Stock Family Tree

BL Roots Run Deep in Stock Family Tree

By Jennifer Nimmo Director of Communications

There are families who have been around since Bishop Lynch High School’s early days, and then there is the Stock family who played a part in the very inception of Bishop Lynch.

Walter Stock, Sr. grew up in Chicago where he attended Fenwick High School – a Dominican Catholic college preparatory school established in 1929. When Walter Stock and his wife Pat moved to Texas with their two oldest sons, they settled in East Dallas and the family’s brood grew to 13 children over the years. Mr. Stock stayed close to his alma mater. So, when Monsignor Weinzapel at St. Pius X Catholic Church began discussions with the Dominican priests about starting a Catholic college preparatory high school in East Dallas, Mr. Stock was in the mix.

Mr. Stock’s eldest son, Walter “Wally” Stock even remembers carrying Father O’Connell’s bags from the airport as he arrived in Dallas from Chicago for discussions surrounding Bishop Lynch’s founding. When the Dominican priests came down to teach at the newly opened Bishop Lynch High School in 1963, they would often watch football games at the Stock family residence. Wally said he served as the “remote control” to get up and change the channels.

Bishop Lynch High School opened its doors to students in September 1963. Besides having Dominican priests from Chicago come down to teach, Bishop Lynch adopted the same mascot, school colors and fight song as Fenwick High School. And so continued a long and storied history between Bishop Lynch High School and the Stock family.

Wally Stock ‘66 was a member of the first graduating class at Bishop Lynch High School. He played basketball and ran track for Bishop Lynch, in addition to serving as a student council officer. He loves to tell stories about how he could visit the off-limits girl side of the school because he was a student council representative.

“Six of my siblings and I graduated from Bishop Lynch High School. It was important to my father that his kids come to Bishop Lynch, given his history with Fenwick High School and his belief in a Catholic education,” said Wally.

“My mom was an active volunteer at the school too. Bishop Lynch was, and still is, very much a full family endeavor.”

Ethan Stock ‘19 poses with his greatgrandmother Pat Stock in the Legacy Gym after a Friar basketball game.

My mom was an active volunteer at the school too. Bishop Lynch was, and still is, very much a full family endeavor. – WALLY STOCK ’66

Trey ’89

Charlie ’20 Wally ’66

Craig ’91

Ethan ’19

Sadie ’22 Jimmy ’67

Shea

Bella ’24 Aric ’11 Eddie ’69

Dale ’01 Bobby

Ron ’90 Tommy ’71

Mary Stock Powell ‘75 was the only Stock female sibling to attend Bishop Lynch and she loved following in her older brothers’ footsteps.

“My favorite BL memories are of attending football games and watching my brother play,” said Mary.

Mary enjoyed her time at Bishop Lynch High School and now has a sense of pride watching her nieces and nephews thrive at Bishop Lynch.

The Stocks’ impact on Bishop Lynch High School didn’t stop upon each student’s graduation. Wally helped start the alumni association after the school’s first 10-year reunion. He was very active with the alumni association for the first several years and then reengaged with the group later. Wally was also named an Alumnus of the Year during BL’s 50th anniversary celebration.

Through it all, Wally and his BL siblings have seen the school go through its physical transformation. They have also witnessed the evolution of the school in other ways, like the transition from mostly priest and religious serving as teachers to mainly lay educators today. Mary loves the school’s more recent emphasis on community service and Wally is impressed with the House System’s mentorship benefits.

The Stock family’s Bishop Lynch legacy now extends to 18 BL graduates and current students. In fact, the Stock family is Bishop Lynch’s first third-generation family. Craig Stock ‘91 is Wally’s son and one of the secondgeneration Stocks to attend Bishop Lynch High School. Craig had a wonderful high school experience and he loved that so many faculty and administrators already knew him through his father, uncles and aunt.

When Craig attended Bishop Lynch, he had his older brother Trey Stock ‘89 and his cousin Ronnie Stock ‘90

on campus as well.

Wally Stock ‘66 puts up a shot. He was a star basketball player at Bishop Lynch, and he earned a scholarship to play for the University of Houston.

Billy ’72 John ’74

Mary Pat ’75 Danny Michael

Lee ’04 McKenzie ’05

Pam

Stock Family Tree

Teri

David

I loved my time as a BL student, but I love watching my children have their own BL experiences more than anything.

– CRAIG STOCK ’91

Craig’s son Ethan Stock ‘19 is a BL graduate and his daughter Sadie is a current Friar junior. As much as he loved his own BL experience 30 years ago, Craig said it is even more special to see BL through the eyes of his children.

“I loved my time as a BL student, but I love watching my children have their own BL experiences more than anything,” said Craig.

The Stock family’s long history with Bishop Lynch High School truly went full circle in September 2019 when Eddie Stock ‘69† visited Fenwick High School with several classmates from the Class of 1969. The group had traveled to Chicago to celebrate Father John M. Gambro’s 90th birthday. Father Gambro was one of Bishop Lynch’s founding priests from Fenwick, and the special tour of Fenwick High School was an added bonus.

BL President Chris Rebuck was on hand to witness Eddie’s emotions as he toured his father’s school and the place where Bishop Lynch’s history began, and he recounted the experience at Eddie’s funeral in June.

“Our group was given unfettered access to Fenwick High School, and Eddie was unbelievably moved by seeing his father’s beloved school and all the Fenwick Dominican traditions that are now ingrained at BL,” said Chris. “It was really special to Eddie.”

Bishop Lynch High School is deeply rooted in the Stock family tree. With third-generation Stocks currently attending BL and more future Friars on the way, the Stock family looks forward to expanding their BL legacy.

“I am so happy to be associated with Bishop Lynch. It’s a great feeling when you can share this formative experience with your children and then your grandchildren,” said Wally.

Six of my siblings and I graduated from Bishop Lynch High School. It was important to my father that his kids come to Bishop Lynch, given his history with Fenwick High School and his belief in a Catholic education.

– WALLY STOCK ’66