"Sweeny Hall" on the campus of Central Michigan University was named for a longtime professor in the Department of Physical Education and the coach of Central's gymnastics team. "Doc" Sweeny was born on August 13, 1907 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. He graduated from Sacred Heart Academy and Central Michigan Normal. He taught gymnastics at Central and developed a touring gymnastics demonstration group. He spent thirteen years as a line coach of various sports and coached Central's basketball team during World War II. He was a pioneer in the development of summer athletic camps at Central, and was responsible for the change in mascot from the Bearcats to the Chippewas, which he felt would allow more pageantry at halftime. He and his wife, Mary, had a son and two daughters. Sweeny died on August 24, 1957.

The Lawrence M. (Doc) Sweeny Hall on the campus of Central Michigan University was opened in the Summer of 1961 at a cost of $1.56 million U.S. Dollars. Sweeny Hall was designed by Roger Allen and Associates of Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was built as a women's dormitory with an occupancy of 316 students, the sister hall of Merrill.