Remembering Bob Lanier

Robert “Bob” Lanier, who was the longest-serving member of the teaching faculty in the history of Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas, passed away in February. Born in Jacksonville, Texas, Lanier was a lifelong resident of the Lone Star State. Soon after graduating from Stephen F. Austin, Lanier became the first biology teacher at Jesuit Dallas and was the first non-Catholic member of the faculty. His tenure at Jesuit began in July 1965, and he retired from the classroom in 2015 after 50 years of service to the mission and students of Jesuit.

“The neatest thing I ever did (at Jesuit), was taking students all over the world during the summer,” recounted Lanier in a 2015 story with The RoundUp. “Africa, Borneo, Australia, all through Central and South America. The place I’ve been to most is Peru and the Amazon. That’s my favorite place in the world, the Amazon River.”

Lanier developed a lifelong passion for biology as a high school student and gave his life to educating and forming the young men of Jesuit. Until his death, Lanier, who first hired President Mike Earsing to teach chemistry and social studies, maintained close ties with hundreds of alumni and their families. “These are the people I know,” said Lanier. “These are my friends. Most of the people in my life are former students.”

Bob Lanier had an enormous personality and a welcoming presence. Thousands of Jesuit Dallas alumni hold him in the highest regard, including current Science Department chair Dr. Todd Gruninger ’98, who quipped, “He was one of the main reasons I returned to teach at Jesuit. I loved his class.” Added Principal Tom Garrison ’92, “It was a big deal to be in Dr. Bob’s class. It was exciting and we thought it was cool to be learning college-level science.”

A member of the Jesuit Multicultural Society and the entrepreneurship club, Mateo Bryce ’24 has followed the path of other Jesuit students through the years in reaching out on his own to facilitate meaningful change for under-resourced populations on a global scale. His work with the Tennessee-based nonprofit, Soles4Souls, has been extraordinary as the organization seeks to disrupt the cycle of poverty by creating sustainable jobs and providing relief through the distribution of shoes and clothing around the world.

As part of the program, Bryce helped launch a drive to collect 10,000 pairs of new or gently worn shoes. The shoes will be used to create jobs in Haiti, Honduras, and other developing nations to help establish small businesses in those areas. The efforts also help protect the environment by keeping discarded shoes out of landfills.

“Before starting our shoe drive, we had no idea that more than 300 million people around the world don’t own a single good pair of shoes,” said Bryce. Since 2006, Soles4Souls has distributed more than 35 million pairs of shoes in 127 countries.

Jake Taylor Named NFF Scholar Athlete of the Year

Jesuit Dallas senior Jake Taylor was named the National Football Foundation Gridiron Club of Dallas Scholar Athlete of the Year. Taylor was one of 71 student-athletes across the metroplex to be named a NFF scholar-athlete and was selected by the NFF Gridiron Club Board of Directors as the student-athlete who best exemplified scholastic, athletic and community accomplishment.

Taylor, who was named to the UIL 8-6A AllDistrict First Team, ran for 1,021 yards and 15 touchdowns this past season, and ended his three-year varsity career with 2,504 yards on the ground, the second-highest career rushing yard total for any Ranger since 2015. Taylor will present the trophy to next year’s recipient at the 2022 NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas ScholarAthlete Banquet.

CALENDAR

AUGUST

17 Student Orientation 18 Vos Parate 19 First Day of Class 27 Football Home Opener (vs. Marcus)

SEPTEMBER

14-16 Community Days 21 College Night 25 Sports Hall of Fame

OCTOBER

11 MAGIS Golf Classic 19 Sons of Alums Breakfast 22 Alumni Reunions 22 Homecoming Football (vs. Berkner) 23 Alumni & Family Day 24 Alumni Memorial Mass 29-30 Fall Theater Production

NOVEMBER

5-6 Fall Theater Production 7 Open House 14-18 Alumni Phonathon 22-26 Thanksgiving Break

DECEMBER

2-4 Knights of Columbus Bob Stras Dallas Classic Basketball Tournament 4 JWA Christmas Bazaar 9 Jesut Ursuline Band Christmas Concert 12 Adopt-a-Family 20 Christmas Break Begins

All dates subject to change. Check www.jesuitdallas.org for up-to-date information.

MISSION STATEMENT

Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas offers young men an excellent, Catholic education in the classical Jesuit tradition with the purpose of forming a community of men of high moral principles and service to others.

April Showers, May Flowers, and a Return of Jesuit Spring

There was a renewed sense of joy this past semester as Jesuit was able to celebrate the blessing of community by hosting several cherished spring traditions that were lost last year to the pandemic. On March 31, members of the Jesuit Dallas Class of 2022 and their parents were cordially invited to attend the Junior Cross Mass, outdoors at Postell Stadium, in a unique and particularly inspiring ceremony.

Although Jesuit was unable to commit to an indoor prom, student council and the administration devised an ingenious solution by having a Class of 2021 Senior Celebration outdoors and on campus for Jesuit and Ursuline students that included DJ music, food trucks, and games. Proceeds from the ticket sales and activities were donated to businesses that hire people with special needs and to support the Jesuit Special Games, which followed the Senior Awards Convocation on May 7.

Two weeks before graduation, Senior Mass & Breakfast, another long-standing tradition, was held in person, and was highlighted by a presentation from Jesuit Schools Network Award winner, Shane Hatzmann, and the debut of the always-anticipated senior class video.

Former Jesuit Lacrosse brothers squared off today in NCAA D1 action! @DavidSprock_ @ Jacob_D_Jackson

@JesuitLacrosse

We had so much fun being back with our friends @notredamedallas yesterday for our monthly ice cream social! Thanks to the folks @howdyhomemade ice cream for making it a special afternoon!

@jesuitserves

It’s #NationalVolunteerWeek and we are thankful for all our volunteers that make our Saturday Kid’s Vision Clinics possible!

@CenterforVisionHealth

Just started reading “Sophomores” by @skdesmond 1973, which is set in and around our shared alma mater @jesuitdallas I graduated in 1985 a few years before him but in the first 10 pages he nails it, taking me back to my freshman honors English class with Mr. Oglesby.

@MRMasferrer

DALLAS JESUIT GRAD MAX ABMAS AND ORAL ROBERTS HEADED TO THE SWEET SIXTEEN!!!! @JCPBasketball

@Aggieguy2019

An amazing session with the young men of our HOPE Squad this morning! We’re here for you Jesuit!

@jesuithopesquad

“It’s crowds like this that means a lot to people that are homeless because it takes a lot of loneliness out of their life,” our friend and volunteer Edward shared about the Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas students who visit our friends on the streets every Wednesday. “They have somebody to talk to and maybe even share a moment of their tough times in life.”

@TheHumanImpact

It’s official we have another Ranger in the house!!! #2025 #jesuit So super proud of you!!

@denise.devia

Stay Connected

Jesuit Today is published for alumni, students, parents and friends of Jesuit Dallas. We welcome suggestions and story ideas as well as alumni news and photos. Do We Have Your Email?

Much of our communication, including the Jesuit Now and The Tie newsletters, is online. Please email your updated contact information to connect@jesuitcp.org.

Jesuit Alumni Network

To update your info or network with other Jesuit graduates, visit www.jesuitdallas.org/alumni.

If you have questions or comments about this publication, please contact:

James Kramer

Director of Communications 972-387-8700 x588 jkramer@jesuitcp.org

Contact Jesuit

Jesuit Dallas Advancement Office 12345 Inwood Road Dallas, Texas 75244 connect@jesuitcp.org

Home page www.jesuitdallas.org

Athletics www.jesuitrangers.org

Shop online www.rangerconnection.org Follow us on Twitter @JesuitDallas Alumni: @JesuitAlums

Like us on Facebook @JesuitDallas Alumni: Jesuit Rangers

Follow us on Instagram @JesuitDallas Alumni: @JesuitAlums

Suscribe to our channel youtube.com/jesuitdallas

The Jesuit Dallas Medical Society is a unique enrichment opportunity that develops our students’ interests and skills in the natural sciences, while providing invaluable preparation for the possibility of a future career in medicine. Clinical rotations at area hospitals as well as the observation of first-hand medical care shadowing various doctors has been a regular part of the program but the onset of the global pandemic necessitated a change in approach.

Fueled by the notion that “if we can’t get our students into the hospitals to engage with the medical professionals, then let’s bring the medical professionals here,” Jesuit moved forward in the spring with the creation of an on-campus sim clinic.

The clinic has had a modest start as the program seeks funds to enhance the physical space and available technology, but it has also been touted by students and faculty advisors as an enormous success. Students recently welcomed Dr. Paty Lesczynski, MD, in examining how lung and heart sounds are used to make diagnoses in a family practice clinic, while the last session of the academic year featured presentations by two ER nurses and the use of a medium fidelity mannequin in learning how to push medication through an IV. The sim clinic marks an exciting advancement for the medial society, and an innovative and rare opportunity among high schools.

Jason Gall Joins Jesuit Staff

Arriving from Bakersfield, Calif., where he was most recently the aquatics director and head boys and girls water polo coach at Garces Memorial High School, Jason Gall has joined Jesuit as head aquatics director and head coach for the Rangers’ emerging water polo team. Gall, who is the all-time winningest coach in the history of the California State University Bakersfield women’s program and has enjoyed successful head coaching stints at Brown University and Pomona-Pitzer, brings over 400 wins and 20 years of experience to Jesuit Dallas. Additionally, he will serve an integral role in the opening and operations of the David A. Segal Family Aquatic Center.

“Jesuit is thrilled to add a coach of Jason’s caliber to our athletics staff,” said Director of Athletics Steve Koch. “He has a terrific reputation developing young student-athletes and understands the role of the student experience in the formation of our men.”

During his time with Graces Memorial, Gall’s teams won two Central Section Division II Championship titles and reached the state semifinals of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) in 2017 and 2019.