O
ne spring day last year, an uncommon yet well
known laughter echoed through the halls of La Salle
High School. Math teacher Mr. jim Roche had once Igain been able to unveil the true personality of his best riend. He and his colleague of over forty years were reminisc-
ng about a faculty\student basketball game decades earlier. \t the Ohio high school where the two friends once taught, he varsity basketball team confidently :hallenged the faculty to a light-hearted :ame. Of course, the students figured they ....ould get revenge for all those tests and esearch papers by humiliating their older
;ounterparts. However, the student body ladn't figured that the faculty possessed a
;tar guard with tremendous ball-handling md passing skills. Not only did the faculty iefeat their students, but the unexpected ,tar dominated the game to the students' ~reat surprise. That star was the young Dave Manion. Unfortunately, too few people have come to know the )Ider Dave Manion. Not many would believe that the same luiet, yet devoted French and Spanish teacher could have )rganized student dances in the 70s, could have educated )ro-football hall of famer Alan Page, or even could have the ,ame birthday as Elvis. Only a select few would ever remem:>er the day he refused the principal's "invitation" to wear a :ie when the school dress code was still casual. Only his :Iosest friends and family could ever know that he loves to )Iay tennis and watch British comedies and most important )f all was once one of the most admired young Brothers in :he country. Even though Mr. Manion chose to leave the Brothers, he
didn't leave behind his desire to teach and prepare his students for life. Although Mr. Manion is not considered a Christian Brother by name, his every word and action exemplify the principles that define the laSaliian spirit. His closest friends truly believe that Dave Manion would have succeeded no matter which path of life he chose to follow. Here at La Salle, Mr. Manion has succeeded not only in instilling values in his students as a teacher, but also as a person. A great man should not be measured by his accomplishments, but by the accomplishments of those he has influenced. Mr. Manion's calm and modest temperament in and out of the classroom should not be construed as indifference. He's not the type of individual who always seeks attention or is attracted by the limelight. Never do you see him giving interviews or being profiled by the school newspaper. Never do you see his name highlighted among a list of his peers. However, you will always see Mr. Manion showing a lost freshman to a classroom, providing advice for a senior deliberating about colleges, or teaching an independent study course during second period in the old school library. Never has La Salle seen a teacher so willing to give of his lime, but so unwilling to accept the deserved thanks. Anyone who has graduated from La Salle High School and not known Mr. Manion, has lost an opportunity to discover a great man. Although LaSalle has undergone countless changes over the pasllhirty years, the one constant has always been the most under-appreciated yel most respected faculty member----Mr. Dave Manion.
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