Carroll had completed part of his undergraduate studies at UM before returning to Missoula to earn a master's degree in speech in 1956. The O'Connors made their generous gift during the University's Capital Campaign, which ended in 1997, to help match a challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The grant will support the center's work in the Rocky Mountain West's seven states and two Canadian provinces. I see this center as a hub that other disciplines will see and join - to do things that UM will be known for. Besides attending the ceremony naming the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West, Carroll found time to speak with UM fine arts and journalism students during his Montana visit.
Art is a well-considered thing with a purpose.
If you know your art, and you do it well, you can never be bad. He told students it wasn't easy trying to break into show business in the early 1960s. I couldn't even play an Irishman - they would hire a Lithuanian or something. Nancy supported us in those days. Carroll's art finally started paying for itself when he landed a few movie roles.