Concordia-St. Paul Athletic Hall of Fame
Philip Fandrei was a member of the first football team on campus as a member of Concordia Academy in 1951, playing both ways as a center and linebacker. He was an All-Conference performer and his strong leadership qualities were on display as a prep co-captain. The team went 4-2-1 on the season including a four game winning streak. During his playing career, he had the distinction as the only linebacker to intercept a pass and score a touchdown in his two years on the team.
Fandrei’s impact on campus transcended his own playing career, though, as a major supporter of Concordia athletics.
In the early 2000’s, Concordia athletics and conference & events moved into the former St. Paul Water Utility building located on Hamline Avenue, just south of Interstate 94. The building would be dedicated to Philip and Laverne Fandrei in August, 2007 to recognize them for their contributions to Concordia and helping the university achieve high standards in academics and athletics while emphasizing a strong spiritual foundation. The Fandrei Center houses the athletic offices for football, softball, soccer, golf, lacrosse, track & field as well as the athletic communications and conference & events staff. The building also features the football team locker room and a fully equipped athletic training room.
Just two years later, he made the largest single donation in Concordia’s history on behalf of Sea Foam Sales, Co. with a $5 million gift for the construction of Sea Foam Stadium to bring football and track & field back to campus while providing the soccer team a new home field, which would become home to the state’s first scholarship-granting NCAA women’s lacrosse program.
Just like the dedication plaque on the Fandrei Center building, the phrase “To God give the glory” is engraved on the ticket entrance at Sea Foam Stadium, an expression the Fandrei’s have a particular fondness, wishing always to credit God for their blessings and ability to help others.
“The Fandrei Center and Sea Foam Stadium, we feel, are in honor of my father who was the inventor of Sea Foam and as said above the entrance of the stadium and inside the Fandrei Center it is written ‘To God Give the glory for the Things He has done!’ and coming out of the stadium it is written ‘May God bless you and keep you always and in all ways!’ – this is our blessing for all!” he exclaimed.
Philip and Laverne were the 2005 recipients of the Aeterna Moliri Award, which recognizes “builders for eternity” who further the work of the church and its people through their vocation or service. Philip also received the Alumni Distinguished Service Award from CSP in 2003.
The former owner and CEO of Sea Foam Sales, Co., Philip retired from Sea Foam in 1997 and became active with the Youth and Family Institute at Augsburg College and returned to Sea Foam Sales, Co. in 2001 and was treated as a partner. He is a member of the Concordia University President’s Council is on the Mission Commission at Emmaus Lutheran Church in Bloomington, Minnesota.
