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“I believe people with a global perspective tend to think more broadly, are able to see things from a different perspective and relate to people more easily.”
-Gunnar Adalberth (’87)

“Gunnar has a tremendous capacity to relate to anyone – which is why I’m sure he’s been so successful…”
-Steve Maroney (’87)

Mention the name of Gunnar Adalberth (’87) to someone who was at Union during the early eighties, and there’s a good chance you’ll see a smile of recognition. Whether they knew him personally or not, Adalberth’s legacy as a good student, a good athlete, and a good friend has made an impression on many who have walked through Union’s doors.

“Gunnar is probably the most unique individual I’ve ever met – he has a tremendous capacity to relate to anyone, which is why he’s been so successful,” says Steve Maroney (’87), who roomed with the Swedish-born tennis player throughout their time at Union.

Presently the marketing director for UPS Germany, Adalberth along with his wife Marjut and their three-year-old daughter Adriane, currently live in Dusseldorf. In addition to the United States, they have also made their home in England and in Belgium during the 12 years that he has worked for UPS.

Growing up in Sweden, Adalberth came to the U.S. as an exchange student during his senior year of high school and attended Covington High School. It was there on the tennis team that his athletic talent was noticed by Union’s then-tennis coach Ron Barry.

“Besides his tennis ability, I was very impressed first and foremost just with his level of education,” says Barry, who currently serves as chief administrator of public works for the City of Jackson. “I knew he’d be a successful student as well as a successful athlete.”

The number one tennis player at Union throughout his four years, Adalberth also was awarded the highest honor a senior receives at Union, the Elizabeth Tigrett Medal, as well as the Fred Delay Memorial award given to the athlete with the highest academic merit.

Though his days with the tennis team are fondly recalled, Adalberth’s most significant memory of Union is an eternal one – it was on Union’s campus that he met Christ.

“At first thought, you might say my tennis ability got me to Union,” says Adalberth, from his office in Germany. “But I know the real reason – God had a plan where I would become a born-again Christian. Tennis was merely the vehicle to accomplish His plan.”

A consistent donor to his alma mater since graduating, Adalberth sees his reason for lending gift support to the university as a very simple one.

“Union gave me a full tennis scholarship for four years – I feel obligated to re-pay what Union invested in me initially,” says Adalberth.

In addition to phone calls with friends and former roomates, Adalberth continues to stay close with the other men he played with on the tennis team, getting together occasionally to catch up and reminisce on days gone by.

“I’m proud of the fact that Gunnar has worked as hard as he has to keep in touch with the school despite living on the other side of the world,” says Maroney, currently president of Union’s National Alumni Association. “It would be very easy for him to follow other pursuits, but whenever we speak on the phone, he always asks about the school and when he’s in Tennessee, he always makes a point to stop by and see the campus and its current development.”