The Bing Crosby Edsel Show), sponsored by the Ford Motor Company, and gave the production rights to Gonzaga to help them build a $700,000 library. The library was dedicated as a memorial to the Crosby family in 1957 and was officially known as the Crosby Library. One room in the library is dedicated to Bing Crosby memorabilia, much of which was donated by Bing himself. In 1961, Bing narrated a promotional film called "Take Gonzaga." The film focused on why it was a good idea to get a college degree and was designed to highlight Gonzaga's coming 75th anniversary. In 1968, he participated in a special academic convocation during which he gave GU a large microfilm collection (4.3 million volumes) and 3 microfilm machines. GU returned the favor by surprising Bing with its highest award, the Desmet Medal.
After Bing Crosby’s death in 1977, a cash bequest of $50,000 from his estate was placed in an endowment fund at Gonzaga and in 1980, the Gonzaga Alumni Association bought Bing's boyhood home for $60,000. A bronze statue of Bing was placed at the entrance to the Crosby Library and dedicated on May 3, 1981 (Bing's birthday).
When a new library was built in 1992, the Crosby Library became the Crosby Student Center where students gather their mail, have meetings, and buy coffee at the Crosby Café. The Crosby memorabilia room is still there.
