Summer Irish Ayes 2014

America’s 20th Century Founding Father

John Seigenthaler ’45 1927 - 2014

FEATURE STORIES

60 Years of Integration: A Reflection Father Ryan – Pearl Preview Class of 2014: A Special One w w w. f a t h e r r y a n . o r g

Board of trustees

CONTENTS

Executive Committee

Summer 2014

Judy Komisky Orr ’75, Chair David Glascoe, Vice-Chair Robert J. Mendes, Finance Committee Chair Betty Lou Burnett, Membership Chair Rev. Mark Beckman

ANNUAL FUND SETS NEW RECORD $627,022 Raised in 2013-2014 Campaign!

This generosity was led by our faculty, staff and Board of Trust, who participated at a 100% rate in the first month of the school year. The Father Ryan community rode that momentum of giving throughout the year to produce these record-breaking results for this campaign.

More than 1,400 individuals made gifts to the campaign, 250 of whom were first-time Annual Fund donors. More than 10% of our alumni gave in excess of $375,000, and over 50% of parents made Annual Fund gifts this year. The freshmen class led the parent community with 58% participation.

In addition, 100% of the Alumni Board demonstrated their support with contributions to the Annual Fund. In every respect, it was a remarkable year for the Annual Fund, providing important resources that benefit our students and our faculty every day.

WE ARE HUMBLED BY THE GENEROSITY DEMONSTRATED BY ALL OUR DONORS. ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS, OUR FACULTY, AND OUR STAFF, THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO SUPPORTED THE 2013-2014 ANNUAL FUND. GO IRISH!

Volume XLI Number 2

Committee Chairs Brett Wesnofske ’88, Facilities John Siedlecki, Advancement

Ex-Officio Members Most Rev. David R. Choby ’65 James A. McIntyre Dr. Therese Williams

Board Members

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT FATHER RYAN’S COMMUNITY PROVIDED OUTSTANDING SUPPORT TO OUR ANNUAL FUND CAMPAIGN THIS YEAR AND HELPED US SET A NEW RECORD FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR. THEIR GENEROSITY ENABLED US TO TOP $600,000 FOR THE FIRST TIME AND EXCEED THE PREVIOUS RECORD BY MORE THAN $70,000.

Cover Photo: America’s 20th Century Founding Father, John Seigenthaler ’45.

See cover story on PAGE 16.

Thomas Bauer David Bohan ’66 Tommy Bradley ’81 Mary Brennan Lee Clark Warner C. Hassell Judith E. Hoover Steven Janicak Rev. Patrick J. Kibby ’73 Dr. Robert Labadie Philip M. Mattingly, Sr. ’69 Robert J. Mendes Patrick J. Nolan, III ’69 Rick Olszewski Jack Polson Ralph J. Schulz, Jr. William R. Stejskal III ’79 David Tehle

Life Trustees Thomas G. Connor, Sr. ’60 William H. Farmer ’65 Edward B. Gore J. Terry Hunter Vincent T. Phillips John C. Shea ’51 William F. Smith Edward A. Stack

Feature

Table of Contents

2} In the News

International travel; New staff, board members, Cheek gift

Commencement Weekend 8} Female students lead way; 90th National Merit Finalist; Military Academy appointments

13} Athletics

State titles 55 and 56. Fifteen signees, Season recap

16} America’s 20th Century Founding Father: John Seigenthaler ’45

19} 60 Years of Integration in the South 27} Alumni Legacy Gala; Golden Grads; Reunions 2014

29} Class Notes Births,Weddings & In Memoriam

Administration James A. McIntyre, President Paul Davis ’81, Principal Sara Hayes, Vice Principal and Academic Dean Michael La Haie, Dean of Students Tim Forbes ’93, Dean of Campus Ministry and Student Life Pat Lawson ’93, Athletic Director Connie Steinmetz, Chief Financial Officer

©2014 FRHS 20349

This year begins Father Ryan's 90th school year, tracing our legacy back to 1925 and the founding of Nashville Catholic School for Boys. We are celebrating throughout the year and throughout the city. Look for our 90th logo at Father Ryan events and on our materials as we tell the powerful story of this amazing school.

A Tradition of Faith, Knowledge, Service

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In The News summer 2014 They took in the art with the exhibit “Le Grand Atelier du Midi,” with works from painters who painted in the south of France, such as Cézanne, Matisse, and Picasso, and visited the lovely city of Avignon, which was the home of the Popes for most of the 14th century.

COMING TO AMERICA...

AND GOING ABROAD While Domenika is making her way as a new resident and future citizen of the United States, many Father Ryan students are discovering the world outside of Norwood Drive, Nashville, and America.

But what does it say about her and her experience in America and at Father Ryan that she was able to express herself so compellingly in the VFW contest? For Domenika Ralcewicz, the explanation is all about her family and the power of education.

“I really appreciate the educational opportunities in America,” she said. “It helps people find and pursue what they are most passionate about.” Since coming to America last fall to pursue her studies, Domenika has had the opportunity to reflect often on the benefits that many Americans take for granted. Her VFW essay, which won the local competition and placed third in the state, began as a class assignment from teacher Randy Lancaster ’83 (above, at left). He had asked her to interview a war veteran. Domenika had one ready…the story of her grandfather.

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And no trip list would be complete without an opportunity to serve others.

Once again, the Dean of Campus Ministry and Student Life, Mr. Tim Forbes ’93, took a group of committed young men and women to Honduras. Working with the Olancho Aid Foundation, the Father Ryan group was fortunate enough to build a new home for a young woman and her four children while also donating close to 20 suitcases of clothing, toys and supplies to a village that had never received donations.

Whether it’s a mission trip to Honduras or cultural excursions through Spain and France, or an exploration to China, these students are discovering the broader world and gaining an understanding of that world and their place in it. They are also enhancing their language skills while gaining additional insights, in many instances, to the traditions and heritage of their Catholic faith.

Who would have imagined that the student who won a state award in the VFW “Voice of Democracy” essay contest would be a young Polish student spending her first year in America?

He was captured first by the Russians as the Nazis invaded Poland, escaped and then was recaptured by the Nazis, who put him in a labor camp. He miraculously escaped again, even after choosing to die instead of making soap, knowing that the soap was made out of the fat of his fellow prisoners. It is a remarkable story that has enthralled the school.

Domenika will be attending school at Nashville State while she studies to become an American citizen. She hopes her brother and her parents, who are still in Poland, will be able to join her soon. But she’s excited about the prospects college and this country provide. As Mr. Lancaster said, “Domenika understands freedom, since this is a big part of her family’s history. She’s been nothing but grateful this entire year.”

For the last several summers, Dr. Rob Nasatir had traveled to Salamanca and other parts of Spain to introduce his Spanish language students to this part of Europe. Last summer the group toured the Roman ruins and the massive Muralla, a protective wall for the city of Avila.

The town is best known as the home of St. Teresa of Avila, the founder of the Carmelite order and a widely honored and beloved saint. They also experienced Mass in the Cathedral of Salamanca, a 16th century church. He is hoping to offer a trip to Cuba in the next couple of years.

While Dr. Nasatir and his students have taken in the beauties and history of the Spanish world, Sven Oelhafen has journeyed through France with his etudiantes for another global experience.

In the summer of 2015, Father Ryan’s Chinese teacher, Sabrina Chin-Shefi, will return to China with a group of students to explore this large and important nation. She made the trip two years ago with four students and looks to expand the number with this journey. While not an immersion experience, the trip does provide a way for our students to practice their Chinese in a real world environment. They also discover the art and legacy of a land that is truly ancient, one that will play an even bigger role in these students’ lives.

Mr. Oelhafen is a native of Switzerland, which provides a perspective and a guide to this part of Europe. On their most recent trip the group visited the Tuileries gardens, the Louvre museum, the Latin Quarter and attended Mass at Notre Dame. They also traveled to Aix en Provence, a picturesque ancient city, in the southeast of France, and to Marseille, where they visited the old harbor, and went to the Mucem (museum of European and Mediterranean cultures).

Aside from the wheel barrowing, rock sifting and cinder block carrying, the group was able to make amazing connections with the people of Honduras. Whether it was playing with the orphans who lived next to the volunteer house, trying to speak Spanish with the construction crew who helped build the home or simply saying “Hola” to those who passed, the Father Ryan group completely embraced the culture.

Both on Norwood and abroad, Father Ryan is becoming part of a larger world, helping that world develop as they develop themselves.

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BONTRAGER SELECTED TEACHER OF THE YEAR

The head coach of the Father Ryan Irish since 1987, Doug Bontrager ’81 has been a sidelines teacher for years. But his teaching has not been only about pick and rolls, help-man defense and fundamental basketball. His work in the classroom, teaching math at the highest level, has produced exceptional math students, evidenced by the 100% qualifying scores for his AP Calculus students last year. For these achievements, for his presence on the campus and for his commitment to his students and to this school, Doug was honored at Baccalaureate as the Bishop Alphonse A. Smith Teacher of the Year.

MANCUSO TO LEAD YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT Father Ryan junior Vince Mancuso was elected Governor for the 2015 Youth in Government Conference for Tennessee, the first Irish student to serve as Governor. He will serve for the coming year and lead the overall student program for Tennessee at the conference in the spring of next year.

His essay, entitled “Carlos Varela y la persistencia de ‘Memorias’” (Carlos Varela and the Persistence of Memory), appeared in Habáname: La ciudad musical de Carlos Varela. The book looks at the impact of Varela, one of the most influential of Cuban musicians.

Dr. Nasatir is a frequent presenter on Cuban culture and has several publications to his credit, including “El Hijo de Guillermo Tell: Carlos Varela Confronts the Special Period,” in Cuban Studies 39 (2008). At Father Ryan he moderates the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica and the Multi-Cultural Student Union.

The latter group has been instrumental in the school’s research and presentation of its multi-cultural legacy. In the past three years, two of the group’s members were recipients of the prestigious Princeton Prize in Race Relations in Nashville.

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At the conclusion of the school year, Father Ryan High School said farewell to five individuals who have lived excellence, authenticity, and compassion throughout their careers. They have shown through action what it means to live our mission.

All of them are stalwart supporters of this school and will be sorely missed.

In addition, senior Kelsey Barrett was voted the most outstanding Senate delegate for the 2014 conference.

SCIENCE OLYMPIAD 2014 — MOST SUCCESSFUL EVER

Phyllis Adgent

Charlotte Bottoms

Richard Chambers

PHYLLIS ADGENT has been a faculty member in the science department at Father Ryan since 1976. She sponsored Science Academy and is an Honor Society committee member. In 2008, she was featured in Irish Ayes.

CHARLOTTE BOTTOMS has been the welcoming voice on the phone and in person at the front desk of Father Ryan since 1987. Her helpful nature and southern grace made students, parents, alumni and guests feel like part of the Father Ryan family.

DR. NASATIR CONTRIBUTES TO BOOK ON CUBAN MUSICIAN Dr. Robert Nasatir, chair of the World Languages and Cultures Department at Father Ryan, recently traveled to Cuba for the publication of a Spanish book on which he served as a contributing author.

FIVE LONG-TIME FACULTY/STAFF RETIRE

Father Ryan’s Science Olympiad Team produced its best performance ever at the State competition in East Tennessee.

The 2014 team, captained by Ryan Herrmann and Catherine Weiss, finished first in four categories, second in four categories and third in five other categories. The students and their finishes were First Place Astronomy – Daria Foster and Michael Saavedra Chemistry Lab - Michael Bottei and Nick Pagano Dynamic Planet - Samantha Correa and Candice Chen Mission Possible - Catherine Weiss and Ryan Herrmann Second Place Bungee Drop - Louie Martin Compound Machine - Michael Bottei and Nick Pagano Disease Detective - Cate Farone and Gaby Alumbaugh Maglev - Patrick Cole and Jake Willie Third Place Astronomy - Javelyn Edwards Chemistry Lab – Ryan Herrmann and Catherine Weiss Circuit Lab - Daria Foster and Sean Weiland Forensics - Catherine Weiss and Ryan Herrmann Geologic Mapping - Michael Saavedra and Will Landers

RICHARD CHAMBERS has taught in the Social Science Department at Father Ryan since 1970. He and Jim Langdon are the only remaining faculty members who taught in the all-male and coeducational years. He was a moderator for

Jim Derrick ’62

Peggy Orange

Mock Trial, provided technical assistance for school productions and was also a consultant for the College Board.

JIM DERRICK '62, has been part of Father Ryan since his student days. He has been a teacher in the Wellness Department and coach of the track team.

PEGGY ORANGE has been a part of the Business Office and has shared her beautiful voice for the school since coming to the campus in 1983.

These five outstanding people have given generously of themselves to Father Ryan and its students for many years, and we thank them for making this school so special.

ADMISSIONS ADD NEW LEADERS director. The two bring broad educational experience to the school, both in and out of the classroom.

Mr. Knoop comes to Father Ryan from St. Henry, where he has been a teacher since 2008. He has more than 30 years of educational experience, the vast majority of that in Catholic education here in Nashville.

Erin Baltz Riggs ’00 Brian Knoop He served as principal of St. Edward School from 2003-2007 Brian Knoop and Erin Baltz Riggs ’00 and also has taught at Pope John Paul II, have joined Father Ryan to direct the Christ the King, Overbrook and St. Berschool’s Admissions Department. nard. He received his B.S. from Murray Mr. Knoop serves as the director of admis- State University and his M.A. from Tensions and Mrs. Riggs will be the associate nessee State.

Mrs. Riggs is a 2000 graduate of Father Ryan who taught at Pope John Paul II from 2005-2013 before becoming that school’s associate admissions officer. She received her B.A. and M.S. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

In announcing the hirings, President McIntyre said that he was pleased to bring these two experienced educators to the school. “Both Brian and Erin have been around Catholic education for the majority of their professional careers and have been successful in the classroom and in administration.” he said, “They are also part of the Father Ryan family, Brian as a parent and Erin as an alumna. We are pleased to welcome them back to Father Ryan to help us continue to communicate the mission and message of this school to families throughout the area.”

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FATHER RYAN BOARD ADDS THREE Father Ryan named Tom Bauer, Lee Clark and Jack Polson to its Board of Trustees. Each is a respected business figure in the community.

“These three individuals bring diverse and very successful backgrounds to our board,” Mr. McIntyre said, “enhancing further the strength of this group.

All are strong supporters of Catholic education and the mission of Father Ryan. This combination of insight and commitment will further our efforts to be the national standard in Catholic education.”

Americas Field Engineering organization to migrate customers to the Cloud. A 20-year veteran of technology and operations management, he has held leadership positions in engineering, development and services organizations with a strong emphasis on launching new technologies into emerging markets.

Mr. Clark and his wife, Tracy, are parishioners at St. Mary of the Seven Sorrows in Nashville. They have two daughters.

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Tennessee Technological University.

Mr. Bauer is a principal at BAUER ASKEW Architecture, the company he founded in 1995. The firm specializes in a range of architectural designs, including education and worship Having served as facilities as well as cusCFO of Acadia tom residential architecHealthcare (NAS(from top) Tom ture. Tom is a member of DAQ: ACHC) since Bauer, Lee Clark, the American Institute of 2011 and helping it Jack Polson join Architects and is a LEED go public in 2012, the board certified professional. He Mr. Polson is curhas served on advisory rently pursuing interboards for the Nashville Public Li- ests in real estate development as brary, St. Bernard Academy, Lip- well as investments in a Nashville scomb University, Avalon Neigh- brewing company, a staffing comborhood Association, Economic pany, investments and board seats Club of Nashville as well as the in a tree-free paper company and Cheekwood Antiques & Garden a medical equipment company. He Show. joined Acadia after 13 years with Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. (NASA graduate of Auburn University, DAQ: PSYS) where he served as Mr. Bauer is a member of Christ Controller and Chief Accounting the King parish. He has been mar- Officer, also helping it go public. ried to his wife, Mary Beth, for He received his bachelor’s degree 28 years, and they have two sons, in accounting from LSU. both Father Ryan graduates: Marcus, Class of 2010, and Joseph, Mr. Polson also serves on the Class of 2014. board of Camp Marymount in Fairview, TN. He is married to Mr. Clark manages Microsoft’s Beverly, and they are parents of Premier Field Engineering busi- one Father Ryan graduate and two ness for Tennessee, Kentucky and Father Ryan students.

Ohio, and leads the efforts for their 6

ALLEN AND ANTON JOIN FATHER RYAN; CUPIT TO HEAD I.T. Two new individuals and a current teacher have joined the Father Ryan staff this summer as the school continues to enhance its operations and its services.

Jennifer Anton has joined the staff to fill the newly created position of Assistant Academic Dean. Jennifer will be collaborating specifically with the Academic Dean, Technology Jennifer Anton Integration Specialist, and Department Chairs to ensure the integration of technology within the curriculum.

She comes to Father Ryan from Independence High School in Williamson County, where she most recently served as Assistant Principal.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS MAKES ITS HOME AT FATHER RYAN For the fourth consecutive year, Father Ryan served as the home of the Tennessee Special Olympics for its annual statewide competition. The event brings more than 700 athletes to the campus for a day of track and field and other events. It also brings more than 400 Father Ryan students, who take their Easter Monday day off to volunteer for the athletes and their supporters. The students will tell you that they get as much from the experience as the athletes. Channel 4 TV’s Terry Bulger said as much on his report from this year’s event. The day proved special whatever color medal was earned.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee, where she also served as the Head Manager for the Lady Vols basketball team under Coach Pat Summitt. She holds a Master’s Degree from Georgia State University, and an Ed.S. In Leadership and Administration from Lincoln Memorial University.

Faculty member Andrew Cupit became the school’s Technology Integration Specialist.

Andy, who came to Father Ryan last year as a mathematics teacher, helped lead a oneto-one program with the use Andy Cupit of iPads. He will play a critical role as Father Ryan High School moves to a 2:1 technology initiative in January of 2015. Andy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola University, with an emphasis in communications and computer information systems. He also holds Master of Arts degree from the University of New Orleans, with an emphasis in teaching secondary mathematics.

Kristi Allen

And Kristi Allen has joined the school as Controller and will be responsible for the day-today functions of the business office and Spirit Store, as well as assisting with the financial aid process.

Kristi comes to Father Ryan from AmWINS Group here in Nashville, a wholesale insurance company providing a range of products and services from property and casualty to group benefits. She has been their Senior Financial Analyst for more than nine years. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

FATHER RYAN RECEIVES LARGEST GIFT EVER Earlier this year Father Ryan received two gifts to the school from the estate of Joel Cheek, a member of the Class of 1936, and his wife, Mary Sue Cheek. These gifts, with a combined total of more than $10 million, comprise the largest bequests to Father Ryan in its history. They are reflections of Mr. Cheek's pride in his alma mater, the Cheeks’ deep belief in Catholic education, and their desire to ensure that a Father Ryan education is accessible to all.

Mr. Cheek was a proud alumnus of Father Ryan and a leader of his class. He thrived in the environment of Faith, Knowledge, and Service, and he wanted to share that experience with others. He gave careful thought to these planned gifts and set them in motion 22 years ago.

Mr. and Mrs. Cheek were very explicit in their intent, restricting the first and largest gift—just under $10 million— exclusively for student financial aid. To honor that intent, the Board restricted the principal amount as an endowment,

which means it cannot itself be used otherwise. Father Ryan will use the income from this endowment to fund the Joel O. and Mary Sue Cheek Scholarship Fund, which will augment Father Ryan’s current financial aid program for families with demonstrated need.

In addition to their major gift for financial assistance, the Cheeks made an unrestricted gift of $800,000. The Father Ryan Board voted to restrict these funds in trust to provide for ongoing professional development for the faculty through the new Mary Sue and Joel O. Cheek ’36 Center for Teaching Excellence at Father Ryan. This Mary Sue and Joel ’36 Cheek initiative will further benefit students by enabling the school’s professional educators to build skills and expertise that will enhance their roles in the lives of each student.

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Commencement Weekend summer 2014 The Academic Achievers in the Class of 2014 are an accomplished and diverse group. They were accepted into more than 265 colleges and universities—31 of them Catholic colleges (see sidebar on next page)—and earned more than $21 million in scholarships. They are dancers and musicians, athletes and class officers, innovators and club leaders. They received military academy appointments, performed in the Macy’s Parade and set state records.

And many of them are female.

That’s right. The top five students, seven of the top 10, and 13 of the top 22 are female. And it begins at the very top, with our Valedictorian and Salutatorian—Maíre Amlicke and Jenna Sullivan, who have always carried themselves with pride and always represented the best aspects of our tradition of Faith, Knowledge and Service.

Carrying herself well, moving from course to course and activity to activity with a dancer’s grace, seems natural for Maíre (pronounced Maw-ree). Not surprising when you realize that she has been Irish step dancing since she was four, climbing to the rank of Top 20 in the United States and Top 80 in the world. That same approach has been on display in every classroom and every activity, which is one of Maíre Amlicke the reasons she has earned another distinction, that of a Robertson Scholar at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. That is rarified air—only 25 of these scholarships are awarded nationwide in one year.

A Student Ambassador, Eucharistic Minister, and Representative on the Student Council, she also played Volleyball, ran Track, and served in Model UN, Respect Life and the Spanish Club. Maíre has given back to the community by being a math and reading tutor, a volunteer at Special Olympics, Room in the Inn, March for Life, Relay for Life, and President of Lost Boys of Sudan Foundation in Nashville.

Her interest is physics and medicine, and UNC Chapel Hill (and Duke University) will be home for this dancer and Valedictorian. She is stepping high.

Curiosity is the best descriptor for Jenna. Coming from a family of veterinarians, it was natural that scientific exploration and research would hold her interest. But viewing NCIS as a 10-year-old with her father introduced her to forensic science in the character of Abby. She found her interest and her career. That curiosity is now taking her to Ohio where she will major in chemistry at Case Western Reserve University in the fall.

Jenna Sullivan

FEMALE SCHOLARS LEAD THE ACADEMIC PARADE IN 2014 8

A St. Henry graduate and parishioner, Jenna has been as distinguished outside the classroom as she has been in the classroom. She became a Student Ambassador as a sophomore and has continued to serve as one of the welcoming faces and voices of Father Ryan. Jenna has been involved in soccer for three years and was co-captain her sophomore year and club captain for her club soccer team her junior year. She has been involved in Relay for Life for three years. In addition to these activities, Jenna has served as a CCD aide at St. Henry’s Church for the past four years, and also works as a vet assistant.

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GRADUATES CONTINUE CATHOLIC EDUCATION Father Ryan’s emphasis on Faith, Knowledge and Service parallels the qualities that Catholic colleges and universities are looking for in their students. This year’s seniors have been accepted to and many are attending the following Catholic colleges:

Aquinas College Ave Maria University Barry College Bellarmine University Boston College MORE ACHIEVERS THROUGHOUT THE CLASS There are students, both male and female, achieving exceptional things throughout the Class of 2014. Here’s a sampling of some of those achievers.

WABI TELA In the early part of his sophomore year following a visit to his parents’ homeland, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Wabi asked a simple question—why are there so many children in the streets? Learning that the streets were their homes, he founded Kemi’s Friends and began collecting clothes from friends, classmates and other students in the city. The result was a shipment of more than two tons of clothing to Kinshara and hope for many a Congolese child.

Besides this commitment to service, Wabi has been an active member of the Purple Masque Players and Father Ryan Singers, an artist and a strong student who is guided by his faith and recognized by his smile. Look for both of those qualities in Cincinnati where he will begin pre-med studies at Xavier University this fall.

CECILIA KIM Cecilia’s academic talents are parallelled by her art. That part of her life has decorated the last two Father Ryan Christmas cards and served as the focus for a special video to salute Christ’s birth. A first-generation Korean-American, she is committed to a career in medicine, one where she can combine the skills of science with the art of expression, both personal and professional. She will pursue those at Vanderbilt University this fall.

COLIN CARSWELL Presence. Colin has it. Whether it was on the stage as Joseph in the spring musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” or singing “Go Tell it on the Mountain” in the Sony Studios, when that beautiful tenor voice ‘sang,’ it was hard to take your eyes off of him. That presence next year will be on display in Berea, Ohio, as he was accepted into the distinguished Baldwin Wallace Musical Theatre program.

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NINETY NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS Thomas Byrne ’61 and Jackson White ’61 probably haven’t met Kelsey Barrett. She probably hasn’t heard of them. Goodness, Thomas and Jackson are older than her parents. Yet these three students are linked this year by a common recognition, shared now by 90 Father Ryan students in the last six decades. National Merit Finalist. Thomas and Jackson were our first ever; Kelsey is now the latest.

Created by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation in 1955, the scholarships are designed to recognize and honor the academically talented students of the United States. Only 15,000 students nationwide earn Finalist recognition out of the more than 1.5 million students who enter.

’74, from the very first class of girls to go all four years to Father Ryan. Lindsay Draper ’69 was the first student–male or female– to earn Achievement Finalist status.

Over the years Father Ryan’s National Merit Finalists present a varied and interesting story, many of them told by the numbers:

It is easy to see that she is another deserving Finalist in our long line of National Merit honorees, although she didn’t think she would ever receive such an accolade.

Christian Brothers University

16 – number of classes that produced two Finalists

College of the Holy Cross

1985, 2006, 2010 – the classes that have produced three

Creighton University DePaul University Fordham University Georgetown University Gonzaga University Loyola of Chicago Loyola of New Orleans Marian University Marquette University Sacred Heart University St. Louis University St. Mary’s College Salve Regina University Santa Clara University Spring Hill College Thomas More College University of Dayton University of Notre Dame University of San Diego University of San Francisco Villanova University Wheeling Jesuit University Xavier University Xavier University of Louisiana

Finalists each 4 – the number of classes with four Finalists; 1978, 2000, 2005 and 2007 5 – the number of Finalists from the Class of 1999 2013 – the most prolific class, with eight Finalists.

The list of honorees runs literally from A (Eva Allen ’75 and Doug Arney ’13) to Z (Ken Ziemak ’68 and John Zalud ’73). There are athletes and musicians and student council officers. One was a magician on the tennis court (Tyler Davis ’07) and one was, well, a magician (Doug Maihafer ’79). There are other fascinating parts of our National Merit legacy. Did you know that five families have produced multiple Finalists? Four families can claim two sibling honorees: Tom ’71 and Bill ’78 Green; Louis ’96 and Joseph ’99 Seele; Sarah ’02 and Bryan ’05 Hench; and the DiGiovannis, Domenic and Emmy, both of the class of 2010. As impressive as that is, imagine the dinner conversation at the Townsend table. That family produced one-two-three-four Finalists: Kathy ’76, Melissa ’77, Stephen ’78 and Joel ’80.

So what about Kelsey?

She received heightened interest from her colleges once the Finalists were announced, with the honor getting the attention of Boston College, the University of Alabama and the University of Richmond, where she will enroll this fall. There she’ll be pursuing a program in either international relations or economics at one of the top programs in the country.

“I have been involved in Youth in Government and Model UN during high school, and those experiences awakened my interest in government affairs.

I am excited that I’ll get to pursue the thing I am most passionate about,” Kelsey said.

In addition to government interests, Kelsey was a member of the Dance Team for the last three years, where she formed her deepest friendships. She’s also been active in service projects, serving as a tutor for refugee children from Cambodia and Iraq.

Kelsey Barrett

A St. Henry parishioner and a St. Bernard graduate, Kelsey clearly embodies the best attributes of a National Merit Finalist. And she will certainly be taking the best of her Father Ryan experience into the halls of government, to the benefit of us all.

There were only male honorees for Father Ryan during our all-boys years, but since the fall of 1970 when girls arrived, 30 young women have been named Finalists. The first one? Margaret Deckbar 11

Athletics summer 2014 THE MILITARY ACADEMY APPOINTMENTS CONTINUE United States Air Force Lt. Colonel Stewart Anderson has spent so much time on the Father Ryan campus that you would think he was part of the college counseling staff. In some respects that would be correct. With the heritage of military appointments at Father Ryan, Lt. Col. Anderson finds Father Ryan an exceptional place for identifying and welcoming the next generation of our nation’s leaders.

This year brought him out to welcome a unique pair of Father Ryan champions who have been linked ever since they entered grade school at St. Henry back in 2001.

John Hagey and Luke Strebel have received and accepted military appointments to the U.S. Air Force Academy. While impressive on their own (they’re Father Ryan’s 24th and 25th

appointments since 2000), this decision to continue their education together will mean they’ll spend their entire educational years in the same places. Both are exceptional students, as evidenced by these appointments. In addition, both are accomplished leaders and honored athletes, with a flair for the dramatic. Luke played soccer and football at Father Ryan, with his ESPN-featured OT kick in last year’s soccer title game producing the state title for the Irish. John won the State in his wrestling weight class, earning a takedown in the final seconds of his championship match to earn a one-point win and leading Father Ryan to its 20th State crown in wrestling. Both will be pursuing their sports in college. This commitment was expressed by them in an op-ed they wrote for Memorial Day, which appeared in The Tennessean (see below).

The Military Academy appointees with their proud families. (From left) Dan ’84, Luke ’14 and Michelle (Walker) ’84 Strebel; John Hagey ’14 with father Tommy ’83, siblings Mary Kathryn ’14 and Peter, mother Margaret and brother Anthony ’17.

LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING OUR COUNTRY Memorial Day is a special day in our families, but it becomes even more significant for the two of us this year as we prepare to enter the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Having attended the same schools for the past twelve years, we can honestly say that neither of us expected to have to deal with each other for another four.

Yet, here we are, and while it is unlikely that we will have a large amount of free time to hang out together as much, having someone who has your back, no matter what, makes dealing with challenges much easier. We are excited to meet new people and make new friends, from all different parts of our country and all walks of life.

To attend any service Academy means to commit oneself to years of tough training, consisting of a rigorous academic curriculum, extensive military training and a seemingly unending series of challenges to push cadets to reach their highest potential in preparation for an initial five-year commitment to serve as an officer in the United States military. Every young man and woman who competes for an Appointment knows this.

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As a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy, one must acknowledge that the path will not be easy. It will be filled with long days and short nights, where time management becomes essential to survival. Yet by graduation, four years down the road, cadets are transformed from naive boys and girls to men and women with the character and leadership characteristics necessary to become officers in the United States Air Force.

Having the opportunity to attend the Air Force Academy gives us boundless opportunities that many of our peers will not have. Flying, skydiving and training on some of the most technologically advanced equipment available is everything adrenaline junkies like us could ask for. Additionally, the opportunity to play D1 sports and receive a quality education in the process made our choice to attend the Academy that much more appealing. Most important, we are serving our country.

With our recent graduation and the completion of sports seasons, it is hard to imagine fully the journey ahead, and with Memorial Day coming up we can only feel gratitude towards those who

By: John Hagey and Luke Strebel have made the journey possible. Gratitude towards those who have served and towards those who helped us along our decision-making process to attend the Academy. We know the competition was fierce, and we would like to thank all those who were instrumental in giving us this remarkable opportunity.

Memorial Day reminds us that by joining the long blue line we must uphold the prestige and honor of every man and woman who has gone before us. We carry the reputation not only of ourselves and our families and our high school, but also the reputation of all those living, and especially those that have given their lives in the defense of this country.

By accepting an Appointment to a U.S. Military Academy, we accept the duty of leading the next generation of these brave men and women in the protection of our country. We have a long way to go but, through the Academy, we hope that we can carry on their tradition of leadership in our service and help guarantee that the sacrifice of those who have served before us is not forgotten And we get to fly a few jets along the way!

Op-Ed published in the Tennessean

TWO STATE TITLES BRINGS COUNT TO 56 From the pitch to the mats, Irish athletes brought their best and added state titles 55 and 56 to the Father Ryan trophy case.

Rugby laid claim to its fifth State title, most of any school, with a dramatic, last-second victory over Ravenwood at MTSU. The game was back and forth throughout, with Irish leads and Ravenwood leads switching repeatedly. When the Raptors took a 22-17 lead with three minutes remaining, the margin looked solid, but the Irish got one last chance. A run

by Chandler Carney and passes from Jason Raymond and others led to a final break by Billy Nipp to tie the score as the horn sounded. Tourney MVP Adam Smith then nailed the conversion kick with no time left on the clock and the Irish had the crown.

The Irish wrestlers’ march to a 20th State title was characterized by strong and consistent performances up and down the line-up. After finishing second in the Duals, the team came back to clinch the State title before the finals began, a testament to the depth and skill of the wrestlers across the 14 weight classes. In fact, Coach Pat Simpson ’74’s team set a record with 13 wrestlers qualifying for the state. Freshman Eli King, junior Chris Wesnofske and senior John Hagey claimed individual titles, Hagey’s in particularly dramatic fashion. A reversal in the last 10 seconds produced the 3-2 victory and an exultant explosion from the Irish faithful.

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FIFTEEN FATHER RYAN SENIORS SIGN TO PLAY ATHLETICS IN COLLEGE

ARCHIVES ADD COACHING, FOOTBALL LEGACY

The 90th Father Ryan school year has produced some outstanding additions to our archives.

Fifteen Father Ryan seniors announced that they have signed to play sports at their colleges, one of the largest totals ever TOP ROW

the Irish, will continue his football career CHANDLER CARNEY will play rugby in Indiana at Butler University. at Arkansas State. Carney was part of the recent state championship team.

BRENDAN JORDAN will play baseball for Columbia State.

ALLANA CARVALHO will play lacrosse at Erskine College and has helped build the JORDYN LEE, one of the senior leaders Irish program to one of the best in the re- of the Irish State champions, will be congion. tinuing her soccer career at Maryville College.

NOAH CARTWRIGHT, who starred for the strong Irish lacrosse program for four THIRD ROW years, and was one of only three Academic EMILY MOSELEY, All-State athlete for All-Americans in Tennessee, will be play- the Irish and a leader of their 2012 chaming lacrosse at Colgate University. pionship and 2013 runner-up teams, will play soccer at UT at Chattanooga.

JORDAN COOK, one of the stars of the regional champion baseball team, will play BILLY NIPP, who starred on both sides baseball at Columbia State. of the ball for the Irish football team, will play at New Mexico State.

MICHAEL ECKHART, who helped lead the Irish to their 20th State wrestling cham- DEKEIVIS PERRY starred on the gridpionship this past winter and a four-year iron for the Irish on both sides of the ball. star for the team, will wrestle at American He will continue his football career at University in Washington, D.C. Thomas More College.

SECOND ROW

JOHN HAGEY, a state champion as a senior and one of the leaders of the wrestling team, will continue his sport as the recipient of an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy.

MARY FRANCES HOOTS will play soccer at Tennessee Tech. She was an All-State performer for the Lady Irish and part of the 2012 State Championship team.

JOSEPH HOLZMER, a running back for 14

ALEX SCHWAB will continue his soccer career at King University. He was a key member of the 2013 State championship team.

LUKE STREBEL was the placekicker and punter for the Irish football team and the player whose kick in OT won the 2013 state soccer title for the Irish. He received an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he will continue his soccer career.

This summer the Catignani family donated the personal memorabilia and papers of long-time coach and Athletic Director Louis J. Catignani ’44. This rich trove includes everything from coaching clinic papers to team photos to his Coach of the Year plaques. It even includes his coaching whistle (above), and anyone who was ever in earshot of that whistle knows what its sound meant. We are thrilled that the family has provided these items to Father Ryan.

In addition, Randy Dubois ’69 has provided the school with the scrapbook of the 1930-31 football seasons of Father Ryan. The scrapbook was kept by his mother while she was dating her eventual husband and Randy’s father, Charles Dubois ’32. The scrapbook has many a newspaper account of the Irish and the Panthers...and yes, it does help answer the question of when we became the Irish. The answer: we always were Irish and Panthers.

We are grateful to the Catignani and Dubois families for providing these materials to enrich the Father Ryan legacy that Coach Catignani and Mr. Dubois helped establish. A selection of items will be displayed on campus this year, and we will provide more detail on them in our next Irish Ayes.

SEASONS TO REMEMBER BASKETBALL The Lady Irish were a force all season, with size on the inside and the touch from outside. They knocked off JPII in the first round of the regionals, but fell to Briarcrest to fall just short of the Final Four. The team graduates three but had strong performances from its young players. Their return and a strong freshman class bodes well for 2014-2015.

The boys’ first game and win of the season against Lipscomb showed much promise for a successful season, one that ended all too soon. The team was able to claim victories against JPII, FRA, Baylor, Notre Dame, and Independence.

In the regionals a gallant effort against Brentwood Academy resulted in an OT loss that ended the season, one game short of the Final Four.

BASEBALL It was an exceptional combination that always wins ball games; a deep pitching staff and consistent hitting. The Irish parlayed that combo to the regular season championship and the #1 seed in the State from the Region. It earned them a matchup with CBHS, the #3 seed but the regular season power out of Memphis, and the result was back-to-back losses in

the State quarterfinals that kept the Irish from a State Championship berth. Look for a strong season next year as most of the team’s core returns.

BOWLING It was a memorable year for the girls on the lanes as they bowled their way to a 15-2 record and a slot in the State championships. A loss to GPS in the quarterfinals brought this exceptional season to an early end.

HOCKEY

4th for a 10-9 win and an early end to the Irish season.

SOCCER The boys had another impressive season that took them to the Final Four of the state, with a strong shot at back to back titles. But two late goals by Baylor clinched the victory in the State semis and left the Irish one game short of their goal. Next year, though, looks good, with experience returning and new talent arriving.

The Irish produced a 9-6-2-2 record to finish third in their division and qualify for the Predators Cup. The three playoff games were full of offense for the skaters, who outscored the opposition 14-8, but two tight games fell the other way, dropping the Irish out of the Cup contention.

SWIMMING

LACROSSE

TRACK & FIELD

Lacrosse for both the boys and the girls continues to grow, and the talent with it. This year the boys opened with a win and a loss against Alabama’s top teams, then marched through an 11-6 season, featuring a 7-5 win over Ensworth.

These same two teams met in the State tournament in May and produced a thriller, with Ensworth rallying in the

On April 12 seniors William Webb, Sean Vance, Ben Weisel, and Alex Reiter broke the school record in the 4x800 meter relay. This record has not been broken since 1982. Ben went on to claim a 2nd place in the State 1600 meter run, a good sign for next year for this junior runner and for the overall Irish team.

Many personal bests were claimed in the 2014 State Swimming Championships held at Centennial Sportsplex, and Samantha Gafford broke the school record in the 100M Backstroke with a time of 1:00.51.

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Cover Story summer 2014

Seigenthaler through the years (clockwise from left): In one of the clubs at Father Ryan; working with Robert Kennedy; honored at bridge naming; greeting former Vice President Al Gore; championing the First Amendment.

John Seigenthaler ’45:

AMERICA’S 20TH CENTURY FOUNDING FATHER Founding Father?

Wait a minute, aren’t they those men in powdered wigs and funny pants that wrote down this nation’s most important documents, now almost 240 years ago? The men whom we revere and honor on every national holiday. None of them lived in the 20th century, did they?

But for anyone who knew John Seigenthaler, saw him in action, heard him speak and measured his life, he was as much a founding father for this nation as those 18th century giants.

Think about it. Their goal in writing the Declaration of Independence, in crafting the Constitution was to form a more perfect Union, to uphold the belief that all men are created equal. And to provide a basic principle that future generations would strengthen. In the 20th century, that Union was not yet perfect, equality was not a reality; it was dependent on men and women who held these beliefs sacrosanct, who saw these documents as living things, and who were committed to helping America become as great as it espoused to be.

It took people who were committed, well read, logical in their arguments and determined to fight. It took people like John Lewis. Diane Nash. Dr. James Lawson. And John Seigenthaler. Citizens, every one. A pantheon of founding fathers and 16

mothers, people who gave life to the promise of the Declaration of Independence, who challenged us to accept the law set forth in the Constitution. Who challenged us to be citizens.

John Seigenthaler’s life mirrored those familiar founding fathers. His library may have rivaled Jefferson’s. His arguments were as compelling as those of Madison and Hamilton and Jay as they promulgated the tenets of the Constitution in the Federalist Papers. He inspired several newsrooms full of journalists to seek and tell the truth, journalists who guided us through the rocky ridges and took up dangerous assignments.

He was wise and calculating and insightful, just like Franklin and Washington.

And he came into this world—and left this world—in the month of our nation’s birth.

A proud son of Father Ryan John had one class year—’45—and he wore it proudly. Perhaps it was his experience in the classroom, in the editorial room meetings of The Panther, or on the sidelines of a game. Maybe it was the powerful, lasting friendships, many formed in grade school—Gene Strobel, George Barrett, Tom Sharp, Gene Pentecost—friends of the family, friends who became family, who

clung to that ’45 and celebrated a time and a class that could do anything. As the years passed and the term “Golden Grad” was added to their names, that class connection became even stronger, binding them through shared experiences, calling them to gather and celebrate their history and their school.

President Jim McIntyre knew this respected son of Father Ryan before he “knew” him. He wrote a paper in college about the Freedom Riders, detailing the trips these young men and women took into the South in the early 1960s and studying the people who were involved with the Riders. He wrote about John Seigenthaler. Imagine his reaction when he came to Father Ryan in 2004 and discovered that John was an alumnus. Then imagine his reaction when John uttered these words to him: “Father Ryan didn’t make a difference in my life. It made THE difference in my life.” And that reaction only grew more wide-eyed as John told his alma mater, in a video piece produced in 2012, why Father Ryan made such a difference.

“I was a junior, walking down the hallway on Elliston Place, and Fr. Theophane stopped me, handed me a book and said I should read it,” John related.

“It was titled The Mind of the South, by W.J. Cash. I devoured it, and a couple of days later Fr. Theophane asked me if I

had read it. I told him I had and he asked me ‘did you learn anything?’ and I said I did…I learned something about myself.

As best I can remember, that book was my first exposure to the issues of race in this country and it served as the foundation of my career. “Posing the natural follow-up question, John said, “I have no idea why Father singled me out for this book, but I am fortunate he did.”

“I was always struck by his smile, warm, engaging and interested,” President McIntyre commented. “And I was always struck by his humanity. He was on our campus often, talking with students, reminding them of the need to keep fighting, to keep reading, to keep mindful of the freedoms we’ve received. He was truly the voice for the voiceless, the advocate for those who could not advocate for themselves. And our students knew him for that and welcomed him for his life and his words.”

This is my bible The word “citizenship” popped up often in John Seigenthaler’s talks. He took pride in it and encouraged others to be just that, a citizen. In the same video from 2012 he bragged on his school, saying that Father Ryan prepares men and women in an academic and a spiritual way for citizenship. There was no greater title to hold; no better job to as-

pire to. His life expressed it.

Mr. McIntyre said that John Seigenthaler’s life will continue to inspire Father Ryan students. “The freshman walk each July is an evening tour of Father Ryan designed to introduce our newest students to the legacy of Father Ryan. John Seigenthaler’s life is told on that walk. So are the lives of Willie Brown ’65 and Msgr. James Hitchcock ’39, and Fr. Francis Shea and so many others whose commitment to citizenship and equality and a more perfect Union continue to inspire our students. John is teaching us still.”

In an eloquent and loving salute to his grandfather, Jack Seigenthaler told the thousand visitors gathered to say goodbye to John Seigenthaler of the paperbacked copy of the U.S. Constitution his “Grand” had given him. The inscription—“This is my bible.” That bible’s primary verse—for John Seigenthaler and the nation—was the First Amendment, detailing the five main rights of our citizens. That Amendment wrapped around his life, even wrapping his casket, reminding us of his impact and of the values and principles he held dear, reminding us to protect them always.

John Seigenthaler. Journalist. Golden Grad. Advocate. Founding Father. Citizen. Thank you.

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IT BEGAN AT FATHER RYAN STORY BY MONSIGNOR OWEN CAMPION ’58

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In the spring of 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its historic decision in the Brown v. Board of Education case, striking down the long-held premise of “separate but equal” education. That fall, Father Ryan welcomed African-American students, the first school in the South, along with Cathedral High School, to do so. Monsignor Owen Campion ’58, a freshman that fall, shares his recollections on why it happened at Father Ryan and the impact on him, the school and the community.

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H

ere at the beginning, I identify myself. I am a Caucasian.

My recollections are in this context. African-Americans who lived through the years from 1954 and 1958 have their memories. Only by knowing the experiences of all affected by that time can any genuine record of this period be found—and, frankly, any lesson learned. Lessons about race still need to be learned, even in 2014. By any estimate, May 17, 1954, initiated in the United States a social revolution perhaps akin only to the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and to the full and final ending of slavery by constitutional amendment taking effect on December 31, 1865.

obsessed my parents. Native-born Southerners, children of native-born Tennesseans, they hardly were unaccustomed to strict racial segregation. For them, segregation was, and always had been, a way of life, touching every aspect of living.

November election day was a formality, albeit constitutionally required. The real election was in August, the Democratic primary, as Tennesseans then overwhelmingly voted for Democrats.

Running for governor that year were inPerhaps they were lulled into thinking cumbent Governor Frank G. Clement, that the ruling would not affect their from Dickson, against former Congresslives, and precisely my own life. Surely, man and former Governor Gordon W. if anyone read Brown, it was clear that it Browning, from Huntingdon. Contesting involved only public schools. My parents for a seat in the U. S. Senate were Senator were planning to send Estes Kefauver, from me to a private school, BY ANY ESTIMATE, MAY 17, 1954, Chattanooga, and Father Ryan High Congressman Ross INITIATED IN THE UNITED STATES Bass, from Pulaski.

School.

I suspect that they A SOCIAL REVOLUTION PERHAPS People were interestsaw no connection AKIN ONLY TO THE DECLARATION ed in both races, and between Brown, and I heard adults talk On May 17, 1954, the United States SuOF INDEPENDENCE IN 1776 its requirements, and about them at length. preme Court, with all justices concurring, their Catholic faith.

I was fascinated myin Brown v. Topeka Board of Education, Rare, indeed very rare, was the priest self, since so much of the campaigning ruled that racial segregation of students who preached about the immorality of was on television. I cannot remember, in public schools violated the U. S. Conracism, at least in Nashville, although however, anybody speaking of either stitution and, further, that provisions to there were strong priestly voices on the race in terms of segregation and Brown permit access to these schools by all posubjects elsewhere in the country and in v. Topeka Board, although many thought tential students, regardless of race, had to the national Catholic press. that Estes Kefauver was not truly a loyal proceed “with all deliberate speed.”

Southerner, and “Southern loyalty” alAs far as my own schooling, I can recall For three weeks, at least as I recall, the ways had racial overtones and expectaone Dominican nun at Overbrook, Sister ruling had little effect on me. My contemtions not to the advantage of AfricanBasilia, now with God, who told my class poraries never gave it a thought. It hardly Americans. about having attended Mass at Jackson’s St. Joseph’s Church, This was the setting when Brown surged one of those several parishes into my world very early one bright, alTHE REVEREND MONSIGNOR OWEN FRANCIS CAMPION ’58 founded for African-Ameri- ready hot June day. I had just been graduwas born in Nashville, Tennessee, and cans by Bishop Thomas S. By- ated from the eighth grade at Overbrook attended Overbrook School, Father Ryan High School and later rne, in the very well-meaning School. The Cathedral of the Incarnation St. Bernard College, in Cullbut patronizing mindset of had its own grade school, but Overbrook man, Alabama. He completed Catholic ministry and blacks boys were among the altar servers at the his theological training at St. at the beginning of the Twen- Cathedral where three Masses were celMary’s Seminary and University, tieth Century. ebrated each weekday morning, at 6, 7, in Baltimore, Maryland and was and 8, and four boys served at each Mass. ordained a priest on May 21, 1966.

I can hear Sister Basilia still.

“I sat in that church”, she said, That week, I had had the luck of the From 1971 to 1988, he served as Editor-in-Chief of The Tennes”I thanked God for creating draw in being assigned the 6 o’clock see Register. Since 1988, he has us all and for loving us all — Mass. My partners were the Sutherland been Associate Publisher of Our equally”. boys, with whom I had studied at OverSunday Visitor Publishing, Inc., brook, Arthur ’56, Charles ’59 (RIP), in Huntington, Indiana, the largest I remember her. Period.

Ernest and Pete ’61. In June 1954, Arpublisher of Catholic periodicals In the summer of 1954, coinci- thur was old enough to drive, so with and books in English in the world, and dentally, Tennessee’s statewide him at the wheel of the car he and his Editor of The Priest. elections were underway. In brothers came for me.

He served for nine years as a member of the Board those days, as today, the state of Directors of the Catholic Press Association, being It was early enough that I had not seen my officially elected its governor elected as national President in 1984. In January father, nor had I watched him read The and United States Senators on 1989, the Holy See named him the Ecclesiastical Nashville Tennessean over breakfast.

Adviser for the International Catholic Union of the the first Tuesday after the first Press (UCIP), the official, worldwide organization of Monday of November. The I shall never forget the moment. I stepped Catholic publishers and journalists.

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into the Sutherlands’ car, and Arthur said, “Owen, did you see the Tennessean? The bishop (Bishop William L. Adrian), has integrated Father Ryan”. (The bishop also desegregated the other Catholic schools directly controlled by the diocese, and the Sisters of Mercy simultaneously announced that race no longer would play a role in admissions at St. Bernard Academy, which they owned and operated.)

Council #544, and his friends among the knights who served in Nashville law enforcement told him of the threats that had been sent, evidently in sufficient number and with sufficiently angry feelings, to Bishop Adrian.

The police had reason to worry about Bishop Adrian. He lived alone. He travelled the state, as all the state was then the responsibility of the Diocese of Nashville, frequently, and always by car, never by train, surely never by airplane, and inevitably by himself.

Whatever else was said on the drive to and from the Cathedral, I now do not recall.

However, the announcement must have brought some People spoke of hearing dismay, I am inclined to that he had addressed a say considerable puzzlebanquet in Memphis, or ment, into the minds of confirmed at an evening my parents. That night, my ceremony in Johnson City, mother and I, at her instiand then boarded his car for gation, drove to the home of the long, by today’s stanmy Overbrook classmate, Three clergymen were dards slow, drive back to and still my good friend, instrumental in the Nashville—all alone.

Frank Wilk ’58. My moth- integration of Father Ryan. er, Frances Bass Campion, Bishop Adrian, Principals In other words, he would and Frank’s mother, CeFr. Hitchcock ’39 and have been an easy target Fr. Shea. cilia Evans Wilk, both for anyone with a bitter now with God, were good attitude about his decifriends, often confiding in each other sion to crack the wall of racial division and enjoying each other’s company. that had existed in Nashville since its foundation in 1780. (Blessedly, all he It was a hot night. We stood in the Wilks’ encountered were poison-pen letters and yard. Frank and I stood, shifting from crank telephone calls.) one foot to another, not knowing what to say, as our mothers pondered what I wonder if he, whom I hardly ever knew, desegregation actually might mean. My was ever in the slightest afraid, living all mother and Frank’s mother had a special alone in that remote house on Porter interest in what may happen when Ryan Road in East Nashville. From what was desegregated. Both he and I were I heard from those who knew him scheduled to enter the school in Septem- well, I suspect he was not at all unber. easy. For him, Church teaching was granite on which to stand—and even Looking back, I am sure that some apto die. prehension was in the air. As the summer progressed, and people began to realize Nashville was fortunate in that its that indeed Father Ryan would be open political leaders did not rise up in to all irrespective of race, and as other re- fury, as did their colleagues in many sults of Brown seemed possibly or likely another Southern city. Ben West was to occur, ugly things were said, and ugly mayor, having taken office in 1951 things were predicted. and serving until 1963. A native of Columbia, a Nashville resident for My father, Owen F. Campion, was a demany years, he was calm. Eventuvoted member of Knights of Columbus

ally, when bluntly confronted by AfricanAmerican college students outraged at the bombing of a local black attorney’s home, he publicly stated that racial segregation was wrong. His place in the more peaceful desegregation of Nashville’s public and commercial facilities is a good part of the story.

In the summer of 1954, however, no Tennessee political leader, save the few who themselves were African-Americans, uttered any support whatsoever for Brown.

Newspapers were important influences in those days. In editorials and columns the afternoon daily, the Nashville Banner, raged and ranted. The morning paper, the Tennessean, was more measured. In time, the Tennessean was to make a positive contribution to Middle Tennessee’s adjustment to the new “Southern Way of Life.”

I always have been proud of Nashville’s response to the revolution begun with Brown, but all was not peaches and cream.

As the summer of 1954 went along, and as more and more Southerners came to know that a social revolution was underway. Some were outright furious. Others simply were unsure. None, as I remember, at least from my circle, or from my parents’ circle, were pleased.

Whatever, my Overbrook classmates and I did not change our plans, or our parents did not change plans for us, to attend Father Ryan.

August came. Clement was soundly renominated for the governorship and Ke-

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fauver for the United States Senate, and they already had come to be known as “moderate” Southern Democrats. Neither even whispered defiance of Brown.

The city’s leadership was equally “moderate.” The resulting atmosphere helped, although again it is important to note none of these leaders in the slightest celebrated desegregation, and none spoke of human equality or equal rights or opportunity for every person in precise terms.

the school’s typing classroom. The Father Ryan Women’s Auxiliary, composed of mothers of students, was responsible for recruiting typists.

So, a Father Ryan mother sat at each table. Prospective students would enter the gym, wait his turn (only males attended Father Ryan in that day and time), and then go to a table when its chair was vacant. Each mother, or typist, had a stack of blank cards at her hand. She would For me, lessons about human equality ask a series of questions, name, address, in precise terms were to come at Father parents or guardian, grade, elementary Ryan, although I hurry school, and any medFATHER SHEA, FUTURE to say that I never heard ical situation that either of my parents would be of interest BISHOP OF EVANSVILLE, speak in genuinely racto the school. The INDIANA, SOUTHERN-BORN information actually ist terms.

AND BRED, WAS HIMSELF A was quite complete.

The first lesson came on Registration Day REVOLUTIONARY, IN THE BEST It even included color at Father Ryan, and in of eyes and color of SENSE, PURGING WRONG, particular that night at hair. our family dinner table REPLACING IT WITH RIGHT. Days before regiswhen my mother spoke tration, Mrs. Grace of her own role in Father Ryan’s registraSutherland, mother of my friends the tion.

Sutherland boys, called my mother to In those days, this was the routine. The ask if my mother would be a typist. first task of the day for a registering stu- Mother agreed. dent, new or returning, was to enter the That evening she reported the instrucFather Ryan gymnasium. There card tations that Father Francis R. Shea, Father bles had been placed—twenty or so. On Ryan’s principal, had given all the typeach was a typewriter, borrowed from ists. He ordered that no registration card

should refer to a student’s race.

His direction enabled him to be honest when the Nashville Banner reported about Ryan’s registration, a historic day, after all, not only for Nashville or Tennessee but for as many as 16 other states that had segregated schools.

Asked how many African-American boys entered, Father Shea answered that he did not know. He explained that Father Ryan had no interest in its students’ racial or ethnic background.

Looking back, it was somewhat ironic.

Elegant, articulate, careful Father Shea, future Bishop of Evansville, Indiana, Southern-born and bred, was himself a revolutionary, in the best sense, purging wrong, replacing it with right.

Classes began. I was too young then to take notice, but I suspect the AfricanAmerican students were cautious themselves. I now wonder what they expected.

They ate, by their own choice, at their own tables at lunch in the cafeteria.

We Caucasian students, to the best of my memory, never invited them to join us at our tables. Old habits die hard, but I am frank, and I think that I am accurate, in saying that nothing untoward ever occurred at Father Ryan, at least in my years, because of anything racial.

Still, as I was to learn after my time as a student, African-American students felt that they were excluded. They were, no doubt about it.

It was to another legendary principal, Father, later Monsignor, James R. Hitchcock ’39, that credit must go for finally tearing down the wall broken first when Father Ryan desegregated.

A sensitive man, and one of the most alert men that I have ever met when it comes to human instincts and feelings, he quickly saw in 1957 when he was named the principal that Father Ryan’s AfricanAmerican students were not full-fledged partners in the school’s life.

Father Hitchcock went to Bishop Adrian, characteristically straightforward in what he had to say. He told the bishop that they could not teach that all human beings are equal before God, because each human being is God’s precious creation, and that the Catholic Church, of all institutions, could never send the slightest signal that something otherwise was true or that compromise anywhere was an option.

Warned that desegregating athletics might prompt Father Ryan’s expulsion from the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association and/or the Nashville Interscholastic League, he said, “So be it. If they throw us out, we will have intramural sports only, but we will not exclude any of our students.”

These earnestly complimentary statements, I hope, give the impression of how much the example of Father Ryan’s priests, when all our instructors were priests, had an impact on me at a crucial time in my human development.

The bishop told him to go to it, to follow his conscience, to follow the Church.

Father Hitchcock went back to Father Ryan and desegregated every aspect of school life.

Desegregation in Nashville was not always a happy story. Threats were shouted. Homes were bombed. Heroic students from Fisk, Meharry and TSU marched.

Vanderbilt professors protested—arguing for equality. Other academics defiantly opposed desegregation. Politicians ran for office on racist platforms—and thankfully most with these platforms met defeat. Many priests, rabbis and ministers rose to the occasion. Some clergy did not. African-Americans suffered, as they so long had suffered. Many white people resisted. Many white people were indifferent. Many white people knew that the

Douglas Ayers ’58

Darryl Crawford ’58

old days of humiliating and abusing African-Americans had to go. Many white people put actions behind their words.

Systems changed.

They changed, but not at once nor altogether nor absolutely or completely.

Racial justice remains so widespread in America. Human equality has not been truly sewn into the fabric of the American culture.

An unwelcomed modern byproduct of an otherwise fortuitous revolution is the myth of the “post-racism” era. Minds, and behavior, still must change. Opportunities must be extended.

1954-1955 at Father Ryan gave me the perspective from which I see all of this and say all of this.

new faces in the fall of 1954 They came from from schools like St. Vincent and Immaculate Mother. From St. Patrick Parish. Even from Bay St. Louis in Mississippi. They were the first African-Americans to integrate Father Ryan, the first to integrate classrooms in the South. And while participation in TSSAA athletics was still nine years, off they were the embodiment of thenprincipal Fr. Francis Shea’s lasting comment—“we don’t have black students, we don’t have white students; we have Father Ryan students.”

Many of these young men are no longer with us, but Irish Ayes is looking to tell their story from Edward D. Bosley, III ’55 Mitchell Joseph Hunter ’55 this historic period. Charles Kinnard ’55 will be C.S.M.C., ’55; C.S.M.C., ’55; with us for our opening night football game and Intramurals, ’55.Transfer Intramurals, ’55.Transfer Immaculate Mother from St. Augustine’s will share his story. For now, remember their faces, from High School Seminary. Bay St. Louis, their names and celebrate the role they played in St. Vinvent De Paul Parish Mississippi St. Philip’s Parish changing the South.

22

Leslie Beasley ’58

Herman Collier ’57

Thomas Crowder ’56

Charles Kinnard Jr. ’55

C.S.M.C., ’55; Intramurals, ’55.

Transfer from Immaculate Mother High School St. Patrick’s Parish

Frank Drake ’57

Leroy Drake ’58

Richard Ordway ’56

Bernard Pratt ’57

David Tate ’58

Willie Williams ’56

23

June of 1955 came. The term ended, and Father Ryan furnished the former Confederacy and many other states as well with the first example of desegregation, and of something more profound—of actually applying human dignity.

THE BISHOP TOLD HIM TO GO TO IT, TO FOLLOW HIS CONSCIENCE, TO FOLLOW THE CHURCH. FATHER HITCHCOCK WENT BACK TO FATHER RYAN AND DESEGREGATED EVERY ASPECT OF SCHOOL LIFE. I had loved every minute of that year, as I loved every minute of all my four years at Father Ryan.

Wanting to recall every minute fueled my eagerness that June, and each year thereafter, to get my copy of the yearbook, The Panther.

Excitedly, and proudly, therefore, I brought my 1955 Panther home. I immediately showed it to my mother, explaining who was this classmate and how sweet was that football victory over Litton.

Then I hurried to show the yearbook to my nextdoor neighbor, who himself was in a private, nondenominational Nashville high school.

He opened it. He did not smile as my mother had smiled. His eyes fell on the picture of an AfricanAmerican classmate, and my neighbor seemed especially disturbed that I had asked this classmate to autograph his picture, since the autograph suggested a relationship that somehow was not in order.

However could I go to school with them?, he asked.

I remember this moment well. I quietly answered that I could never, ever avoid a school, or a person, because of her or his race, that at Father Ryan I had learned we all are children of God, whom God loves, and what I learned at Ryan had concrete consequences.

His face revealed his bewilderment. I was not at all bewildered. Indeed, at 15, I was utterly secure in my conviction. Unlike him, I was standing on a rock as solid as Gibraltar. I pitied him.

In closing this return to those days, I devoutly thank good Father Shea, Bishop Shea, brave Father, Msgr., Hitchcock, and the other priests on the faculty, Mrs. Gentry, Leo Long, and my fellow students, race not pertaining, for leading me to secure, now lifelong, footing on a rock of Gospel principle.

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THE BOX SCORE TELLS ONLY HALF THE STORY

F

ATHER RYAN reserve Lynn Dempsey sent an arching 15-foot shot whip-

a harrowing 52-51 victory over

-

This lede to the January 5, 1965, newspaper account of the historic Father Ryan match-up with Pearl High School tells the story of a basketball game. Written by long-time Tennessean sports reporter Jimmy Davy, it recounts an outstanding ball game played between two of the best teams in the state. But the story of the game is only part of the story of this game and its meaning, which reverberated throughout Nashville and the South, bringing with it change and progress that echo through today.

The game had been much anticipated, the first ever between an all-black school and an integrated school. Father Ryan had integrated sports the previous season, December 1963, when Willie Brown ’65 and Jesse Porter ’64 became the first African-Americans to play in the TSSAA. The Irish rose in the state rankings and came into this game with only one loss, to Dupont in the annual March of Dimes game.

Thanks to that step and the events taking place across the state, the TSSAA made the decision in 1964 to allow African-American teams as affiliate members of the organization. Pearl High’s teams were nationally known, their players recruited by colleges through-

out the South and to hoops hotbeds and national champions like UCLA and Loyola of Chicago.

This team—led by Perry Wallace, Ted “Hound” McClain, and Walter Fisher—was unbeaten and by all assessments the best team in the state, maybe the best in the country. View the footage of the game from today’s viewpoint, and most basketball fans would tell you that the Pearl team of 1965 could be state champions today.

It was a match-up of two basketball teams, two schools, two communities…and it produced an outcome that is still fresh in many people’s minds.

Dempsey’s shot came after his -

A box score to history: free throws proved decisive for Irish.

from the corner of the court with

this game. It was a powerful moment in our lives…”

Lyn Dempsey’s full shock of hair is still there, just a little grayer now. He remembers the last moments vividly, even though he didn’t see the ball go through the hoop.

“I had substituted earlier and, like everyone else, I was just getting into position on the last possession, knowing that Willie was going to take the last shot, and hopeful it was going to go in,” Dempsey said. “When it missed and came to me, I knew I had to get it up quickly, and all I saw as I shot was Perry Wallace’s body leaping at me and stretching to block the shot. It went over his fingers and that’s the last I saw of it. The crowd noise told me the rest.”

-

The crowd of 8,300 was the biggest to see a regular season game in the city’s history, and every fan came to the game to see their team win, and in the process, see their team make a statement. Many Irish alumni, only grade schoolers at the time, still remember their reasons for going.

“Without a doubt, it had to be one of the most exciting games I had ever seen.” “It was the first time I had been to the Municipal Auditorium.” “It’s hard to believe that it was almost 50 years ago.”

Terry Shelton ’69 remembers it as a night of importance. “When the Tennessean did an article about my dad when he died in 2003, I specifically mentioned his belief in fairness and equity, citing how he insisted on taking all of us to the Ryan-Pearl game, even with rampant rumors of a race riot, regardless of the outcome. So glad I was there. Real history.”

And Bob Boyd ’70 said “My dad took me and other members of my family to

For the Pearl faithful it was an opportunity, one of many that was happening across the South during this era, for them to demonstrate that their teams belonged, that they could play against the best teams, white or black, and succeed. Howard Gentry, Pearl ’70, was at the game and remembers the anticipation throughout the community. Hearing him talk at Harper’s in Nashville recently, he recounted what the game meant to him, with several other Pearl fans chiming in with information on where they sat and how they felt. “It was an important game from a basketball sense, but it was more important for our city to see these two schools play and these two communities come together,” Gentry said.

It was almost a bigger night for the city.

Billy Lynch ’64 recounted that Joe Shapiro, coach of West High, was working with Bill Derrick ’48 in the hopes of doing a public/private basketball night, with his West team playing Cameron the same night that Father Ryan played

Pearl. “Joe Shapiro played a big role in our city’s progress and deserves a great deal of credit. But there were too many obstacles to overcome and the double bill never happened. It would have been something to see,” Lynch said.

-

-

The details of the game are fascinating to read, even more exciting to watch. At the recent celebration and retirement of the number 50 last fall, the tape of the Pearl game played. Willie’s teammates gathered around to watch, smiling at the 25

sight of classmates 50 years younger, enraptured by the skill of the athletes and waiting for the outcome, long ago decided but no less exciting when Dempsey’s shot found the basket.

-

It may be trite to say the score didn’t matter—of course it did.

The fans, the players and the coaches wanted the victory. But the game became more important for what followed it, what it engendered, both for the community and the players.

in 1965—the African-American team title—before roaring through the TSSAA the next year, undefeated and barely challenged, claiming the 1966 full TSSAA title at Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gym. The players went on, with Willie going to MTSU, becoming the first African-American to sign a grant-in-aid in the OVC and subsequently the school’s all-time leading scorer. Perry Wallace headed to Vanderbilt, the school’s and the SEC’s first African-American signee. Both faced challenges, anger, nastiness. Both were pioneers.

LANGDONS BIG NIGHT A BIG NIGHT FOR FATHER RYAN

Field goals. Rebounds. Free throws. The composition of a box score...and the story of game that made a difference.

Father Ryan went all the way to State, with just the Dupont loss, before falling to Collinwood in the opening round. Pearl went on to claim the “Affiliate Championship” of the TSSAA

Father Ryan’s 2014 Legacy Gala set records for attendance, live auction revenues and compliments as our community gathered to honor Jim ’54 and Pat ’58 Langdon for their more than nine decades of service to Father Ryan.

A record crowd of 730 came to the new—and stunning—Downtown Omni Hotel for the 35th edition of this celebratory night. The comments were many…“one of the best Gala’s ever”…“what a fun crowd and beautiful night”…“the video was amazing and so well done”…“It was a great venue at the Omni Hotel”...“a great night to be Irish.”

Most important, the dollars raised were significant—$100,000 in one night for the programs at Father Ryan—bringing the total Gala funds raised over the last four years to over $400,000.

JANUARY 5, 2015 Nashville Sports Council Luncheon and Symposium, featuring some of the players from the 1965 game and other Nashville figures.

Wildhorse Saloon 120 2nd Avenue, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Exhibit of Photos and Memorabilia from the era.

Civil Rights Room, Nashville Public Library 615 Church Street at 3:30 p.m.

On behalf of everyone associated with the night, the chairs, Gary and Sandy Guidry, all the volunteers, the staff, and the Langdons themselves, thank you for your support of Father Ryan.

Pre-Game Events Municipal Auditorium 5:00 p.m.

Father Ryan vs. Pearl-Cohn Tipoff 7:30 p.m.

Offical Sponsor

Make plans to attend the game, join us for the symposium and participate in this historic moment.

More information is available at fatherryan.org/Pearl50

26

2014

To see photos from the evening and to enjoy the video on the impact of the Langdons on Father Ryan, presented at the Gala, go to www.fatherryan.org/ legacygala. Go ahead and save-the-date for next year—March 7, 2015, at the Omni Nashville!

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Class Notes summer 2014 1963 PAUL MCCREE THORNTON’S novel, The Star Spangled Son,

has been published by Infinity. His first novel, a historical romance, is a wonderful read, packed with romance, adventure, tragedy and excitement.

Paul is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having completed two combat deployments in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. He began flying during his years at Father Ryan and is a licensed commercial pilot.

1964 DAVID BROWN was appointed to be a Commissioner on the

PI & Polygraph Commission by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam on April 3, 2014.

Lou Graham ’56 with the tourney winners

1968 SKIP BEASLEY retired from FedEX in December as a pilot,

flying mainly international routes around the world. He has spent 43 years flying military, commercial and general aviation aircraft and wants to continue flying for a charity.

1969 DON CARNES retired from Knox County Parks and Recreation on December 1, 2013. This is his second retirement, having served 20 years in the U.S. Army, retiring in 1994.

The Golden Grads from the Class of 1964. First row (left to right): John J. Spore, III; David Brown, Jr.; Michael F. Mondelli; Collins W. Smith; Phillip E. Hill; John Coode IV; William X. Andrews. Second row: Brother Bill Spond; Patrick E. Kelley; William L. Myers, Sr.; Tom Bush; Paul W. Clunan, II; William J. Walker. Third row: Robert F. Dooley; James V. Kennedy; James V. Mondelli; Stephen T. Baltz; Michael T. Monohan; Robert E. Walsh, Jr.; William Lynch; Michael Philbin. Fourth row: Joseph D. Sanders; Jerome A. Bush; Ronald B. Deal; Charles Krusa; Fritz W. Sander; Glenn A. Sneed, Jr.; Paul E. Donahue.

1969 JOE HOLZMER and JIM HOLZEMER were ordained to the

diaconate on June 9, 2014. Joe Holzmer is assigned to Cathedral of the Incarnation and Jim Holzemer is assigned to St. Ann Church.

Class of 1979

1974 JOHN SEIGENTHALER, JR. joins Al-Jazeera America as nightly news anchor. His career in broadcast journalism began in Nashville when he worked as a reporter at WKRN and WSMV until he eventually moved to New York and spent 11 years at NBC. Since 2008, he has been the CEO of Seigenthaler Public Relations in New York. John has won numerous awards for his work including two Emmys.

1976 VIC ORTALE is an architect in Boston with the firm Goody

Clancy and is the lead architect at Vanderbilt University’s newest dormitory. He is pictured with Jeffrey Timberlake, Vic Ortale ’76, Cynthia Ortale and Buddy Ortale ’79. He spends his free time in his art studio, and was recently a featured artist in an exhibit at the Boston Center for the Arts, titled “The Infinite Space of the Possible.” The Boston Globe described his paintings in this way; “his buildings sway and curve, and seem to glow from within.”

Thank you to our many alumni who made Father Ryan’s annual Reunion Weekend a memorable one!

On Friday evening, a record-setting number of alumni gathered to enjoy a reception on campus where they were entertained with a jazz band featuring our own band director, Jeff Schletzer, on the drums.

Class of 1969

Saturday morning teed off with the annual Lou Graham Alumni Golf Tournament. The tournament was another sell-out this year, raising more than $15,000 for Tuition Assistance. Congratulations to our winning team: representing our Leadership Sponsor LSI: Marshall Bartlett, Brian Cunningham, Eric Kruse ’92 and Doug Stacey ’93. A special thanks goes to the tourney’s namesake Lou Graham ’56 for hosting our event.

Class of 2009

Saturday evening the classes of 2004, 1999, 1989, 1984, 1979, 1974, 1969 and 1949 celebrated their reunions with parties throughout the city.

1988 ANGELINE (SETA) TRULUCK has just moved back to the

Nashville area with her children: Terry (18) attending Lincoln College of Technology, Zach (14), Savannah (7) and Dakota (4). She can be reached at: 4my4kids.inc@gmail.com.

Sunday morning at the Golden Grad Mass and Brunch we inducted 28 members of the Class of 1964 into the Golden Grad Society. The celebration was topped with a gourmet brunch in the Dining Hall.

Class of 1999

28

1985 MICHAEL KNOX was inducted into MTSU’s College of Mass Communication Wall of Fame. As a music producer, he is best known for his production work with Jason Aldean. Michael is the Senior Creative Director for peermusic in Nashville and recently formed a production management company, Music Knox, with three of his clients.

1991 KEITH ALBERSTADT was invited by NBC to be one of the Class of 1984

100 comedians to compete in Last Comic Standing. He had a great 29

Weddings winter 2014 time but did not advance past the invita- Mobile Big Game Fishing Club Memotional round. Also, Keith just completed rial Day Tournament in Orange Beach, his sixth season of contributing jokes to AL. Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update.

1997 MICHAEL WATSON completed 1991 TOM SHUMATE has been named his Masters of Public Administration at partner at the law firm of Kay, Griffin, Tennessee State University in May, 2013.

Enkema and Colbert. He has been with He was inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha, the firm since 1998 and works with fel- an honor society reserved for the top low alum, John Griffin ‘85, who is a 10% of graduating public administration founding partner. Tom is the outgoing students. He is a business analyst in the Chair of the Father Ryan Alumni Board Department of Human Services with the and also sits on the board of the Boys State of Tennessee. and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee.

1998 CRISTINA BEASLEY has been 1994 COLBY PARROTT and her hus- transferred to Amsterdam, Netherlands, band, John Persell, recently relocated to as the Western Europe Men’s Running Dublin, Ireland as she is now the Head Shoes buyer for NIKE. Previously, she of International Customer Operations was the Women’s Sportswear buyer at for SurveyMonkey. Colby has been em- NIKE’s corporate headquarters in Beaployed with the company for the past verton, OR. Cristina has been in the eight years, and she’ll be living in Europe fashion industry since graduating from for the next three years to help grow Sur- the Fashion Institute of Technology in veyMonkey’s international operations.

Manhattan, NY. She worked for Macy’s, Sears and Abercrombie & Fitch prior to NIKE. 1998 MICHAEL RAMOS joined award-

mand Joint Operations Center, working the Helmand Province. Ben left the USMC in May and returned to Nashville.

2009 BRENDON WARD was recently promoted to Corporal in the U.S.

MIRANDA PUCKETT and MATT MORALES ’05

Army, and recently completed sniper school for certification.

were married on June 11, 2014, in Eleuthera, Bahamas. The couple lives in Louisville, KY.

2006* NICK SCHLACTER graduated in

sity, was named G-MAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week after his dominating outing against Ohio Dominican this spring. In the win over ODU, Alex threw eight scoreless innings, allowing just five hits and striking out seven. In his relief appearance the same week, he pitched an inning and allowed a hit, striking out two. Over the week, he didn’t allow a walk or a run, limiting hitters to a .176 batting average against him.

BECCA JOHNSON ’05 and BRAD DAUGHDRILL

2010 BEVAN SPARTA graduated magna cum laude from Bellarmine

ried on January 30, 2014.

They live in Nashville and own The Vaporist store on Thompson Lane.

Basic Recruit Class # 49, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department, in New Orleans, LA. He received the Marksmanship Award.

2008 KEVIN BEHLEBER secured a lead

role in this fall’s Nashville Children’s Theater production of The Outsiders.

2009 ANN GOODRICH received her

Master of Education from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College on May 9, 2014.

2009 THOMAS HASSELL is performing

with his band, The Alex Michael Band, while pursing his degree in Mass Communications as a full-time student at Belmont University. Thomas is a songwriter and drummer. The band plays once a month on Fridays from 9:00 - 2:00 p.m. at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville on Broadway.

2009 NATHAN JONES received a Fel-

winning airline Virgin America as a pilot lowship for a master’s degree in finance in April 2012. Virgin America has won at the Simon Business School at the Uni“Best U.S. Airline” for six consecutive versity of Rochester for 2014-2015. years in the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards.

Michael and his wife, Stepha1995 CRUZ CONTRERAS’ band (above), nie, were married in January The Black Lillies, was named by Roll- 2012 and live in Austin, TX. ing Stone as 10 New Artists You Need 2002 MARY KATHERINE to Know: Summer 2014. The magazine (MARTIN) BARRANCO joined describes their sound as, “Genre-mashPinnacle Financial Partners as ing roots music with an Appalachian a communications strategist anchor.” To hear for yourself, checkout and wellness program manager. their latest album, “Runaway Freeway Previously, she was an account Blues.” executive with Katcher Vaughn 1996 ALEXANDER BRANDAU, IV & Bailey Public Relations.

2010 ELLEN MULLINS received the Univerhas been named a finalist for the 2014 sity of Tennessee’s Ms. Tennessee Big Orange 2005 KRISTEN LYTLE graduEmerging Leaders Awards in the real Heart Award. This award acknowledges the ated from the University of Tenestate industry by the Nashville Area all-around male and female student-athletes nessee College of Medicine on Chamber of Commerce and YP Nashwho excel on the highest level in athletics and May 30, 2014. Her residency in ville. The awards program recognizes academics, are leaders on the field/court/track/ internal medicine will be in Alprofessionals under the age of 40 for pool, and are true volunteers in the commubuquerque, NM. accomplishments in their field and comnity and in society. In honoring Ellen, the premunity contributions. Alex is with Alex- 2006 1ST LT. BEN BEASLEY, senter characterized her in ways familiar to all ander Brandau Real Estate Partners at USMC returned from Camp who know her at Father Ryan.“She exhibits Leatherneck, Afghanistan, in Keller Williams Realty. high character, achievement, and involvement March. Ben has been deployed in all areas. She bleeds orange, is enthusiastic 1997* WES KENNEDY AND TAYLOR from Camp Lejeune, NC, since and supportive of the team and is full of spirit, ROACH landed a 131.8 pound yellowfin August 2013, and serves as the optimism, and encouragement.” Congratulatuna to win first place and $8,200 in the Senior Watch Officer, Comtions, Ellen.

30

2010 ALEX SHOULDERS , senior pitcher for Trevecca Nazarene Univer-

University in May with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a minor in sports studies.

She was named to the Dean’s List of the W. Fielding Rubel School of Business for the spring semester.

Bevan was also the senior captain of the women’s tennis team. She will be pursuing her master’s in sports administration at Belmont University starting fall 2014. Bevan is pictured with Joseph Dorrell whom she graduated with from Overbrook School (2006), Father Ryan (2010), and Bellarmine University (2014).

were married on March 22, 2014, at the Cathedral of the Incarnation.

DANNY METZGER ’82 and BRIDGET (SHAHAN) ’82 (left) were mar-

TAYLOR CLAIBORNE ’09 and PATRICK CAVANAUGH were married in September 2013, at St.

Edward Church in Nashville, TN. ELLA JOHNSON ’08 and BEN SEARY were mar-

ried in July 2014 at Cathedral of the Incarnation.

2011 JEREMY CUNNINGHAM was recognized recently for outstanding

academic achievement in marketing at the University of Alabama. He will be a senior studying marketing in the Culverhouse College of Commerce.

2011 KATE SHOWERS , a junior bioengineering major at Clemson University, was awarded the Goldwater Scholarship for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering. Her most recent research involves pressure sensors that will work with ultrasound to characterize soft tissue injuries, such as rotator cuff injuries. Kate’s work aims to improve outcomes from surgery and prevent unnecessary operations.

2012 NATALIE FIGLIO served as the Relay for Life Chair at Tennessee Tech this year. The event, in its second year, raised more than $20,750 for the American Cancer Society.

2012 MATTHEW ROBINSON recently completed basic training for the

National Guard. He is a junior at Tennessee Technological University majoring in engineering and will be in the ROTC. 2013 SEAN DIVER was named to the South Eastern Collegiate Hockey

Conference 2013-14 All-Academic Honor’s Team. Sean, who is attending the University of Mississippi, was the only freshman player to make the list.

2013 CALLIE HERRMANN won first place at the Tennessee High School Press Awards for her yearbook story on Father Ryan’s Band trip to New York/Far Rockaway for the 2012 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. SAVANNAH HALLMARK ’13, CHRISTA BUTLER ’14, and NICK FOX ’13 also received honorable mentions for page design.

2013 SHELIA JOHNSON , a rising sophomore chemistry major at Austin Peay State University was selected for the Aspirnaut Program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center to conduct undergraduate diabetes research during a 10-week summer residential program. She will serve as a mentor to a high school student.

SAVE THE DATE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2014

JOIN US FOR OUR ANNUAL 5K AND FUN RUN AND SUPPORT OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL THROUGHOUT VETERANS DAY WEEKEND. FOR DETAILS VISIT WWW.FATHERRYAN.ORG/5K

31

In Memoriam winter 2014

Births summer 2014 ERNEST F. AUD, SR. ’35.

Sister of William Bardill, Jr. ’71 (deceased), Kathy Vaughn ’73, Mary ’74, Pat, Dan, Angela ’78 (deceased), Joe ’80 and Maureen ’82 Bardill, Theresa Adkins ’76, Anne McIntire ’79, Renesa Davis, and John Gupton IV.

KAREN D. BARDILL ’75:

Nora Sophia Partlow

William Hagen Green

Andrew Jaggar Franklin

FRANK A. BAUMAN ’51: Father of Debbie, Melony ’73, Angie ’75 and Kelly ’84 Bauman.

IRA C. BAXTER, SR:

Father of Ira C. Bax-

ter, Jr. ’70.

Tanner Thomas Shacklett

Vivian Grace Jones

Conner Patrick Hayden

WILLIAM “LARRY” BESS ’63.

Father of Tony Biga ’89, Andrea Hart, William Hart and Robyn Biga.

STEPHEN BIGA:

HAYDEN ’02, born on March 23, 2014.

The family lives in Murfreesboro, TN where Stephanie is a registered nurse and Justin is a police officer with the Smyrna Police Department.

Owen Campbell Myers

EMMA LEIGH to LINDSAY ANN and ERIK MORRISON, born on July 10, 2013.

(WISE) ’01

SARAH CHRISTINE to SHANNON (GRAHAM) ’97 and PAUL ’97 RIGGAN, born on October 13, 2013. She joins big brothers Sam (6), Drew (4) and Zac (2).

PARKER ELIZABETH to LAUREN ELIZABETH (WISE) ’04 and MATT WALLACE, born on December 24, 2013.

SAMUEL JAMES to SANDY and HAGEY (Staff), born on January 13, 2014.

JIMBO

MADELYN ELAINE to LINDSEY and KEVIN GRIFFITH ’02 , born January 17, 2014.

OWEN

CAMPBELL to KELLY and WILLIAM February 23,

WILLIAM HAGEN to

WES and ALLISON (HAGEN) GREEN ’90 (Staff),

born on January 13, 2014.

TANNER THOMAS to BRIANA (LUKEN) ’95 and JOHN SHACKLETT ’95, born on May 20, 2014. He joins Hunter (9) who is enjoying his new big brother role.

ANDREW

JAGGAR to KATIE and JAY FRANKLIN, born on May 26, 2014. Jaggar joins siblings Jacob and Lauren, and cousin Harper Dean Warren, Aunt Mary and Uncle Will Warren ’99, and Aunt Abbie (Warren) ’06 and Uncle Mike Hudson. Proud grandparents are Peggy (Shacklett) ’76 and Bill Warren.

(WARREN) ’00

VIVIAN GRACE “VIVI” to CLIFF and CASEY JONES (Staff) born on June 1, 2014.

PAOLA PARTLOW

HARPER ADELINE and HUDSON BRETT to KELLY (TATE) and BRETT DAVENPORT born on June 9, 2014.

Janet Tate (Faculty) is a proud grandmother to Harper and Hudson and big brother Will (4).

CONNOR PATRICK to JUSTIN HAYDEN ’02 and STEPHANIE (LEWIS)

SAMSON PATRICK to CLARE (SIMPSON) and PATRICK MARCHETTI ’09, born on April 29, 2014

(TESSAR) MYERS ’02 MYERS, JR. ’03, born

2014.

NORA SOPHIA to MICHAEL and (Faculty), born on March 21, 2014.

32

HENRY J. “HANK” BRACKMAN III ’68: Father of Annie Webb and Dillon Brackman ’96 and brother of Sue Graham, Celeste Waterman, Ray ’74, Bobby ’76 and David ’77 Brackman.

KATHY KINCAID HAMMOND: Sister

of Barbara Breen, Phil Kincaid ’62 and Monty Kincaid ’65.

CATHERINE “CASSIE” BROWNING: Mother of David ’85 and Kevin ’85 Browning and sister of Sarah “Sal” Montague, Jim Montague ’73, Chris Stephens ’76, Peter Montague and Mary Caine ’79.

FITZHUGH C. “CARLOS” CARTER ’59.

Mother of the late Henry M. “Marty” Clunan ’64.

VIRGINIA WILK CLUNAN:

LILLIAN COLLIER: Sister of Ernest Collier, Sr. ’57, Barbara, and Ruby Collier and Theresa Perkins.

STEPHEN T. CONQUEST ’69:

Brother of

Michael Conquest ’65.

Wife of Don J. Coode, Sr. ’68, mother of Andrea Glosemeyer and step-mother of Donald Coode, Jr. ’89, Elizabeth Roberts ’92 and Tony Coode ’96.

CAROLE ANNE COODE:

BRENDA COTTER: Sister

of Tony ’67, Robert “Bud” ’75 Cotter and Sue Jackson.

Wife of the late Jack C. Coverdale ’39, and moth-

JOAN HOLLORAN COVERDALE:

er of John “Jock” ’67 (deceased), Wayne FRANCES SHARP LUSTER: Mother of ’71 and Kevin Coverdale.

Clark Luster ’62, Larry Luster ’65, Mary Jo Dortch, Ginger Sullivan and Mike PHILLIP P. “FLASH” CUNNINGHAM ’69: Luster ’81.

Brother of Mike and the late Kevin ’71 Cunningham.

MARY JANE MCBRIDE: Mother of Gordon McBride, Jr. ’74, Michael McBride and BARBARA RUDIS DODD: Mother of Eliza- Mary Catherine McDole. beth Dodd Blair ’00 and sister of Cathy Jarrell, Cecelia McSweeney ’74, Evelyn LARRY E. MCCARTHY: Father of Larry ’78, Sites and Joe Rudis.

Brian ’79, Barry ’80 and Paul ’88 McCarthy.

SUE F. DOYLE: Wife of the late Peter Doyle ’43 and mother of Sean ’78, Devin ’87 MARY LUCILLE BURNS MITCHELL: Mother and Flynn ’88 Doyle and Kelly Love ’77, of Tom ’60, Tony ’65 and Jimmy ’72 Shannon Hardebeck ’81, Erin Spining Mitchell and Ellen Edenfield, Kathy ’84 and Kerry Connor ’85.

Ross, Barbara Douglas, Tricia Luna ’73, Teresa Duffield ’75 and Martha EdDONALD “DON” BRUNO: Step-father of wards.

Bobby Draper, Jr. ’78 and Barry Draper ’84.

JOE MONTALBANO: Father of Lora and Joey Montalbano ’99.

WILLIAM “BILLY” DRENNAN: Father of Doc, Mike ’85 and Matt ’93 Drennan JOHN R. MORTON: Father of Patrick Norand Dena Rutledge ’86. Brother of the ton ’01. late Joe Drennan ’57 and Jean Dortch.

CARL D. NELMS, SR.: Father of Darden ’66 PATRICIA R. ESTES: Wife of Horace Es- and Michael ’79 Nelms. tes ’58.

BETTY LADD O’MALLEY: Wife of the late D’DONTA LAWRENCE “JESUS” GRAY: Joe O’Malley ’48 and mother of Michelle Brother of Nicholas Gray ’14.

O’Malley, Ann Jones, Charlie O’Malley ’78, Peggy Meyer and Angie Von Mann.

MILLICENT W. GOINS: Mother of Edward ’69, Steve ’72 (deceased) and Kenneth THOMAS B. “TOMMY” PUCKETT ’65: Broth’78 Goins. er of the late Mike Puckett ’63.

HERSCHEL G. “SONNY” GREGORY, JR. ’59.

WALTER S. REESE, SR. ’39.

Wife of the late William G. Shea ’49 and mother of William and Guerin ’87 Shea.

NORMA PULLEN SHEA:

CONRAD BURKHALTER SMITH:

Son of Ei-

leen (Burkhalter) Smith ’94.

Father of Tony ’70, Don ’71 and Jeffrey ’75 Spence.

JOE A. SPENCE ’43:

TIMOTHY N. STANFILL:

Father of Taylor

Stanfill ’10.

OVAL B. SULLINS, JR. ’51: Brother of the late James P. Sullins ’53, Marie Murphree and Linda Ballew.

ERIC JOSEPH THONI ’84: Son of Al Thoni ’49 and brother of Kevin ’77 and David ’83 Thoni, Mary Ellen Underdown ’78 and Kissy Mathewson ’80.

ELLEN COODE VARLEY: Wife of the late William P. Varley, Sr. ’33; mother of Bill ’71, John ’74, Nancy Modic and Mary Jane Sherman; and sister of the late Margaret Morris and Sister Mary Demetrius, R.S.M. and John Coode III ’42. Survived by siblings George, Joseph ’48, Thomas, Victor ’56 and Mike Coode and Bedelia Brandt and Sister Mary Judith, R.S.M.

Mother of Kathleen Roder ’77, Maureen Marrs ’79, Thomas ’80, Richard ’74, Brian ’81 and Kevin ’83 Wahl.

KATHLEEN WAHL:

CONRAD E. WALKER:

Father of Conrad

Walker ’95.

SANDRA FRENSLEY RIZOR: Mother of Beth Tayes, Christa Mixon, Bo Frens- ELIZABETH WEHBY: Sister of Bernard Weley, Kathy Byrd, Tommy Frensley ’79, hby ’51.

MARY L. “MINDY” HICKERNELL: Mother David Frensley ’80, Billy Frensley ’82, of Mary Joe Hartz ’86, Heather Hag- Susan Frensley Newton ’84 and Mark KATIE WILKINSON: Mother of Liz Gibgard ’87, Mike Hickernell ’88 and David Frensley ’86. bons ’99, Christina Gibbons, Mary Hickernell ’95.

Wilkinson and Robert Gibbons, Jr. AGIN ROWENCAK: Father of Ladislaus RONALD R. HOGAN, SR.: Father of Ronnie Woldoymyr “Larry” Rowencak ’64.

AMY M. WILLETT: Wife of Alan Willett ’86 Hogan, Jr. ’78, Christine Bryant ’80 and and mother of Christopher Willett, Class Andrea Hogan ’87.

OAN E. SCHOENBERGER: Mother of Don- of 2017. na Tidwell, Beth Nacarato ’79, Jay ’77, ROBERT N. HOLZMER: Father of Theresa, Robert ’80 and Tommy ’84 Schoenberger.

Joe ’69, Nancy Calderon, Nic ’76, Mary Peters and Mike ’84 Holzmer.

JOSEPH M. SEUL, SR. ’77: Father of Emily ’04 and Joseph ’08 Seul. Brother of Bob MARY CLARE KOVAR: Daughter of Kristen (deceased) ’67, Wally ’70, Mike ’72 and (Cassidy) Kovar ’00.

Tim ’76 Seul and Sandy Blackwell.

HOWARD E. HANNON, JR. ’75:

Brother of

Jim Hannon ’78.

JOHN THOMAS “JACK” LANE ’62: Brother of Bob and Don ’65 Lane, Melanni Rohrig, Betsy Carroll and Martha Dyer.

KENNETH G. SEVIER ’55.

JOHN W. “BILL” SHANKS, JR. ’54.

33

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Save the Dates for a Memorable Homecoming September 26-27, 2014

Homecoming 2014 will be a major event, both for the classes celebrating their reunions this year—headed by the Golden Grad Class of 1965—and for everyone who comes out for our match-up against Stratford. Look online for details on the weekend events, including our Pride in the Pit BBQ contest, Junior Irish Night, salutes to alumni and tailgate parties.

It’s Homecoming—Irish style.

Look for details coming soon. And save the date for a weekend of Irish pride.