ALUMNI REFLECTION

Alumni Reflections

Dick Mutchler ’63 Rev. Father Richard Brown, SJ

Kurt Meier ’63

Kurt Meier ’63 has found a way to be a Man for Others while crafting a career he loves as an artist. We spoke with Kurt about his memories of St. Xavier and how he carries on the memories of Fr. Brown and fellow classmate, Dick Mutchler. Please enjoy Kurt’s reflections:

Rev. Father Richard Brown, SJ, taught me Religion when I was in my first year at St. Xavier in the old downtown campus. He was such a spiritual person and made me aware that God gave us life to serve God and serve others for the honor and glory of God.

Fr. Brown gave each in our class a small card that I still have which is framed in my bedroom. As Fr. Brown so often knew what to say, Father’s advice starts off: ‘To live right, always desire and strive to die right. To die right, get God on your side.’ Fr. recited the words on that card from memory when he got to the classroom door.

My thought is that there is little difference between ‘Men for Others’ and ‘AMDG.’ My belief is that I should try to serve others for the honor and glory of God. Helping others is such a rich thing to do. And you do it for God’s glory. And it enriches your life in countless ways. Simply stated, Fr. Brown was right.

I have always said that the Jesuits never gave up on me during my time at St. X. Every teacher I ever had continued to push me to do my very best. It was a challenge and I know that it was a challenge for my teachers as well. I am thankful to this day for my education at St. X. My college and law school days seemed manageable because of my St. X background.

Please allow me to talk about my friend, Dick Mutchler ’63, with whom I attended Saint Thomas Grade School, St. Xavier and X.U. Dick was a Bomber from the inside out. Dick played baseball, football and basketball for the mighty Bombers. Although he befriended everyone in the classroom, he loved running into them on the football field. And he was a better baseball player. I cannot remember a time in my life when Dick wasn’t there making people laugh. Unfortunately, Dick got killed by an impaired driver when he was 24 years old. His infant son also died in the accident. I’ve dedicated my art efforts and profits to St. Xavier in honor of Dick. Dick is certainly part of my personal St. Xavier Advantage.

I spent my career practicing law primarily in the business sector. I stumbled into the international world when I was involved in a business both in France and the USA. Through my relationship with the Munich/Cincinnati Sister Cities collaborative where I served as Economic Development Director, I began privately representing businesses located both in Belgium and Germany. During that time, I resorted to study habits learned at St. X.