St. Thomas Eagles' Nest Summer 2016

ST. THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

GOING BOLDLY

FORTH ......................................................................

Texans head coach Bill O’Brien addresses Class of 2016 who earn nearly $10.5 million in merit-based scholarships

S ummer 2016

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Summer EVENTS

AUG 21................. Basilian Tradition Breakfast

Eagles’ Nest

DEPARTMENTS

16 EAGLE FLIGHT

STH Drama delivers a dazzling performance of West Side Story ... while Eagle Rocketry and Quiz Bowl earn acclaim on national stage.

OCT 1......................... Eagle Eye Sporting Clays OCT 7-8....................... Homecoming Weekend OCT 14-16.................... Fall Drama Production OCT 29................................... Auction & Gala, A Taste of St. Thomas

NOV 6........................................... Open House NOV 23-25. . ................... Thanksgiving Break DEC 19 - JAN 4................. Christmas Break www.sths.org/webcalendar

Eagles’ Nest Online August 2016 The Eagles’ Nest is produced three times a year

by St. Thomas High School 4500 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77007-7332 | 713-864-6348

36 EAGLE PRIDE

Cavan Biggio ’13 takes next step in pursuing his dream to play major league baseball while furthering cement the family’s baseball legacy which already extends to the hallowed Hall of Fame.

50 EAGLE SPIRIT

Camp Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge instills core St. Thomas values to incoming Eagle freshmen

Rev. Kevin Storey, CSB - President / Principal Rodney Takacs - Dean of Students Eve Grubb - Vice President of Finance Mark deTranaltes ’83 - Vice President for Advancement Keith Calkins - Director of Communications Darla Arter - Layout and Design Assistance Provided By: Alison Broussard, Catherine Chandler, John Michael Cuccia ’05, Sebastian Domenech ’09, Chris Hodge, Molly Hittinger, Joanie South-Shelley Some photos provided by STH Publications Staff Circulation 9,500 c2016

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60 EAGLE FIGHT

Eagle Athletics secures a seventh straight TAPPS All-Sports Award while more than two dozen student-athletes extend their athletic careers to college.

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FEATURES

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“... to love and lead, teach and serve, chase a dream, find a calling, make a family, discover a true identity.”

“The driving motivation behind this event is so aligned with what exists at the core of St. Thomas.”

“Attending St. Thomas was the single most important thing that has happened to me.”

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“... (Houston) is the best ... of any place I play in the world. I mean that.”

“This group represents a wide variety of personal backgrounds ... complementary skills ... and single purpose. That’s the fabric that is St. Thomas.”

2016 Commencement Salutes Excellence in Academics, Committment to Service

25th Annual STH Golf Tournament Celebrates and Supports Eagle Brotherhood “... believing that the more you give ... the more you get back. Agape love is the best description.”

Eagles Unite to Ride in Fundraiser to Fight Multiple Sclerosis

Tyrell ’63 and His Pop-Swing Style Set New Standards

Caraway ’96 Leads Eagle Luminaries as Latest Inductees to the STH Sports Hall of Fame

Eagles Reach Magical Milestone 100th State Championship

Eagles’ Nest Summer 2010 - 3 Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016 - 3

Eagles’ Nest

COVER STORY

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SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE Soaring with Distinction

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ith a purpose of finality aided by an eye toward the profound the St. Thomas Class of 2016 gathered for a final triumphant celebration and the school’s 116th commencement ceremony.

Assembling with joy in the shadows of threatening weather that forced the festivities inside to Reckling Gymnasium from the annual Granger Stadium venue ... students, their families and supporters along with STH faculty and staff saluted achievements and journeys to be embarked beyond STH ... to love and lead, teach and serve, chase a dream, find a calling, make a family, discover a true identity.

Eagle graduates who were awarded nearly $10.5 million in merit-based scholarships took pause to appreciate the priceless opportunity of the St. Thomas experience ... perhaps turning childhood traumas into private triumphs, creating real works of art, building skills through years of practice, all while embodying the value of a formative education rooted in the Basilian tradition of teach me goodness, discipline and knowledge ... and were privileged to hear Houston Texans head coach and committed Catholic education advocate Bill O’Brien deliver the commencement address.

In the midst of turbulent societal times O’Brien stressed the importance of “leadership ... and the guiding characteristics behind great leadership. Communication ... don’t ever lose the face-to-face ...

the ability to go eyeball-to-eyeball. People skills ... love being around people ... from all different backgrounds. Character and honesty. Confidence ... form a good heart with perspective. Courage while knowing the difference between right and wrong.

And be a risk taker ... to do something extraordinary ... the only way to move ahead.

“Finally ... acknowledge the people who have helped you along the way. Your parents ... your siblings ... your teachers ... your guidance counselors ... your principal ... your coaches. Look them in the eye ... shake their hand ... and say thank you.”

O’Brien’s Catholic roots trace to his graduating from Danvers (MA) St. John’s Preparatory School, an all-boys institution founded by Xaverian Brothers in 1907 with a commitment to faith, service and brotherhood, ideals very much in accord with the Basilian educational tradition of teaching goodness, discipline and knowledge.

O’Brien graduated from Brown University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts double major in Political Science and Organizational Behavior Management and then studied toward a master’s in Public Policy while a graduate assistant coach at Georgia Tech.

In one of his first public appearances after becoming only the third head coach in Texans history O’Brien contributed a stirring speech during a 4500Forever capital campaign event in June 2014.

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I believed in this type of Catholic education,” O’Brien said following the ceremony of his ongoing relationship with St. Thomas. “And I really believe in what Fr. Storey is trying to do (with the Joplin Campus expansion) to make (St. Thomas) even better than it is right now. What struck me today was the great support here for this Class of 2016 ... the gathering of families and friends. You feel a great bond ... a closeness with this group of seniors. And as they now move forward ... discovering a passion will be essential as they pursue their dreams.”

Valedictorian and National Merit Commended Student Seth Dalton ’16 will study Biological Sciences along with Music Theory and Composition after accepting the University of Rochester Frederick Douglas & Susan B. Anthony Scholarship.

Dalton recognized “the friendships that we have made over the past four years are not going to expire ... the values we have developed and the memories we have made will stay with us for as long as we live.

“This graduation is really about what we are going to do with the rest of our lives.”

– Seth Dalton Valedictorian, Class of 2016

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“When we die our final resting place will be marked with a tombstone ... engraved with a name ... the date of our birth and the date of our death. But by far the most important thing is that dash between the two ... (it) represents our entire life ... choices ... dreams ... longings ... accomplishments. So as we go out into the world having graduated from St. Thomas I ask all of us ... what are we going to do with our dash.”

Salutatorian and National Merit Finalist Josef Lawrence ’16 will next attend Yale University with a focus on Chemistry or Biochemistry as he weighs a potential future at medical school.

Lawrence confidently reflected on “one of the largest STH incoming freshmen classes of recent time ... surpassed $500,000 our senior year at Round-Up ... were witnesses and contributors to the historic 4500Forever campaign ... but most importantly it was our class that began and continued the streak of defeating Strake Jesuit (four consecutive years in football).

After the thunderous response Lawrence paid tribute “to the all the faculty members and parents who through their sacrifice and unyielding faith and moral support transformed us from fish to Eagles.”

Lawrence then concluded that “most of all we should thank God for each and every opportunity and path he has given us ... to bring us together for the final steps of our St. Thomas careers. We are now prepared to take on the world ... the Class of 2016 ... we made it.”

The Class of 2016 leaves a legacy of academic acclaim which includes National Merit Finalists Lawrence, Wayne Babineaux ’16, Cameron Parker ’16 and Anton Poral ’16 ... 11 National Merit Commended Students ... 39 members of the National Honor Society and nine National Hispanic Scholars.

The Class of 2016 also demonstrated exceptional active volunteerism in their communities ... led by Joseph Mercier ’16 who accumulated 527 service hours supporting Memorial Hermann Hospital, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the Boy Scouts Eagle program and the Math ACES program ... Dalton with more than 420 hours involved with Holy Family Parish, the STH Campus Ministry / Music Ministry and the DECATS program ... STH National Honor Society president and National Merit Commended Student Matthew Ashbaugh ’16 with 335 hours at the Depelchin Children’s Center and Harris Rosenblad ’16 with 300 hours primarily at St. Luke’s Summer Camps and the Christian Community Services Center.

Members of the Class of 2016 were accepted into more than 100 universities and colleges from across the United States including Georgetown University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Purdue University, Rice University, the University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University, Villanova University and the University of Virginia among many prestigious institutions.

Multiple Eagle graduates will next attend Baylor University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Houston, Louisiana State University and the University of Mississippi, et al.

In addition, more two dozen student-athletes are embracing opportunities to extend the careers at the college level ... including six players from the nationally ranked baseball team which reached the program’s sixth TAPPS 5A state tournament in seven years ... five members of Eagle Football who played critical roles in extending the home field win streak at Hotze Field inside Granger Stadium to 26 straight games while reaching the state semifinals for the second straight season ... and three members of the state champion track and field team which recently secured the 100th state title in the proud and rich tradition of Eagle athletics.

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FLIGHT Legacy Graduates............................. p8 Academic Awards........................... p10 TAPPS Academic........................... p15 West Side Story............................... p16 Rocketry.......................................... p20 Quiz Bowl........................................ p21 GD&K Dinner................................ p23 BURGOYNE - Arthur Braren ’90, Carr Burgoyne III ’16 and Ernest Braren ’57

HAKIM - Thomas ’16 and Raymond J. Martin ’50 (deceased)

Babineaux as Tony in West Side Story

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RIZZO - David ’12, Nolan ’16 and David W. ’79

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rating Traditio b e n: el

H o n o r i n g our l egacy fa m i li e s

DUFILHO - Avery ’14, Kyle ’16 and Dennis ’58

JANDA - Gary ’82, Garrett ’16 and Thomas ’79

HERRERA - Michael ’15, Reynaldo ’03, Hector ’79, Antonio ’16, Carlos ’75 and John ’09

MICHAEL - Mike ’84 and George ’16

QUINTERO - Don ’87 and Thomas ’16

VATTEROTT - Charlie ’16 and Charles ’82

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Academic Achievement

CAPACITY COMPASSION for

Grant, Dalton and Jones leading the Class of 2016

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he annual St. Thomas Academic Awards Ceremony is a stirring tribute to not only strong intellect and scholarly achievement but also the capacity for community and compassion ... an acknowledgement of wide ranging abilities and gifts ... and how students apply those talents to their school ... to each other ... and ultimately for the world.

“Having a great Catholic faith is first and foremost.

My effort and accomplishments are not merely a reflection of me.”

In 2016 one of the deepest and most lasting impressions was made by a senior whose distinction carries beyond even the usual acclaimed STH standards.

Seth Dalton ’16 received the Valedictorian medal ... along with Josef Lawrence ’16 as the Salutatorian ... senior students earning the highest and second highest cumulative GPAs for the previous four years.

Dalton was then honored with the Principal’s Service and Leadership Award ... his elite accomplishment as a complete student and man of St. Thomas all the more magnified given that he deals daily with Caudal regression syndrome, a congenital disorder that impairs the development of the lower half of the body.

his involvement in leadership in many clubs and service organizations.”

Dalton accumulated more than 400 hours of service during his four year Eagle career ... is vice president of STH National Honor Society who earned Scholar with Honor in the 2015 College Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP) ... served – Seth Dalton ’16 as a mentor in the DeBusk Enrichment Center for Academically Talented Scholars program (DECATS) ... is service through music ... two areas of active in Columbian Squires, my life I wanted to cultivate during STH Drama and an accompanist for my four years here. It’s incredibly STH Choir, Masses and liturgical satisfying to see all the hard work events. result in something this meaningful In essence, there is likely not a corner and tangible.” on campus or individual within the Dalton was described as a driving force STH ranks Dalton did not impact, of “determination, resilience awareinfluence or inspire since he arrived ness, poise and confidence ... characas a freshman. teristics along with natural curiosity, a sharp mind and a strong work ethic ...

Dalton credited “two really important all instrumental in contributing to his themes” as fundamental to his high impressive academic performance and arcing success.

Assembled family, friends and STH supporters in Cemo Auditorium responded to Dalton’s richly deserved recognition with a thunderous standing ovation.

“Having a great Catholic faith is first and foremost. My effort and accomplishments are not merely a reflection of me,” he said. “And also, I’ve gotten accustomed to living my life I don’t really know anything differently. This is a unique path but I don’t see it as an obstacle. These are my personal experiences. This is who I am.”

“Words can’t really describe what I’m feeling ... very humbling,” Dalton said. “I always woke up every morning with the attitude to just do my best ... always prided myself as someone who strived for academic excellence but also

Dalton will continue his distinguished academic pursuits at the University of Rochester in Biological Sciences and Music ... one of 20 Renaissance and Global Scholars receiving full tuition plus a $4,500 research stipend.

Valedictorian Dalton (left) and Salutatorian Lawrence Class of 2016

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Gaelens GD&K Award winner Grant with Fr. Gaelens

“I was never trying to out-do someone else.

This is just a byproduct of being a quality person every day. Be respectful ... be responsible ... be involved in your community.”

– James Grant ’16

path ... that the spirit of teach me goodness, discipline and knowledge is how I needed to model my life.”

James Grant ’16 was presented with the Fr. Albert R. Gaelens Award, given to the senior student who best embodies the school motto of “Teach Me Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge.”

The Gaelens GD&K Award is named in honor of Fr. Gaelens, CSB ... the 21st principal of STH who served the school for a quarter century 12 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

before retiring in 2007. Seniors are nominated by their peers and the faculty then votes on those receiving the most nominations.

“I never had this in my sights ... never a goal in and of itself,” Grant said.

“But I think I understood the first few days I was here as a freshman that if I wanted to be successful and the right kind of person ... there was a proven

Grant was a four-year A student ... plus a member of the National Honor Society, the Columbian Squires and student council while also volunteering as an Eagle Ambassador and contributing as a founding member of Eagle Broadcast Network. He was a varsity letterman for nationally ranked Eagle Baseball that produced a historic season going undefeated through the first 28 games of the season.

Grant plans to study broadcast journalism at the University of South Carolina.

“I always believed the extra effort to never settle for less than your best would always pay off ...”

– David Jones ’16

Jones flashing game-breaking skills vs. Stake Jesuit

David Jones ’16 departed STH as one of the most decorated and versatile student-athletes in Eagle history and added the Fr. Carl Mitchell Allnoch Athletics Memorial Award for Excellence in Academics to his already lengthy resume.

In February Jones accepted an opportunity to continue his football career at Cornell University.

“Four years ago when I first came into St. Thomas one of my goals was to have the chance to play at the next level. I just didn’t know what sport yet,” Jones said. “But that wasn’t the only ambition. I wanted to prove that athletics and academics are not mutually exclusive. That was my drive

all those late nights. I always believed the extra effort to never settle for less than your best would always pay off, both short term and long term.”

Jones earned 12 varsity letters while maintaining an A average. He was a three-time TAPPS 5A all-state football performer ... named Ironman of the Year following the 2015 football season by The Touchdown Club of Houston ... a two-time all-state selection in basketball ... contributed to two second-place Eagle finishes at the state track and field championships ... the historic 2016 Eagle baseball season and was later named TAPPS 5A Male Athlete of the Year (see page 66).

Jones followed former TD Club award winners and Eagle teammates Joseph Lowry ’14 and Campbell Clarkson ’15 as previous Allnoch Award recipients.

“They were certainly leaders who helped show me how to handle myself, what it took to be as successful as I wanted to be,” Jones said. “When you walk in the main building at St. Thomas one of the first things you see are the list of Allnoch winners. It’s an honor to join such a prestigious group.”

The Allnoch student-athlete award dates to 1969 and is given in honor of the 16th principal of St. Thomas.

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Seamus Sullivan ’16

The Campus Ministry Award was presented to Noah Penny ’16, one of the top 10 contributors to the 2016 record-smashing Round-Up effort which generated $500,001 for tuition assistance.

Campus ministry director Marty Matulia admired Penny for “an incredible sense of duty and responsibility ... whether in the community, on our mission trips or in student liturgies” who often went “beyond the call of required service hours ... a leader among leaders in both the Columbian Squires and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes ... a two-sport letterman who finished the race.”

Penny previously received the Fr. Wey Coaches Award for his contributions inside Eagle Soccer and reached the TAPPS 5A state tournament playing no. one doubles.

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Seamus Sullivan ’16 was identified for accepting an appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York, one of the five federal service academies, an opportunity valued at more than $250,000.

Nominated by Congressman Kevin Brady (TX-08) Sullivan is one of approximately 250 appointees selected to attend the Academy from around the nation and the world. He was a two-year varsity letterman in Eagle Rugby while also heavily involved in Columbian Squires and achieving Eagle Scout with 4 palms.

Robby Smith ’16 also received an appointment to attend the USMMA where he intends to major in Maritime Transportation and eventually become a Houston Ship Channel Harbor Pilot or work in

Robby Smith ’16

ship’s finance as a tanker broker.

Smith was nominated by Congressman John Culberson, 7th District, Texas and U.S. Senator John Cornyn (TX).

Smith’s family are deeply rooted in the military. His father, Robert L. Smith II is a 22-year veteran of the United States Coast Guard.

Smith transferred to St Thomas prior to the 2014-15 academic year after attending Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Virginia where he earned varsity crew / rowing letter and was active in the Sea Scouts, learning to sail and gaining a further interest in the U.S. Merchant Marine.

While at STH Smith played a prominent role in the Eagle Broadcast Network including live web streams of Eagle athletics.

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Four Eagles were honored for distinguished performance and academic excellence, named as finalists in the 61st annual National Merit Scholarship Program ... Wayne Babineau ’16, Lawrence, Cameron Parker ’16 and Anton Reul ’16.

Eagles who placed among the top five percent of the more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition are STH National Honor Society President Matthew Ashbaugh ’16, Seth Beavers ’16, Alexander Broussard ’16, Alex Carnegie ’16, Dalton, Aidan deLaunay ’16, Wyatt George ’16, Matthew Leibold ’16, Joseph Nemec ’16, Julian Ramos ’16 and John Wolfe ’16.

The STH Alumni Association annually awards three scholarships totaling $6,000 to college bound seniors. Applicants were asked to write and discuss which event or organization best honored the school’s motto of Teach Me Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge and had the greatest influence on who you are today after your STH experience.

Conrad Henry ’16 was awarded the third place $1,000 scholarship and Thomas Quintero ’16 the second place $2,000 scholarship after he was previously identified for exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Service Award sponsored

by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Michael Schlak ’16 was granted the first place $3,000 scholarship, detailing how “I changed for the better” when I “walked through the rotunda doors on my first day of school ... St. Thomas has strengthened my Catholic faith and bonding me to my classmates for life.”

Rising to the Top at

TAPPS S

t. Thomas earned a wide array of academic recognition to capture first place distinction in Academics and third place overall at the 2016 Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) Art and Academics Competition in Waco.

The exceptional Eagle effort produced 18 state Salutatorian Lawrence produced significant finalists from the 32 points in leading STH. STH students who competed in 49 events.

The 90.2 team Academic points edged out Argyle Liberty Christian School and more than doubled the third-ranked total of Tomball Concordia Lutheran.

Josef Lawrence ’16 excelled in both Chemistry and Biology for 20 points and first place in Science and then finished second points in Calculator.

Other first-place winners were Ted Birkofer ’16 in Current Events and Ryan Chandler ’17 in Original Oratory.

Chris Kjellqvist ’16 placed fourth in Science and fifth in Advanced Math while Joseph Nemec ’16 took second in Social Studies, fourth in Literary Criticism and fifth in Current Events.

The depth of the Eagle performance was evident with Juan Castillo ’18 and Kenneth Dang ’18 finishing second and fourth in Mathematics, Tyler McStravick ’19 third in Social Studies, Davis Burns ’17 fourth in Persuasive Speaking, Harris Rosenblad fifth in Science, Anton Poral ’16 eighth in Current Events and Cameron Parker ’16 eighth in Literary Criticism.

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The latest example of acclaimed STH success reflects and relies on the excellence in educational standards established by the entire faculty and staff and particularly led in the preparatory stages for the TAPPS event by faculty members Laura Thornton, Chau Chau Nguyen and Darrell Yarbrough. .................................................................................. n SCIENCE Josef Lawrence - 1st Chris Kjellqvist - 4th Harris Rosenblad - 5th .................................................................................. n CURRENT EVENTS Ted Birkofer - 1st Joseph Nemec - 5th Anton Poral - 8th .................................................................................. n LITERARY CRITICISM Joseph Nemec - 4th Cameron Parker - 8th .................................................................................. n SOCIAL STUDIES Joseph Nemec - 2nd Tyler McStravick - 3rd .................................................................................. n CALCULATOR Josef Lawrence - 2nd .................................................................................. n MATHEMATICS Juan Castillo - 2nd Kenneth Dang - 4th .................................................................................. n ADVANCED MATH Chris Kjellqvist - 5th .................................................................................. n SPANISH Juan Castillo - 6th .................................................................................. n ORIGINAL ORATORY Ryan Chandler - 1st Carson Rau - 8th .................................................................................. n PERSUASIVE SPEAKING Davis Burns - 4th

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DAZZLING

WEST SIDE STORY Comes Alive During Extended Spring Production

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landmark musical show written in the 1950s, based on a play from the 16th century, with overtones as fresh and familiar as new millennium headlines ... a cautionary tale of intolerance breeding hostility that erupts into tragedy.

direction of Donald Thoede collaborating with Music Director Joshua Wilson that did justice to the dazzling score, bringing Stephen Sondheim’s expressive lyrics and Leonard Bernstein’s rhythmic jazz / Latino music to life.

And the STH spring production of West Side Story delivered a pulsating performance that packed a punch and as well as the house for an extended four-night engagement at the Moran Fine Arts Center in Cemo Auditorium.

Babineaux proved a forcefully moving Tony, a former member of the Jets and best friend of the gang leader Riff, played by Travis Carroll ’16 ... all strongly supported

by Pamela Zambrano ’16 (St. Agnes Academy) as the fiery and assertive Anita ... and Parker Robertson ‘18 who often seized the stage in only his second STH production as he captured the colorful and explosive Action.

“The biggest take away ... we precisely had the right group to embrace the challenge,” director Dan Green said. “From the actors ... to the costume makers ... to the orchestra ... to the choreography ... many hands make for light work. When the students put their hearts and souls into something ... the results are usually remarkable ... superseded my expectations which are always extremely high.”

For the first time STH Drama portrayed the emotion-ridden Romeo and Juliet theme played out on the concrete pressure cooker of 1950s Upper West Side of Manhattan ... focusing on a senseless turf war between rival ethnic gangs, the Sharks and the Jets ... complicating the star-crossed romance between Maria (Jacqueline Vasquez ’16, Incarnate Word Academy) and Tony (Wayne Babineaux ’16) ... ultimately leading to the rumble which leaves death and heartbreak in its wake.

Babineaux and IWA’s Vasquez

An impassioned cast included many inspired performers from Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, Incarnate Word Academy and St. Agnes Academy, plus an exceptional orchestra under the

“Parker did an amazing job but he was certainly not alone,” Green said. “Wayne brought so much to his character after playing a number of principal parts in the past. This was his show. Adrian Fonseca as Bernardo ... Antonio Herrera (Chino) ... both had some great moments. Travis sang three leads. His is the first voice the audience hears and all were first rate ... incredible job setting the mood for what’s to come over the next two hours. And I was so pleased with our female leads ... incredibly demanding parts ... and each executed so beautifully.”

The subject matter of West Side Story is surprisingly and sadly topical, as gang violence, corruption and racism still ravage the world.

“The are some tough moments in this work, no question,” Green said. “For example, the attack scene on Anita. The actors intently worked that scene. We first treated it as a dance ... just going through steps Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016 - 17

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detaching from the intent. But that significantly shifts the tone with the addition of the music they all responded. A very powerful sequence.”

“ From the actors ... to the costume makers ... to the orchestra ... to the choreography ... many hands make for light work. When the students put their hearts and souls into something ... the results are usually remarkable ... superseded my expectations which are always extremely high” – Dan Green

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Green was confident his cast and crew could meet the exacting standards demanded from a classic which debuted on Broadway in 1957 and received six Tony Award nominations. The film was named the best picture of 1961 and won 10 Academy Awards.

“We’ve done a lot of Shakespeare and I love Sondheim and Bernstein,” Green said. “I thought we had the right voices for it. The last few productions have been whimsical and fun. This was something more poignant. As soon as we announced the choice there was tremendous buzz in

the theater groups ... the tryouts stacked. We enjoyed the largest attendance we’ve ever had. Must have been the right course to take.”

The strong blend of drama, dance and music folding into a rich artistic whole involved a 60-member cast ... Lucas Yuan ’18 (Pepe) and Thomas Quintero (Indio) joining Fonseca and Herrera among the Sharks ... Jake Morreau ’18 (Ice), Isaac Flanagan ’18 (A-Rab), Alec Jordan ’17 (Big Deal), James Furrh ’16 (Baby John), Cameron Mills ’19 (Rocko) and Jacob Smith ’17 (Snowboy) among the Jets ... acting out tension and rivalry through dance in numbers like “Cool” ... or strutting to the complex and lyrically lively “America” and “Dance at the Gym” ... all in the midst of innovative jumps, robust athletic dance and synchronized movement with hints of ballet.

“We’ve had this size production before ... Fiddler on the Roof ... Beauty and the Beast,” Green said. “We paced our rehearsals ... blocked it so we could walk the scenes

through and then run the scenes over and over. Honestly we were not where we needed to be until two weeks before opening night. There’s always that small amount of fear ... can we get this down. But then the dancing happens ... a couple of kids step up ... then they all step up ... and it’s got legs.”

The action played out against an intriguing set design crafted by the invaluable efforts of faculty members Steven Fuchs and Phil Gensheimer, chief engineer Duane Fuchser, and annual key contributors Steve Green ’68 and Mary Jackson, accented by an elaborate lighting and sound system from faculty member John Michael Cuccia ’05.

“Without question it’s one of the most intricate sets we’ve had and ours are routinely among the best you’ll find anywhere,” Green said. “Fuchs, Gensheimer and Fuchser are the heavy hitters ... great attention to detail ... so creative in maximizing our space and resources. Steve Green is always lending his skills. Mary had her kids involved in our productions years ago and remains involved.

You cannot say enough about all that they bring. Critical to our success.”

West Side Story thrilled sizable enthusiastic audiences ... proving that this extraordinary fusion of music, movement and story again makes for timeless entertainment ... a more than suitable climax to the memorable STH careers of Babineaux, Carroll and a host of highly dedicated and talented cast and crew members from the class of 2016 ... including Seth Dalton ’16 ... the first student to serve as accompanist who began mastering the score in November, performed throughout rehearsals and Green praised “as one of the most important reasons for our show’s success. This was his seventh St. Thomas production and never got to take his final bow.”

Green’s final thoughts before the next STH curtain rises: “Griffin De Claire (Doc) reminded everyone during one of our final rehearsals that every part matters. There are no extras.

And that’s how we’ve always tried to promote the general philosophy of the program. All are invited to the show.

Bring you gifts.”

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EAGLE ROCKETRY Again Launches to National Finals

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or more than a decade St. Thomas faculty member Dr. Ed Marintsch has mentored select Eagles who literally aim for the stars.

His STH Rocketry Club has maintained a consistent presence at the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) National Final outside of Washington, D.C ... and for the first time qualified two teams to compete at the aerospace design and engineering event featuring more 100 schools from across the country vying for scholarships and the National Championship.

Dr. Marintisch in his 30th year at St. Thomas

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“It’s rewarding to see how the efforts evolve each year ... from a collection of individuals to a cohesive group exchanging ideas ... being innovative,” Marintsch said.

“That’s what our whole program is about.

And perhaps some will become convinced that aerospace engineering is a viable professional pursuit ... that’s really the big picture motivation behind the exercise.”

At the core of the STH breakthrough were two teams Dr. Marintsch described as “hard-working ... focused ... dedicated,” including Kenneth Dang, Sam Donoho, Cooper Gottschalk, Andrew Hernandez, Richard Lopez, Chris Miller, Daniel Moreno and Travis Rosenblad from the Class of 2018 ... and Daniel Bixby, Brandon Jackson, Jacob Matthews, Ian Myers, James Morgan and Julian Wieck representing the Class of 2019.

The challenge for both groups ... build a model rocket with precise weight, length and impulse restrictions that travels exactly 850 feet and safely returns a payload of

Eagle

FLIGHT two raw eggs to Earth by parachute within 44-46 seconds.

The Eagle sophomores overcame some unexpected launch day difficulties to produce a top 5% result ... 40th among nearly 800 student groups ... while the STH freshmen finished in the top 80.

“No regrets ... our best effort,” Marintsch said “Unfortunately there was a malfunction of the motor (for the sophomores) which forced the parachute to deploy two seconds too early which prevented the rocket from reaching the necessary altitude to earn a higher finish. There’s not much you can do about that. We’re allowed to pack only one motor in our baggage ... already have a plan for next year ... have the manufacturer ship multiple motors from the same batch directly to the competition site. That way we have some flexibility and the performance remains consistent with the trials.”

The TARC competition is structured to emulate the industry’s design, engineering and testing process ... and involves honing the rockets to meet the performance criteria by altering designs, swapping out engines and modifying parachutes ... all while fostering team-building skills, aeronautics, flight simulation and trial-and-error.

Dr. Marintsch just concluded his 30th year in the St. Thomas science department. He has learned that clustering the teams according to class creates a particular brand of camaraderie and leads to greater investment. He’s guided STH to the TARC nine times in 14 years in what originally began as a one-time only celebration for the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers first flight and has since morphed into an annual exercise to promote future scientists and engineers.

In 2005 STH finished 13th at the national finals ... and its fifth place finish in 2009 qualified the team to work on a year-long student launch initiative with NASA. “Absolutely people recognize St. Thomas,” Marintsch said. “The distinction certainly presents us in a very positive light and makes our students proud to be part of that tradition.”

Dr. Mairintsch often builds ancillary activities into the trip to maximize the opportunity ... and this year included a next day visit to the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia ... the companion facility to the Museum on the National Mall in Washington, DC. ... featuring two huge hangars displaying thousands of aviation and space artifacts.

“It’s fabulous ... from the Space Shuttle Discovery to the Enola Gay (which dropped the first atomic weapon used in combat on Hiroshima, Japan). You can go onto the second level and stare directly into that cockpit,” Marintsch said. “There’s a Concorde ... Japanese Zeros ...

Hellcats ... Messerschmitts ... an SR-71 Blackbird which can travel across the country in 90 minutes ... almost worth the trip in and of itself.”

And within a week of their return to Houston ... the Eagles met to already plot strategy to soar even higher at next year’s space race.

“We looked back and identified how we can get better,” Marintsch said. “The rules for 2017 have been established ... more demanding than recent years. We’ll get started during the upcoming summer months to be ready. The enthusiasm is definitely there. Our guys can’t wait to get started.”

fast rising

EAGLE

QUIZ BOWL Takes On National Profile

E

agle Fight has not so suddenly taken on a deeper definition.

In the wake of earning the 100th state championship in the rich tradition of St. Thomas athletics comes a more recently established Eagle brand that is making its competitive mark not only within Texas but across the United States.

STH was well represented by two teams which qualified for the prestigious National Academic Quiz Tournaments (NAQT) national championship event.

The no. 3 ranked Quiz Bowl program in the state which launched four years ago from ground zero with only seven charter members sent 2016 salutatorian Josef Lawrence ’16, Tyler McStravick ’19, Joseph Nemec ’16 and Anton Poral ’16 to Dallas ... along with Nate Belcher ’18, Ted Birkofer ’16, Adam Lawrence ’18, and Daniel Vannoy ’18.

Quiz Bowl serves as a varsity sport of the mind ... an academic event with a format similar to the Jeopardy! game show where four-person teams field questions drawn from the full array of core high school curriculum as well as pop culture and current events and must buzz in first with the correct answer.

Questions are designed to give the bestprepared player the best chance of answering correctly with the hardest clues coming first and the hints gradually decrease in difficulty.

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Green has orchestrated immediate Quiz Bowl buzz

National Academic Quiz Tournaments was founded in 1996 but STH didn’t have a presence until faculty member Grover Green ’04 was approached by Nemec and Lawrence soon after they began their freshman years.

“I knew nothing about it ... how anything really worked,” Green said.

“But I was intrigued by the student’s excitement and the more I discovered the more I knew St. Thomas could really excel.”

Roman architecture to do well for a grade. The elite Quiz Bowler is one who will study Roman architecture and then deep dive outside of class and learn all that he can about the subject That’s who we want in the program ... in all the different categories.”

Green along with advisors Dwight Kidder and Michelle Carter have mentored a close-knit, intensely motivated program which relies on team collaboration because no one individual will possess the thorough knowledge required in all subject areas.

The Eagle program has gained consistent momentum with top-place tournament finishes after that initial formation “Each member has to specialize and year once Green quickly identified a apply independant study,” Green critical element for success. said. “One zeros in on literature ...

American and British. Another takes “Quiz Bowl is not for everyone,” history ... American and European as Green said. “Initially I recruited all well as geography. A third is devoted advanced students but the ones who to science and mathematics. And the proved to be the most successful were fourth is what we call the trash man ... the most curious and well-rounded pop culture, sports, art, music. When rather than those with the highest that toss up question is presented ...

GPAs ... those who a great appetite for knowledge outside of test taking. you and your teammates immediately know who has to come up with the “It’s the kid who doesn’t simply study right response.”

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The Eagles team of Lawrence, McStravick, Nemec and Poral blitzed through a 7-2 record during the Saturday NAQT preliminaries ... including three overwhelming wins by at least 200 points ... and the lasted through two rounds on Sunday to finish in a tie for 53rd.

That strong performance concludes a season where STH’s lofty state ranking had them placed ahead of Katy Taylor, Katy Seven Lakes, Carnegie Vanguard and the St. John’s School.

Green believes the program’s fastrising success has delivered a dividend that relates to any positive result originating from Reckling Gymnasium or Granger Stadium.

“I can’t tell you how much it means to me and the team when we beat the schools that St. Thomas has competed against annually throughout the decades ... that rush when you win,” Green said. “Rivalries are rivalries and with Quiz Bowl we’re just getting started.”

Eagle

FLIGHT

Courtney and Thomas Lippincott ’85

Board Members Tina McCarthy, Chair John Rathmell ’75 and Michelle Carnahan

................................................................................

The Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge Dinner is an annual event to acknowledge those

generous St. Thomas patrons who support in creating an environment of excellence for our students which has no limits ... who share in our mission knowing what St. Thomas is and knowing what we can do ... knowing who we are and what we can pursue to become better ... a brotherhood unlike any other that is already great and becoming even greater.

We salute all those who remain committed to set Eagles on their respective paths ... achieving success through the gifts and talents with which God has blessed them ... champions for life.

................................................................................

Jane and Bill Joplin ’54

Mark deTranaltes ’83, Amy Munger, Jerry Dearing and Roz Hill

Board Member Betsy Bagley

George Strake ‘53

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FEATURE

Faculty Members

NASH ----- and -----

CUCCIA’05 Inspire Ride To Fight MS

E

nglish faculty member Will Nash understood a recent wellness initiative designed for the St. Thomas campus community could reap many of the same benefits he has achieved and enjoyed following his continued commitment to physical fitness.

A less than predictable dividend was a group participation extending to include Eagle students which led to an even more rewarding result.

Nash solicited a STH engagement for the BP MS150 ... the immensely successful two-day fundraising bike ride organized by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society ... knowing personally the satisfaction of his experience in 2007 and 2010.

“It’s simply about the people who are in need.”

– Will Nash

STH English Teacher

24 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

The timing of the invitation could not have been more precise for faculty member John Michael Cuccia ’05 who spearheads the award-winning and nationally acclaimed Eagle student media enterprises.

Cuccia had made a decided lifestyle change in the spring of 2015 with a dedication to activity and nutrition which included cycling classes at the

Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA ... quickly transitioning into higher intensity interval programs.

“I really drew inspiration from Will who made the same kind of commitment a number of years before. Biking ... triathlons ... ironman competitions,” Cuccia said. “When he was gauging interest for the MS 150 I asked him if he thought that were something I could reasonably take on. And his response was ‘of course. You’ve redefined a new baseline for your fitness.

Let’s go.’ No way could I have tackled that challenge a year before.”

More than 100 MS 150 rides are held annually throughout North America but the Houston to Austin trek is the biggest and boldest ... routinely boasting more than 13,000 riders aided by 3,500 volunteers and spectators while raising more than $20 million in one weekend each spring while supporting the many victims who are living with a chronic, chaotic disease which assaults the central nervous system.

for what is actually a 180-mile journey ... 100 miles into La Grange on Saturday with most riders spending the night at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in a massive tent city constructed for the ride ... followed by the more demanding second leg through elevated and graded terrain before the finish near the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin.

Nash was “impressed by how well the students performed. Noah had previous experience in the event. He had joined us for some Wednesday training rides at the Picnic Loop (at Memorial Park) and we would never see him ... just flew around. Pappas and Rocha are good athletes. They muscled their way through at times in ways I really can’t.

They rode up front most of the day.

But days leading into the event the threat of inclement weather forced the cancellation of the Sunday grand finale for the third time since 2009. So when the STH team arrived at Rhodes Stadium in Katy for the rollout there was an extra dose of confidence they were more than ready for the undertaking.

“After the last rest stop the team was somewhat spread out. I hung in the back most of the day just to make sure we all stayed on track. Just as I made the final turn into the home stretch into La Grange there were our team members off to the side. Rocha had suggested to wait and all ride into the

Counselor Michael Lesher joined the effort along with six Eagle students ... state champion wrestler Patrick Rocha ’16 ... Garrison Hollis ’17 ...

Jessie Gonzales ’17 ... Alex Lee ’18 ... Noah Kotlarek ’18 and his father Mark ... and Plato Pappas ’19.

The STH team collaborated with the Schlumberger Cycling Club sponsored by the world’s largest oilfield services company which operates one of its four principal executive offices in Houston.

The club was founded in 1996 by a group of employees who had a passion for fitness and wanted to hit the Texas back roads on their bikes. A particular emphasis was placed on participating in the MS 150 ... raising $155,000 in 2013 and nearly $200,000 in 2014.

Nash and Cuccia organized and paired for training rides to properly prepare

Cuccia in final stages of BP MS 150

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finish together. Really signified what our intent was about. That may be my strongest takeaway.”

Along with the particular pride beyond personal accomplishment ... pedaling in unison to conquer a killer ... a neurological disorder in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system, tampering with the circuitry. Those who are stricken often lose vision and coordination, suffer fatigue and paralysis.

“The driving motivation behind this event is so aligned with what exists at the core of St. Thomas,” Cuccia said. “Here’s a need ... and here’s a contribution that we can make to help make a difference.

“The fundraising aspect became more tangible and real once we got out on the ride. Putting faces with dollars. There was a dinner the Thursday night before the event with an MS ambassador who came to speak ... someone diagnosed with the

26 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

disease. The costs associated with her fight are astronomical at times.

That’s when the importance of what we were doing hit home.”

And while many within the herd of riders bring a serious competitive edge Nash echoed the sentiment of embracing the camaraderie and inspiration of the human spirit that the cycling represents.

“There was an elderly woman in a wheelchair on a country road with a sign, ‘I have MS. Thank you,’” Nash said. “It’s simply about the people who are in need. ````` Our team raised $4,000. Not an outrageous sum. But every total stacks with another and ultimately the number becomes significant.”

Approximately 400,000 Americans are fighting a crippling disease whose cause remains largely unknown. The ride signifies hope while fueling research, programs and services for MS victims ... many of

whom were diagnosed 20-25 years ago when the disease was largely untreatable. Now 13 medications are FDA-approved and available to fight relapsing forms of MS. And as Cuccia continues to be a more creative force in his own health he “absolutely” will return to mash the pedals again at the next BP MS 150 to help ensure a higher quality of life for those seeking a cure.

“We learned a lot in terms of putting together our collective effort,” Cuccia said. “We can get more faculty involved. The message is go out ... improve your own fitness ... have fun ... and make a difference for someone else. But whether the team is two or 20 ... I’m definitely looking forward to (2017). I think the student involvement could spin into an organized club that rides throughout the year. Who knows that kinds of opportunities may present themselves.”

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FEATURE

Braniff (left) with Caraway

Sports Hall of Fame Inductee

CARAWAY ’96 Embraces Deep Appreciation for Eagle Experience

“I look at all the great Eagles ... great men, not just great former athletes ... who have given so much to their school and communities.

To be included ... amazing.”

– Brandon Caraway ’96

B

randon Caraway ’96 is never in search for a reason to rekindle his deep appreciation for an Eagle experience which impacts his life two decades removed from his St. Thomas graduation.

The youngest-ever inductee and among the most recent to the STH Sports Hall of Fame embraced long ago a steep understanding of the opportunities he was afforded ... the personal and spiritual growth he continues to enjoy now as a husband and father.

“Attending St. Thomas was the single most important thing that has happened to me,” Caraway says with certainty.

“This is where I became a man ... learned a foundation for life ... the

value of work and integrity. The camaraderie with my classmates and teammates ... the mentoring from the faculty and the Basilian Fathers ... remains with me to this day. Academics and athletics ... and now my view from the corporate world ... networking and relationships ... this was the total package.”

And the final exclamation point to Caraway’s memorable baseball career ... the most coveted distinction an Eagle athlete may receive ... was awarded as he joined nine other St. Thomas luminaries and the 1939 football team in the Class of 2016 ... remembered and revered during an induction ceremony before a vibrant crowd in Cemo Auditorium.

“It’s so humbling,” Caraway says. “I Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016 - 27

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received an unexpected phone call that I was nominated by a group I don’t really have much association.

And then to actually be inducted was shocking. I look at all the great Eagles ... great men not just great former athletes ... who have given so much to their school and communities. To be included ... amazing.”

Caraway carved acclaim within a program where resounding success has resonated for more than 70 years ... then vaulted to notable merit at the University of Houston and on to professional baseball.

The first-ever Eagle named team captain for his sophomore, junior and senior seasons ... Caraway was a two-time All-Greater Houston second baseman and integral part of four consecutive Texas Catholic Interscholastic League state championships ... capping an extraordinary stretch of eight straight St. Thomas state titles from 1989 to 1996.

“My senior year we had more than a half dozen guys go on to play at the next level ... speaks to our talent,” Caraway says. “But there was more.

Coach Jim Connor put us all in a position to be successful ... to get the most out of us. We all owed a lot to him.”

In reality Caraway feels indebted on many fronts to those responsible for paving his path to 4500 Memorial Drive.

Caraway primarily attended public schools growing up and was zoned to enroll at HISD Waltrip High School before a recruiting visit to St. Thomas during his eighth grade academic year produced an option that proved to carry life-altering consequences.

“I just had a sense ... a feeling this would be the right place for me moving forward,” Caraway said. “It was my decision to come here but that didn’t mean it was going to be easy. I talked with my father and he was completely 28 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

honest with me on what it would take for me to meet the academic and financial demands.”

Caraway committed to a summer work program on campus while also tapping into a broad tuition assistance program and benefiting directly from the annual Scholarship of ’63 directed by Tom Braniff ’63, Auxiliary Bishop George Sheltz, D.D. ’63 and Pat Tamborello ’63.

“I wouldn’t be here tonight ... would not have had the St. Thomas experience without that support,” Caraway says with gratitude and respect. “I can’t say enough about Tom Braniff. He remains a strong influence today. I thank him every day for all that he’s done.”

Braniff says “Brandon’s athletic ability was always obvious ... but his character is what separated him then and what defines him most today. We were introduced before he enrolled as a freshman. He was emphatic that he wanted to be at St. Thomas. And later that he wanted to become Catholic.

Our scholarship group is proud to be involved with such a fine individual.”

Caraway received multiple college offers including Texas A&M, Baylor, Alabama and Mississippi before elect-

ing to play at Houston where he then assembled one of the most complete careers in recent Cougar history ... leaving as UH’s all-time record holder in multiple offensive categories ... including hits, doubles, total bases and stolen bases.

In 1999 Caraway was named the team’s Most Valuable Player ... third team All-America by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association ... first team All-Conference USA ... and to the NCAA Regional AllTournament Team ... all while earning his Bachelor of Science in Economics.

He was a 12th-round selection of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2000 and spent his final two professional seasons in the Astros organization.

Caraway now thrives as a district sales manager with Entellus Medical Inc. ... a hard-charging med-tech startup which raised nearly $80 million in its initial public offering in 2015.

“It’s a rising company. The projects and opportunities are exciting and fulfilling ... the kind of environment that brings out the best in me ... just the way I’m wired,” Caraway says.

Caraway’s wife Jamie Lynn required

no cliff notes briefing before the Hall of Fame main event. She and Brandon were high school sweethearts living many of those diamond days together when cell phones were used only for calls and and the Macarena went viral.

Now their family includes 11-year-old daughter Peyton who excels as a level 7 competitor at the Cypress Academy of Gymnastics ... nine-year-old Brandon Junior who only answers to “Bo” ... and twins Ryker and Charlie who turn five in September.

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Sports Hall of Fame.............p30 Cavan Biggio ’13..................p36 Patrick Ryan.........................p46

On induction night the Caraways parked on the back side of campus and leisurely strolled past Fr. Wilson Field and Brandon paused when a whelming sense of joy, nostalgia and pride seized hold ... engulfed in a flood of emotions as vivid as when the title-clinching and dogpiling were simply an expected accessory to every season.

Later Caraway took pause during his celebratory evening to take stock in the current state of Eagle Baseball which was in the midst of a historic campaign ... 28 consecutive games without a loss to start the season ... the program’s first-ever national ranking ... and its sixth TAPPS state tournament in seven years.

“That’s a standard that you feel you’re somewhat a part of,” Caraway said.

“In the early 1990s we knew what had been accomplished before we were here. There was a determination to add to that legacy. And now you see the success continuing. A state championship two years ago and this season that rates among the best in the history of the program.

“But it’s not just baseball. How many future lawyers ... physicians ... investment bankers ... continue to come through these hallways ... civic leaders who touch all corners of their communities. That’s what defines St. Thomas. My hope is that my son will soon share in this brotherhood.”

Cavan Biggio ’13, p36

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en Eagle luminaries plus the groundbreaking 1939 football team received the greatest recognition afforded an Eagle student-athlete ... induction into the St. Thomas Sports Hall of Fame and honored during a riveting ceremony in Cemo Auditorium.

LUMINARIES Shine Bright During Sports Hall of Fame Induction

Alphabetically, the 2016 inductees are:

Brandon Caraway ’96

n Four-time TCIL state baseball champion and first-ever Eagle named team captain his sophomore, junior and senior seasons n First Team All Greater Houston as a second baseman his junior and senior seasons and named to the second team as a sophomore n Multiple scholarship offers including Texas A&M, Baylor, Alabama, Mississippi among others before electing to play for coach Rayner Noble at the University of Houston n Lettered at UH from 1997-00 and ended his career as the program’s record holder in multiple offensive categories ... including hits, doubles, total bases and stolen bases n In 1999 was named team Most Valuable Player ... third team All- America by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association ... first team All-Conference USA ... and to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team n Only Cougar named to three C-USA All-Tournament Teams n In 2005 named to the Rayner Noble All-Decade Team n As a 15-year-old competed for Houston Heat elite travel team which won the gold medal at the Junior Olympics defeating teams from the United States, Latin America and Japan n A 12th-round selection of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2000

JOHN FISHER ’74

n Key member of the first Eagle swim team, capturing a Gold Medal while breaking the Texas state record in the 100 yard butterfly, taking second place in the 100 yard backstroke and swimming the anchor leg in the 200 yard medley relay at the 1974 TCIL state meet n Less than 10 hours later on the return from the SMU natatorium underwent an emergency appendectomy n Accepted swimming scholarship at the University of Houston where he served as the varsity team captain and in 1976 became the Cougars first Southwest Conference champion in any sport n Awarded Most Valuable Player distinction at the 1976 Houston All- Sports Banquet 30 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

(John Fisher ’74 continued...) n Served as an overseas missionary for 16 years with wife Jennifer and daughters Morgan and Anna in mainland China “Just being back here and feeling the St. Thomas pride again .... the history and knowledge of this school ... is what means the most to me. The Christian education has stayed with me ... still using it with my marriage ... my family. It’s the the rock on which my life is built.” – Fisher ’74

MARCUS “MARC” JANKOWSKI ’70

n Three-year varsity football letterman and two-time all-state defensive tackle who was named Catholic All-American in 1969 n Two-time state champion 1968-69 n Self-taught shotput and discus performer who placed second at the 1970 TCIL state meet n Four-year St. Thomas Club and student council including vice president his senior year n Accepted football scholarship to University of Texas (Austin) n 35-year high tech sales, marketing and consulting executive before entering into real estate partnership with his son Matt n Active in CHARM prison ministry and leader in Christian recovery ministry Celebrate Recovery “When I look back at those years ... I realize I really wasn’t all that special except in one regard. I was specially blessed ... blessed to be here (as a student) during one of those golden eras ... blessed to have great coaches ... blessed to have great teammates. And I thank you to be blessed one more time being here tonight.”

ROLAND LAURENZO ’65

n Multi-sport letterman and 1964 all-state football performer for the first of back-to-back state champions n Key contributor for the 1965 state baseball champions n 1965 graduate of the United State Naval Academy in Annapolis where he was a member of both the football, and track and field programs n Left Merrill Lynch in 1972 to partner with his mother Maria Ninfa Laurenzo and found the original Ninfa’s on Navigation which is widely credited with popularizing fajitas and springing a global culinary phenomenon n Founder and president of El Tiempo Restaurants n Lifelong supporter of the St. Thomas community where the family legacy has continued through the 1980s and early 2000s I consider myself very fortunate to be a part of the St. Thomas experience. I was taught by some of the finest teachers and Fathers ... near and dear to my heart. For me this is really about my awesome teammates ... always so good to me ... made it possible for me to run scared and as fast as I could towards the goal line. I was at the right place at the right time ... and some amazing family members and amazing teammates helped me get through it all. – Laurenzo ’74 Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016 - 31

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DEL LEATHERWOOD ’73

n Two-time all-state and 1972 All-American receiver for the 1971-72 TCIL state champions n Two-time all-district baseball performer who also ran the mile relay for Eagle Track and Field n Accepted football scholarship to attend Texas A&M University and later focused exclusively on baseball n Pitched for the 1977 southwest Conference champion Aggies and head coach Tom Chandlers n Signed with the Houston Astros in June 1977 and pitched six season in the organization reaching the AAA level and the 40 man major league roster n Named to the AA Southern League All-Star team in 1979 when he led the league with 15 wins, four shutouts and 202 innings pitched n Successful agent for State Farm Insurance since 1983 in the Westside Energy Corridor area n Father of Matthew ’03, a three-year football letterman and all-district performer before graduating from Texas A&M University and now a financial advisor for R. W. Baird & Co. n Grandfather of Charles Matthew ’2034 n Brother of 2003 Sports Hall of Fame inductee Larry Stegent ’66

“Despite some modest means my parents sent us all to Catholic schools ... especially important to my mom that we all receive a Catholic education. And it was years later that I realized what that education has meant to me ... the community ... the friendships ... the bond. Great thrill to have (former Astros president) Tal Smith here tonight. My wife Lori worked for him as an administrative assistant in the Astros minor league department. Tal is like her second dad.” – Leatherwood ’73

STEPHEN MARTIN ’67

n 1966 TCIL all-state and Catholic All-American defensive tackle selection and two-year starter for the 1965-66 TCIL champions n Co-captain his senior season n Four-year STH Honor Roll n Accepted scholarship to Louisiana State University where he played for legendary Tiger coach Charlie McClendon and was a member of the 1970 Southeastern Conference championship team and 1971 Orange Bowl squad n LSU Beta Alpha Psi academic national accounting society based on outstanding Grade Point Average n After earning his accounting degree with honors from LSU and graduating from University of Houston Law enjoyed a notable 40 year-plus career with Ernst & Young and Shell Oil as a tax and tax accounting advisor specializing in the energy industry before retiring from E&Y in 2003 n Served a key committee person for several oil and gas industry organisations drafting state and United States tax legislation n Seven year-plus lecturer/professor at Texas State University instructing tax research to graduate accounting students as part of their masters program n Now residing in San Antonio 32 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

BILL SAGE ’61

n Earned seven varsity letters during a distinguished two-sport career n Senior team captain and key contributor for four consecutive TCIL state track champions 1958-61 n Set the TCIL 440 yard state record in 1961 n Senior team captain and all-district football selec- tion in 1960 while awarded the Outstanding Lead- ership Trophy by the coaching staff n Four-time Honor Roll student and three-year St. Thomas Club member elected vice president of his senior class n Awarded scholarship to Rice University where he earned two varsity letters while a member of two Southwest Conference championship teams and placing fifth in the 1965 SWC championship meet n Won the AAU 35-year-old and over Texas State Championship 800 meters in 1978 n United States Vietnam Navy veteran from 1970-73 n After graduating from Rice and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School served a four year residency at the University of Tennessee (Martin) in Otolaryngology and became board certified in 1977 n Maintained a private practice in Victoria, Texas from 1977-11 while serving as the team physician for St. Joseph High School and member of the school’s board of directors from 1990-95 n Awarded membership in Knights of St. Gregory by papal appointment of office of Pope John Paul II “The most most valuable lesson we learned was loyalty ... discerning who were people of good character. You made relationships ... and stayed with them. On the football field you were responsible to your teammates ... did your best ... held up your end ... would never let them down ... and they wouldn’t let you down ... loyalty begets loyalty ... love begets love. So if I learned anything at St. Thomas ... is was loyalty and leadership. When I was head of a surgeon team ... head of a trauma team ... ran an office ... became a parent ... it was all the same..”

– Sage ’61

TIM STAPLES ’54

n Multi-sport all-state standout and 1954 Catholic All-American football star who earned nine varsity letters during his Eagle career n Key contributor in leading STH to football, basketball, baseball state championship sweep in 1952-53 n Received the inaugural Mickey O’Connor Memorial Award named for three-sport Eagle scholar-athlete who died from polio n Class salutatorian, four-year member of the St. Thomas Club and three-year member of the Student Council n Graduated from the five-year Mechanical Engineering program at Rice University while a three-year starting outfielder in Owl baseball n Active duty United State Marine Corp. from 1959-64 and an additional 15 years in the USMC reserves before retiring with a rank distinction Lt. Col. USMC Reserved Retired n Commercial pilot 31 years with Pan American and United Airlines flying Pacific routes from San Francisco to the Far East. n Active member St. Rose Church, Santa Rosa, CA for more than 40 years devoting thousands of volunteer hours to the Food Pantry and St. Vincent de Paul Society n Survived by his wife of 44 years Katherine, son Greg and wife Vanessa, their son Samuel, brother Pete ‘56, wife Jan and their children Steve, Susan and Mike.

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MICHAEL YOUNG ’66

n High impact linebacker for the 1964-65 state football champions n Recruited by Houston coaching icon Bum Phillips to play for the University of Houston n Continued Young Jno R & Co. Insurance and retired 2010 n Part of Young family legacy of STH graduates which extends to four generations when grandson Michael ’20 enrolls in 2016 n Joins uncle Johnny “Tex” Young ’31 as a Hall of Fame inductee

LARRY “ZINNY” ZIENTEK ’66

n Three-sport TCIL all-state standout for the 1964 and 1965 state football champions ... the 1965 and 1966 state basketball finalists ... and the 1965 and 1966 state baseball champions where he hit .600 at the state tournament and earned the Louisville Slugger Award n Teamed with five other Eagles on the 1964 World Champion Colt league team coached by Tom Wy and Fr. Robert Matzinger ’47 n Retired after a distinguished 47-year career with Goodyear Tire and Rubber and has since launched Diamond Real Estate Investors, LLC with his wife Susan

“It’s my great honor to be inducted with the other 2016 honorees ... very special to be inducted with my teammates Roland, Mike and Steve. St. Thomas has many great traditions and to me the greatest is that for 116 years we’ve been led in the Catholic traditions by the Basilian Fathers. I’m thankful for the sacrifices of my mother and father to send me and my brother here.”

– Zientek ’66

1939 ST. THOMAS FOOTBALL TEAM n Only undefeated state champions in school history n Debuted with a 13-0 shutout over Bay City and followed with a series of dominant victories over Victoria 34-0, TMI 34-0, St. Joseph 80-0, Corpus Christi Academy 18-6, TM College 7-0, Kirwin 26-0, St. Edward’s Prep 18-7, St. Anthony 62-0 and climaxed by a 20-0 verdict over St. Joseph Victoria to secure the state Catholic championship 34 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

1939 STH Football Team continued...) n A postseason showdown against state public school champion Lamar High School ended in a 0-0 tie n In an era of single platoon football the offense was sparked by running backs Jim Skelton ’40 and Jack Glauser ’40 who were a part of 315 points, while a lock down defense led by Henry Knapick ’41 and Jimmy Bannahan ’40 allowed only 13 points the entire season with nine shutouts n Coached by Fr. Carl Allnoch, CSB and assistant Fr. E. P. McGee, CSB and included Joe Berryman ’42, Joe Buvens ’39, George Cire ’40, Richard Clark ’40, Marion Cleboski ’41, Jack Debell ’40, Ronald Featherstone ’40, Clayton Harrington ’41, Jerry Hogan ’41, Fred Jamail ’40, Joe Jamail ’42, Don Jones ’41, Bernie Kmiecik ’40, John Leonard ’41, Larry McDonald ’42, William McKinnon ’40, Earl Miles ’40, Al Poujol ’40, Terry Purcell ’40, Leslie Radcliffe ’40, Hugh Rafferty ’42, Frank Rao ’41, John Rickert ’40, Tom Schexnayder ’40, Tom Skelton ’41 and Charlie Zimmer ’41.

The STH Sports Hall of Fame was established by the Alumni Association in 1998 to commemorate exceptional Eagle athletic accomplishment while celebrating lifelong excellence consistent with the Basilian motto of Teach Me Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge.

.......................................

The Class of 2016 joined Bernard “Nardy” DeGeorge, Jr. ’63, Gary Martin ’69, George Mehaffey ’53, Mike Mulvihill ’56, Ted Nowak ’70, Jerry Pizzitola ’60, Jimmy Raley ’65, Bradley Smith ’88, Billy Welu ’50 and Mark Yokubaitis ’70 from the Class of 2015 as the most recent inductees ... increasing the overall membership to 58 Eagles.

“To me ... this is the greatest team St. Thomas has ever had ... scored more than 300 points ... allowed only 13 all season. We weren’t very big ... the starters only averaged 160 pounds ... played on both sides of the ball ... but we were tenacious ... fighters. This is so humbling to represent this team. I played only a small part. The St. Thomas spirit is unbeatable ... what I remember most.”

– Hugh Rafferty ’42 Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016 - 35

Eagle

PRIDE

CAVAN BIGGIO .........................................

Hears MLB Draft Call to Toronto

36 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

’13

F

ormer Eagle state champion Cavan Biggio ’13 took the next step in pursuing his dream of playing major league baseball while furthering cement the family’s legacy which already extends to the Hall of Fame.

After three standout seasons at Notre Dame Biggio was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth round of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft ... following in the illustrious path of his father and former Eagle championship coach ... Houston Astro icon Craig Biggio whose HOF induction was roughly just one calendar year before his son’s breakthrough moment.

Cavan’s draft announcement on MLB.com was delivered by his older brother Conor ’11 who was serving an internship in the MLB commissioner’s office. He was chosen by the Astros in the 34th round in 2015 after his own productive four-year career at Notre Dame.

“I’ve been personally involved with Cavan since he was in the sixth grade with select baseball,” athletic director Mike Netzel said. “I’ve know for a long time he’s had the ‘it’ factor.

Saw how he handled the extra scrutiny being brought up to the varsity as a freshman with your father as the head coach and the forever face of the Astros franchise. First at bat at Oak Ridge he slams a home run.

Will never forget it.

“Cavan has always had the ice water in his veins ... always very comfortable in the setting. That’s why he excelled here ... felt comfortable with Team USA ... felt comfortable with the final decision to attend Notre Dame and excelled there. Because of his makeup I’ve always told Craig that Cavan will be one of the fastest rising to the big leagues out of his draft class and I still believe that.”

Cavan became the fourth Eagle

drafted from 2011 state championship team coached by Craig on a staff that included Netzel and current Eagle state championship coach Ryan Lousteau.

Shortstop Patrick Leonard ’11 was selected in the fifth round in 2011 by the Kansas City Royals who also selected left-handed pitcher Austin Fairchild ’12 in the 16th round in 2012.

But the immediate impression Cavan made on Lousteau was before Biggio arrived on the STH campus.

“I was coaching Conor on a 16U team during the summer in College Station,” Lousteau said. “That weekend Craig asked if Cavan could play with the older guys. He was headed into his freshman year here at St. Thomas. I put him in as the designated hitter and he’s facing a redshirt freshman at Texas A&M ... throwing 91-92 (miles per hour). I’m coaching first base and first pitch Cavan rockets a line drive over my head. I knew right then this kid would be pretty good.”

The left-hand swinging Biggio was only the second second baseman drafted from the 2016 pool after hitting .311 for the Irish while slugging .454 with a .473 on-base percentage in the ultra competitive Atlantic Coast Conference. He knocked in 28 runs and led the team in hits (61), total bases, walks (54), stolen bases (14), runs scored (43) and tied for the team lead in doubles (12).

In three Notre Dame seasons Biggio totaled 70 RBI, 164 hits including 56 for extra-bases, 125 walks, an impressive .406 on-base percentage, 33 stolen bases and 117 runs while starting 166 of a possible 167 games and collecting the 2015 Rawlings Gold Glove at second base.

Biggio earned Cape Cod League AllStar recognition in 2015.

Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016 - 37

Eagle

PRIDE

CONTINUED

Cavan during the 2013 Eagle season

While attending St. Thomas Biggio was part of the USA Baseball 18U National Team that won the International Baseball Federation Junior AAA World Championship in Seoul, South Korea.

“The most impressive characteristic when I first met both Conor and Cavan ... and still applies very much today ... you would never have known who their father was,” Lousteau said. “They just wanted to be a contributing player on the team. Always went about their business not expecting anything should be given to them. If anything, I think they both worked harder because of their last name. Everything they’ve achieved they’ve earned. I couldn’t be more excited for Cavan as he makes his next move. He’s been successful at every level and he’ll probably have 10-15 years in the big leagues.”

Cavan has always carried the surname with bursting pride without shouldering the weight of unreasonable expectations and unruly reactions.

He owns a supreme but quiet confidence that he will realize his baseball dreams without losing perspective and enthusiasm for the game that has brought his family athletic fame and financial security ... knowing that the game is truly no more than just that.

38 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

Such a mindset proved invaluable as Cavan played out his final season with Notre Dame in the swirl of intense scouting scrutiny leading into the draft.

“If you burden yourself ... it will eat you up,” Cavan says.

“It sounds cliched ... but my approach has always been to take it one game at a time ... enjoy the process. That was the focus. The opportunity to play at the next level was going to take care of itself.”

But the two-time state champion at St. Thomas was astute to understand what was at stake through each and every stance and swing in the batter’s box ... every infield grounder at second base ... every turn around the bases ... every double play turned or not.

His Hall of Fame father offered the prudent advice which was also the most simple.

“Just go out there and have fun,” Craig suggested. “Be a great teammate. Stay dedicated to your academics. And just see what happens. “(Cavan) had scouts around him at St. Thomas. Same for three years in one of the toughest conferences in America.

The game is hard enough without making it more difficult on yourself. He understands all that.”

Patty and Craig during the 2015 Hall of Fame induction weekend

Craig coaching during the 2013 Eagle season

Cavan during his 4 years at Notre Dame

Cavan has grown accustomed to performing through the years with Biggio branded on his back making him a visible target for the inevitable comparisons to the seven-time All-Star who fronted a star-crossed and success-starved franchise for 20 years ... leading a charge to its one and only World Series ... one of only 29 big leaguers to rack 3,000 hits ... the only one to add 600 doubles, 400 stolen bases and 250 home runs.

But Cavan along with his former Eagle and Notre Dame teammate Conor were never pressed into a like father, like son, be-like-ME pressure cooker.

“They both are completely comfortable in their own skin,” Craig says. “Cavan and I are totally different players at the same position. He’s trying to become the best player he can become. The key is fulfilling your own expectations. What gets said, what gets written, the subjective conclusions which are made are totally out of his control. What he does control are the three hour inside the game ... and what’s necessary to make the most of it.”

Craig and wife Patty readily agree that they’re “just excited to be parents” as Cavan lives out the current phase of his baseball journey. But dad can quickly detach and apply his trained eye for a fair and balanced evaluation and projection.

“I think he’s gotten better every day, every season,” Craig says. “He had the opportunity to perform in the Cape Cod League two summers in a row ... made the All-Star team (in 2015) ... around that kind of talent ... facing that kind of measure ... it prepares you for what’s to come.”

Cavan never needed extra motivation to scale the heights he has hoped for since taking batting practice as a kid among the Killer B’s against the likes of Darryl Kile and Roger Clemens.

After leaving St. Thomas in 2013 Cavan was ranked by Baseball America among the 70 best prospects in that year’s draft. He was selected in the 29th round by the Philadelphia Phillies after falling on many team’s draft boards because of his commitment to Notre Dame and the high-dollar asking price if he was to forego that opportunity.

The Irish struggled during Cavan’s freshman year while making the transition to the ultra-competitive Atlantic Coast Conference before rebounding to tie for third in the ACC in 2014 and advancing to their first NCAA Regional since 2006.

And Cavan was forced to adjust to his own less his own steady ascension periodically knocked aside.

“The biggest thing I gained going into this season was Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016 - 39

Eagle

PRIDE

CONTINUED

knowing how to handle some failure,” Cavan says. “Growing up playing ... including my years at St. Thomas ... it was all pretty positive.

Individually and team success ... winning championships. I took some really big expectations into college. I’ve had to be honest about my own strengths and weaknesses.

Sometimes that means affecting the game in different ways than the obvious. It’s all about advancing as a player.”

WIthout hesitation Craig says that Cavan “reminds me so much of Baggy (long-time Astro teammates and record-setter Jeff Bagwell). If you get pitches to hit ... you hit. If you walk ... you walk. When the at bat is over ... go to the dugout and prepare for next one. He really excels defensively ... won a Gold Glove last year ... speaks to his ethic in improving. Very professional for a guy 20 years old.”

That discipline has served Cavan well as he’s aimed to maximize the total Notre Dame experience and not strictly lay groundwork for professional baseball.

Originally Cavan committed to the University of Virginia before the lure of extending his career with Conor proved decisive in leading him to the Irish.

The political science major has also discovered a growth beyond the diamond and clubhouse which tells him the correct college choice was made.

“I was able to mature as a person in ways I never could have expected and that’s a credit to Notre Dame ... in many ways an extension of St. Thomas,” Cavan says. “You have to build a self-reliance being away from home in a completely different culture than the one growing up in Houston. The academic challenges were stiff. There are no shortcuts.

40 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

You develop some inner strength accomplishing a wide variety of goals. That confidence then translates to baseball. But more than anything else those three years were about shaping who you are as an individual.”

Patty admires that Cavan “always understood the great demands of being a student-athlete at Notre Dame. You have to perform in the classroom first ... something he learned at St. Thomas. He’s really appreciated his academics ... treasures the history of what it means to be on that campus.

Without a doubt it’s been a great fit.”

And now Quinn Biggio is set to follow the lead of her older brothers and make for a Biggio-Notre Dame triple play with an opportunity to play softball after a stellar two-sport athletic career at St. Agnes Academy.

In all, the Biggio Band relished a second straight scintillating summer of celebration ... following in the wake of Craig’s Hall of Fame induction which delivered authentic applause and support from fans, his

peers and predecessors, his game ... and memories Cavan will embrace for a lifetime.

“What will stay with me the most was seeing my father being recognized for the player that he was and the person that he continues to be,” Cavan says.

“He spent his entire career with an organization that wasn’t often in the spotlight. Maybe he didn’t get many of the accolades he deserved. But now he’s in the most select group who have ever played the game. I’m thankful for that.

And also for my mom. So many summers and springs she was was at home taking care of us all ... homework, practices, games ... the up and downs of life ... ... plus all the little things. Just a great tribute for everyone in our family.”

With a personal encore just now beginning.

Eagles’ Nest

FEATURE

T

25

he oldest living Masters champion shares in one of the most exclusive golf groupings that exists within the global game ... one of only 32 titleholders who can speak to the thrill and career defining moment of capturing the ironic and coveted green jacket.

TH

ANNUAL

STH GOLF TOURNAMENT Celebrates & Supports Eagle Brotherhood

Yet while relishing the 60th anniversary year of his most acclaimed victory ... and months after graciously declining an invitation to reminisce at the annual Champions Dinner at Augusta National ... Jackie Burke ‘40 embraced a more intimate reunion of sorts only a matter of weeks later ... hosting the St. Thomas Golf Tournament at his historic Champions Golf Club ... forever connected to his school and committed to the continued success of a game he loves.

“I don’t spend much time looking back ... prefer to deal with what’s in front of me” is how Burke explains his priorities. “You can’t bring yesterday forward.”

At 93 years young Burke beams with purpose in the present ... while holding a supreme appreciation and respect for an Eagle brotherhood thriving in Houston well into its second century.

Despite a sluggish local economy and threatening weather on the day of the event ... the tournament commanded 220 entries and raised more than a $140,000 identified for STH tuition assistance

Burke following his legendary Masters win 60 years ago

Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016 - 41

Eagles’ Nest

FEATURE

CONTINUED

and Eagle athletics ... a tribute to the dedicated efforts of co-chairs Bill Tower ’74 ... Jim Bourgeois ’74 ... Mike Kight ’82 ... and Trey Wood ’82.

“We were so blessed to have an anonymous title sponsor surface with several other significant supporters who really stepped up and turned the tide financially for the entire event,” Kight said. “Guys who never waver with their assistance ... reflects the kind of people they’ve been their entire lives ... believing that the more you give ... the more you get back. Agape love is the best description (the essence of goodwill and benevolence, love that is of and from God, whose very nature is love itself). It’s St. Thomas High School at its finest.”

Wood marveled at the “show of force” from Eagle alumni and the extended STH community.

“Their desire to stay rooted with their school knows no boundries,” Wood said. “So many of the same names and faces every year. And you can’t say enough about our

42 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

sponsors. We would make one phone call ... send one email ... and they responded ... all in. And it definitely makes the Monday golf more enjoyable knowing what it takes to have all this come together.”

This STH communal spikes a particular pride in Burke ... a World Golf Hall of Famer and unfiltered slice of Americana who pays no homage to sentimentality. But he sincerely believes in the bond that unites him and with every other Eagle who participated in the STH experience throughout the decades.

Burke consistently credits without prompting the Basilian Fathers such Carl Alnoch, CSB ... Ernest Magee, CSB ... and A.L. Higgins, CSB who mentored him and his three brothers ... instilling an ethic and formation that served well throughout their lifetimes.

“I think about those priests every day,” Burke said. “Every day.”

Not so much his signature Masters triumph staged in a manner and in conditions that might have been the most

demanding ever seen at Augusta National ... bitter cold with winds whipping 30-40 miles per hour.

Burke began the final round trailing by eight shots ... and somehow navigated a miraculous one over par 71 to emerge one stroke better than amateur Ken Venturi for the greatest comeback in Masters history.

Later in 1956 Burke posted a victory at the PGA Championship and was named PGA Player of the Year ... success which afforded him the luxury of immediate semi-retirement from tour life at age 33 to pursue what he loved most ... teaching golf and building a club in Houston with close friend and three-time Masters winner Jimmy Demaret.

Champions has now partnered for three consecutive STH Golf Tournaments ... and Burke’s magnetic vibe remains in full display ... especially during the celebratory dinner following the rounds when he speaks with reverence to the St. Thomas legacy ... punctuated this year by a story recalling a Champions member who once approached the famed founder soliciting tips to improve his struggling game.

n Jackie, would you give me a lesson?

n We have three instructors here who would be more than happy to work with you ... won’t be a problem. n Could you at least watch me hit a few balls? n OK, sure. n Now that you’ve seen me swing ... how much would you have charged to actually give me a lesson?

n $7,000. n Isn’t that a lot of money? n Not for a miracle.

Burke forever comfortable at his historic Champions Golf Club

Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016 - 43

Eagles’ Nest

FEATURE

TYRELL ’63 and His Pop-Swing Style Set New Standards

S

“No way in the world could I have anticipated what I’ve experienced since leaving St. Thomas. Not in my wildest dreams and aspirations would I have mapped out the crazy turns my life has taken.”

– Steve Tyrell ’63

44 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

teve Tyrell ’63 was headed back to Houston ... but first came an evening performance in Baltimore ... then a quick turnaround to New York before he finally touched down for the cozy comfort of his hometown ... for only a matter of hours before routing a return to NYC ... all leading into an upcoming series of West Coast engagements and an October date in the historic village of Castiglioncello del Trinoro, southern Tuscany, Italy.

Ciao, baby.

“It’s the best,” Tyrell says of his rare opportunities to embrace a Houston stage. “It’s the best of any place I play in the world. I mean that. I have so many family and friends who always come out. People I’ve known my entire life. Those are the relationships which run the deepest for me. I stay at my sister’s house (fashion and lifestyle blogger Roz Pactor). I always check in with my St. Thomas buddies ... Frankie B. (Mandola), Tony Mandola, Jerry Pizzitola ... if I start naming names I won’t be able to name them all. And it was my bass player’s 40th birthday so as soon as we landed we headed to Carrabba’s for a bash.

Cousin Johnny took great care of us.”

Tyrell simply sums it as “life on the road.” A life change at age 71 he never reasonably expected nor actively pursued and has come to greatly Tyrell among old Eagle friends at 2015 Sports Hall of Fame Induction appreciate.

In nearly five decades in the turbulent music business, Tyrell has enjoyed great triumph as an producer, songwriter, music supervisor ... and now as a crooner charming audiences and filling the charts as a headlining performer ... including his May appearence at the Stafford Centre that he carried a particular anticipation.

Tyrell routinely punches a full featured set saluting Frank Sinatra ... bringing a relaxed yet gregarious popswing style with old-time Las Vegas polish to timeless favorites “Come Fly With Me” ...

“The Tender Trap” ... “It’s Magic” ... et al.

And of course his updated “The Way You Look Tonight” ... the rendition he popularized for Father of the Bride in 1991 which ignited his career as a vocalist.

“It really was like a demo,” Tyrell says of the catalyst for his rebirth 15 years ago. “I put the song together and the producer asked, ‘That’s exactly what we’re looking for. But who is that guy singing?” I said that’s me, man. The next thing I know I’m in the film and it became a monster ($90 million box office, $44 million more in rentals, perpetual cable rotation). That led me into singing standards. No one was really involved in the genre in the mid-1990s.

I was encouraged to record an album. I thought who in the hell would buy it?”

But when it’s you out there ... totally different ball game. It’s a privilege to offer my version ... get that immediate reaction. And if you’re fortunate, your song lives long after you record it.

That’s the one-on-one connection you just can’t get when you’re producing.”

Eleven full length releases later Tyrell has more than received the resounding answer.

Soon after graduation Tyrell bolted for the New York bright lights, big city where he quickly built a trust with Hal David, Burt Bacharach, Carole King and Dionne Warwick in the Brill Building song writing factory of the early 1960s, growing into a hit-making writer, arranger and producer for Scepter Records.

A New Standard dropped in 1999 and was among the best selling jazz albums for the next five years. Tyrell followed with a steady stream of top 10 and top 5 entries on Billboard’s Jazz charts alongside the likes of Tony Bennett and Michael Buble, including an all Frankie disc in 2005 and his 2013 It’s Magic, The Songs of Sammy Cahn which debuted at number 2.

Familiarity breeding affection.

Whether it’s Great American Songbook selections or vintage rhythm and blues Tyrell delivers the perfect balance of grit and gloss to his pop repertoire ... drawing on his experiences collaborating with such diverse award-winning chart-thumping artists as Rod Stewart and Diana Ross ... Linda Ronstadt and Bonnie Raitt ... Aaron Neville, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder ... Bette Midler, Mary J Blige and beyond.

Tyrell’s vocal swagger to classic standards is pushing more than nostalgic buttons. His classy and classic interpretations are connecting with devoted modern audiences unlike ever before in his career.

“When you do your own ... it’s your butt on the line,” Tyrell says simply.

“You get the fame, you get the blame.

When you produce an album, and the performer doesn’t quite hit it right, the results are not entirely your fault.

Tyrell vividly recalls “growing up making records as a kid at St. Thomas ... playing with local R&B bands ... getting some radio play ... performed at one of our senior events.” And making a fateful connection with local talent on the rise B.J. Thomas

Tyrell was earning recognition on a wide variety of film soundtracks and title song compositions when he identified a close friend from Houston for what proved to be a life-altering opportunity.

“I brought B.J. into do “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Next thing I know we’re off to the Oscars,” Tyrell says.

Thomas’s soon-to-be-signature recording won an Academy Award for Best Original Song ... topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks and the Billboard adult contemporary chart for nearly two months ... and propelled Tyrell to decades of acclaimed music supervising and producing for films and television.

“I went from a singer ... to working the record business ... to focusing on movies,” Tyrell says. “My wife Stephanie and I moved to California and started a whole new life.”

Tyrell has since vaulted into first-name status with A-list entertainers from A-Z ... stars and starlets ... presidents and prime ministers. But it’s his connections to Ol’ Blue Eyes which have launched his sudden rising star, perhaps fittingly given that growing up in the Fifth Ward

“it was God and Sinatra in our house ... not necessarily in that order.”

At the request of the Sinatra family and Quincy Jones, Tyrell was handpicked to perform “Fly Me To The Moon” at the Hollywood Bowl with Jones conducting the orchestra when Frank was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2005 (and later reprised that performance at Carnegie Hall).

The last two years Tyrell has hosted birthday celebrations on Siriusly Sinatra for Sirius XM live from Patsy’s on NYC’s West 56th Street where The Chairman was often afforded a special table upstairs in the back to dine on clams Posillipo, fusilli with fileto di pomodoro, veal Milanese and a ricotta torte.

“I juggle calls from all over the world ... Stewart from England ... Jack Jones on a Love Boat cruise ... Billy Crystal from Los Angeles,” Tyrell laughs.

And Tyrell’s coast-to-coast profile and influence seemingly knows no boundaries.

He’s opened 11 consecutive holiday engagements at NYC’s fabled Carlyle Cafe holding forth each November and December and starting a new legacy since the passing of icon Bobby Short.

Soon Tyrell will tag-team with Tony and Emmy award winner Kristin Chenoweth on her next recording project.

Then Tyrell will flip focus to his 12th album ... a tribute to Ray Charles.

All the while he hosts his own nightly jazz show on KKJZ 88.1 in Los Angeles.

In the blurring swirl of success Tyrell takes a brief satisfying pause and readily admits that “no way in the world could I have anticipated what I’ve experienced since leaving St. Thomas. Not in my wildest dreams and aspirations would I have mapped out the crazy turns my life has taken.”

A second act which began with “The Way You Look Tonight.”

Steve Tyrell ... Eagle Class of 1963 ... has never looked ... nor sounded ... better.

Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016 - 45

Eagle

PRIDE

P

atrick Ryan ’99 grew up an avid Astros and Rockets fan during his student years at St. Thomas as well as a savvy autograph seeker. But it didn’t take long after making his way to the University of Texas at Austin that he quickly discovered an off-campus dose of economics which has served him infinitely more than many advanced tutorials.

“Money was so much cooler than autographs so I got more involved in selling my collection,” Ryan says with a smile.

Now 35, Ryan is biting big in the multi-billion dollar secondary ticket market, reselling seating for sporting events on various online marketplace platforms.

HERE’S THE

TICKET Secondary Market Turns White Hot for Ryan’99

46 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

What began with a handful of transactions on eBay has morphed into a trendsetting $50 million enterprise enjoying well-established relationships with 70% of the teams in the five major sporting leagues plus nearly two dozen college programs.

The largest buyer of Major League Soccer and NBA season tickets in the country also occasionally seizes an opportunity to secure center ring locations for a mega-bout such as Mayweather-Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for $37,000.

Each.

Hardly the explosion Ryan anticipated in July 2007 when he teamed with longtime friend Ignacio Cubero on $10,000 worth of Cleveland Indians tickets ... an investment which armed the pair with plenty of playoff inventory when the team advanced to the American League Champion Series.

“If the Indians don’t advance to that round of the playoffs ...

I’m probably not here today,” Ryan says. “We likely wouldn’t have had enough capital to keep the business going.”

But in the spring of 2008 Ryan’s confidence was such that he quit at age 24 as one of the youngest national sales team reps with Careerbuilder to devote to a full time collaboration with Cubero and The Ticket Exchange.

The co-owners and founders recently rebranded as Eventellect and are relishing a five-year robust roll of exponential revenue growth and rankings on the Inc. 5000 list.

Not the sort of success one would casually predict when an Eagle who graduates from Texas strikes forces with a Strake Jesuit Crusader with a finance degree from Texas A&M. “Iggy is first generation American. His parents relocated from Argentina and really instilled many of the same core values I found at St. Thomas ... certainly the benefit of a Catholic education and why that investment is vital in so many ways,” Ryan says. “My sister went to Duchesne Sacred Heart Academy. My mother went to Sacred Heart school in Greenwich (Connecticut). Her mom went to Sacred Heart school.

Catholic schools are in my blood. So Iggy and I held a very important common bond from the very beginning.”

Ryan points to a number of influential St. Thomas experiences that proved meaningful in helping him establish the firm foundation for his profound professional success.

None more vivid than his relationship with former journalism director Jon Moody who performed a variety teaching and administrative roles covering more than two decades with the school.

“I was co-editor of The Eagle my senior year but technically wasn’t eligible to be editor in chief because I transferred in mid-way as a sophomore and didn’t take prerequisite journalism course,” Ryan says. “The first issue was really delayed. Mr. Moody surveyed and didn’t like what was developing. He simply told the staff ‘Patrick is taking over.’ What that taught me was to never settle for a path based on what you’re led to expect. I was told I would be never be editor in chief but Mr. Moody said you’re excelling ... you’re busting it ...you’re now in charge. A one-off example that taught me a valuable lesson.”

me that hard work and performing more than what is expected can produce unexpected rewards ... I’m certain that Silver Spurs opportunity never would have materialized ... and who knows what else might be different from there.”

Ryan refuses to take credit for accurately forecasting a decade ago the drastic change in how professional sports franchises as well as team executives would recalibrate the once thought to be taboo-secondary ticket practice.

But he did detect earmarks that an antiquated business model was ripe for a reboot which would make competitive marketplace pricing a much more comfortable place for fans and licensed resellers.

“Many state laws regarding the industry were being repealed and whenever legislation changes that creates a new landscape,” Ryan says. “Brokers then started dominating huge blocks of tickets ... cashing in on premium seats and dumping the undesirables for pennies on the dollar. That was hurting the team brand more than helping their revenue side.

“We approached teams as a partner with informed eyes and a different set of analytics to help them build pricing solutions. I think of our role is really more of a market maker ... a conduit to the secondary market.

“Five years ago we would have pockets that would lose 50% and pockets that would make 80%. Now we’re intent on narrowing that band to where we’re not exposed to losing a percentage of our capital. In exchange for that privilege we’re sacrificing some of the upside to our partner teams ... which gives them more confidence in us and they give us more business. We simply shift the supply. It’s not team versus broker but rather team / broker providing a valued service to the customer without driving the price point to where he or she stays home or finds alternatives for those discretionary dollars.”

So with the AFC and NFC champions for Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium long to be determined ... the identity of who figures to land some of the hottest tickets to ever hit Houston appears well established.

One which was learned yet again while Ryan was at Texas where he played a prominent role in establishing UT’s Silver Spur Alumni Association and eventually was elected president of the organization.

“Life changing event in terms of opening future networking and building my confidence,” Ryan says. “If anyone has any hope of being an entrepreneur ... they absolutely need an inner strength to push forward. Had I not had my past experiences at St. Thomas ... had Mr. Moody not showed Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016 - 47

TODAY Pay cable bil

Buy grocerie

l

s

Remember S

t. Thomas

Plan now.

Give later.

Remembering St. Thomas in your will or estate plans costs nothing during your lifetime, but will transform the lives of STH men down the road.

Contact

Mr. Mark deTranaltes, ’83, P ’10 Vice President for Advancement remember@sths.org 713-341-5557

Learn More

sths.org/remember

48 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

So many of our students could not have the St. Thomas experience without the faithful giving of others. If St. Thomas opened doors for you, consider how you can now open doors for others.

Join the 1900 Society by including St. Thomas in your will or estate plans and help provide affordable tuition, exemplary instruction and spiritual growth for generations of students to come.

If you remember all the goodness, discipline and knowledge that St. Thomas gave you, then please: Remember St. Thomas.

Eagle

SPIRIT

Camp GDK..................................... p50 Spring Concert................................ p52 Fr. Clark Sample ’01...................... p54 45th Annual Style Show................ p55

Style Show entertainers, p55

Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016 - 49

Eagle

SPIRIT

A

host of incoming Eagle freshmen didn’t wait until the official start to their high school experience to discover that the words Teach Me Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge are so much more than a mere motto ... but in fact a way of St. Thomas life.

LEARNING THE

ST. THOMAS

WAY FOR LIFE

The inaugural Camp Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge launched as a dynamic three-day leadership and character development workshop rooted in the words which have served as the foundation of the school’s sacred Basilian mission for 115 years.

Eight-year athletic director Mike Netzel organized and orchestrated the students through a series of energizing presentations, interactive discussions and team­-building activities to better prepare them for their transition into high school.

“The program was varied enough that we approached them from multiple levels,” Netzel said. “We really addressed what comprises the complete student. Panels ... alumni speakers ... classroom engagement. Can’t say enough about our faculty members Clair Conboy and Brett Mills ... very vibrant in their interaction. Their contribution was vital to the cause.”

Camp GDK was designed exclusively to provide incoming freshmen a compass for the core values a young man of St. Thomas is expected to embrace ... and then be positioned to share and role model for others.

“It’s not unusual for freshmen to show up for their first day of class and be somewhat overwhelmed,” Netzel said. “They’re challenged on so many levels

Eagle athletiic director Mike Netzel with GDK Campers

50 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

... increased academic demands ... social demands ... and it might take weeks or maybe months before they really discover what we’re about as a school.

Now this group has a foundation. They come in calm and settled ... more comfortable and secure ... and likely will look at their Eagle brothers differently.”

Campus ministry director Marty Matulia coordinated Camp GDK’s most impactful session ... a community service project at the Houston Food Bank which is a member of the nation’s largest non-governmental, domestic hunger relief organization.

Matulia believes the campers learned first-hand of the strong Eagle tradition of giving back to the Houston community whether it be direct engagement, contributions and volunteer hours.

“Camp GDK is showing them that St. Thomas is not just pure academics and elite sports teams,” Matulia said. “We want to reach out with a sense of purpose ... a sense of family ... demonstrate that we’re all in this together. This is helping build a bond ... our guys interacting with each other and working as a team. No one here today at the Food Bank was competing with one another ... no fight for the highest grade or the starting position or the most recognition ... just a reinforcement of the St. Thomas identity ... that we’re all blessed and should look to give back to those who are in need.”

John Falcon ’16 served as a counselor for the Food Bank project and later admitted to Matulia “I wished I had this camp available” before he began his own Eagle journey.

Netzel was pleasantly surprised by how receptive the students were to the overall message ... gaining an authentic understanding that a leader’s greatness is found in bringing out greatness in others.

“Let’s be honest ... many if not all of our freshmen were here because their parents believed this was a wise investment as a run-up to the St. Thomas careers,” Netzel said. “You expect the group to be somewhat reserved at first but they quickly became assertive in their participation ... speaking from the heart. I know I’m better positioned to relate to these guys whether they’re involved in athletics or not. I would like to return the group when they’re sophomores ... see how they’re moving forward. Find out how we can continue to prepare them for life.”

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Eagle

SPIRIT

THE ANNUAL

SPRING

CONCERT showcased shining performances from the St. Thomas concert band ... string and percussion ensembles ... jazz combo ... and the always popular Dixieland Band ... highlighted by valedictorian Seth Dalton ’16.

Bravo to all our talented musicians and their conductors, Donald Theode & Joshua Wilson!

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HEARING

GOD’S F

CALL

ather Clark Sample ’01 celebrated Mass June 5 at his home parish St. Michael Catholic Church ... one day after he was ordained into the priesthood at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.

Photography by Annette Boatwright Photography

celebrated the 60th anniversary of his ordination ... Fr. George Sheltz ’63, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese Galveston-Houston ... Fr. Brendan Cahill ’81, Bishop of the Diocese of Victoria, Texas ... Fr. Oscar Cantu ’85, Bishop of the Sharing the eventful Sunday with Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico Fr. Sample were president Fr. ... Fr. Carl Belisch, CSB ’54 who Kevin Storey, CSB and former recently celebrated the 50th anprincipal and president Fr. Ronald niversary of his ordination ... Fr. Schwenzer, CSB. James Schwarting ’57 who recently passed at age 77... Fr. Tom Rafferty Fr. Sample now follows a distinct legacy of St. Thomas graduates with ’75, CSB, currently the pastor of St. uncommon passion and devotion to Anthony of Padua Church in The the faith ... including the Most Rev- Woodlands ... Fr. Drew Wood ’64, erend Vincent Rizzotto ’49, Retired the long-time pastor at St. Lawrence Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese Catholic Church in Sugar Land and Galveston-Houston who this year his fellow Class of 1964 graduates

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Fr. Jim Blocher, CSB ’64 and Fr. Stephen Payne ’64.

Fr. Sample culminated his six-plus year journey to the priesthood after a dramatic personal aboutface meant answering the call to serve God. “I had been looking at my Catholic faith differently, investigating it more, researching out on my own for a couple of years,” Sample says about his 2009 epiphany. “I had stayed committed to attending Mass every Sunday. One week I was watching the priest on the altar and a subtle thought crossed my mind that I could do that. That was the catalyst that became combustible.”

Eagle

SPIRIT

T

he 45th Annual Style Show and Luncheon again served as the signature salute from the Mothers’ Club to the graduating men of St. Thomas.

The River Oaks Country Club provided the perfect setting ... hosting Born For Greatness, Racing For Excellence ... chaired by Paula Cutts with advisors Katherine Brady, Sally Farley, Melissa Hobbs and Stephanie Morris ... with the valuable proceeds benefitting St. Thomas tuition assistance.

Women’s fashions were provided by TOOTSIES. And as his Style Show custom ... no one flashed a sartorial strut quite like president Fr. Kevin Storey, CSB ... flanked by his bastions of bespoke ... alumni relations and annual fund associate Sebastian Domenech (right) ’10 and technology specialist and website administor Jay DeWitt ’09 ... making their dashing debuts.

Dab!

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CONTINUED

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Eagles’ Nest

FEATURE

Patience is a virtue for long-time Eagle presence Labus

O

ne of the most versatile and acclaimed track competitors to wear the Red & White provided the irresistible force behind the Eagles dramatic run to the TAPPS 5A track and field championship ... and a sport which often occupies an obscure corner of athletic life will now forever carry the distinction of stamping the 100th state title in the rich and storied history of St. Thomas athletics.

EAGLES

“This is so apropos given how our track team is truly emblematic of what separates St. Thomas,” director Championship n athletic Mike Netzel said.

“Taking so many different types of individuals ... jumpers ... hurdlers ... sprinters ... throwers ... vaulters ... a complete mix of talent ... speed and strength ... all coming together with a unified effort to complete the championship result. This group represents a wide variety of personal backgrounds ... complementary skills ... and single purpose.

That’s the fabric that is St. Thomas.”

REACH MAGICAL

MILESTONE 100 State

Four individual championship performances and a depth of contribution from throughout the roster produced the program’s first state triumph since 2005 ... led by the uber-talented Landon Malouf ’16 who paired power and grace to re-establish one state mark he had already owned while continuing his dynamo swirl.

The Eagle 145.50 team total outpaced Argyle Liberty Christian (131) and Dallas Bishop Dunne (96) ... and provided a deep satisfaction for unassuming Nathan Labus who has consistently combined an endless perseverance and drive with a steady unwavering influence since joining the STH faculty and becoming head coach for the 2006 season.

“More relief than excitement,” Labus said.

“I’ve always believed we should have the top program. There have been some near misses along the way which can be frustrating ... injuries, bad timing, something not clicking. But you take stock in the process. Finally we’re on top.”

The Eagles were primed for peak performance with nine personal records in capturing the South Regional and built momentum quickly in the opening session with Malouf tying for third in the high jump (6-02) and Peyton Matocha ’19 Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016 - 57

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producing a stunning second-place finish with 6-04.

Malouf then seized second in the long jump (21-03.25) while teammates were providing a lengthy list of sparkling performances ... including Nick Pane ’18 taking the runner-up in the pole vault clearing 14-6 ... James Hebert ’16 placing fourth in the 3200 meters (9:56.87) and Andreas Giannitsopou ’18 fifth in the discuss (126-11).

All before the Eagles received a huge jolt from hard charging Jackson Odom ’16 winning the triple jump with a leap of 43-08.50.

“I was first out of the draw and knew no one could touch me,” said the nephew of Hall of Famer and record-smashing Houston Oilers quarterback Warren Moon. “If you don’t think you’re the best, you can’t be the best. The focus was just do what you’ve been trained to do, not more than you need to do.

Don’t get caught up in the moment.

Take a deep breath, release the stress, let it fly.”

In the second session Malouf commanded the stage and rocked the Hart-Patterson Sports Complex at Baylor University ... first blistering the 110 high hurdles in 14.17 seconds while lowering the state standard he established in 2015 (14.30) ... then had enough octane to burn the 300 meter hurdles in 39.80 for his second individual state title with Ishmael Callandret ’16 taking second in 41.35 at a pivotal point to push STH into commanding position.

Netzel takes a particular pride in the breakthrough believing “that there could not have been a more genuine and loyal St. Thomas guy to deliver the 100th championship trophy for St. Thomas. And Nathan didn’t realize it until I met him off the bus here on campus arriving from Waco. He was thrilled winning the title. Then I told him the greater significance and look on his face told me he underMalouf with father and coach Joe Malouf after stood the gravity ... because he’s a historic STH result at the Texas Relays St. Thomas guy.” of his career ... running down a win in the 1600 meters in 4:28.88 after placing fourth in the 800 meters (2:02.10) ... to essentially lock the meet when Hebert crossed with a sixth-place finish (4:38.40).

Malouf provided a suitable grand finale to his grueling multi-event assault across the state throughout the season and his three-year Eagle career. He won four events for the second consecutive year to fuel the Eagles to another is long series of “Coach Labus told me I had to win regional titles. And in April he claimed this race,” George said. “I knew I another piece of STH honor by had to take the pace out fast from the start and still keep enough in the winning the 110m hurdles at the 89th tank for the final 400 meters and the Nike Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays ... final kick. Breaking the finish in first the first Eagle to stake an individual event at one of the most prestigious is a moment I’ll remember the rest competitions in the country. of my life ... knew we had the title all but wrapped up.”

“He was our workhorse,” Labus said.

The Eagle talent depth proved formidable throughout the closing stages. Drew Addicks ’18 took fourth in the 200 meters (22.96) and then teamed with Daniel Dolan ’17, Abel Caillouet ’17 and Andrew Neaves ’17 for a fifth-place result and valuable points in the 4x200 meter relay.

By the time Michael Banks ’18, Carl Collins ’19, Neaves, and Michael Chaplin ’17 clocked 3:31.89 for third place in the 4x400 relay ... the Eagles’ state championship was firmly secure ... as was a renowned place in school history.

“It’s really about focusing on that one event and what’s demanded to be most successful in that moment,” Malouf said as he bounced from George: “It’s crazy to be a part of event to event. “The hurdles were that 100th title.” the most challenging but the key overall is executing the masterplan.” Odom: “That rush just doesn’t go away ... probably won’t go away for Wyatt George ’16 became the a long time. You invest all you have meet’s third Eagle state champion throughout the season ... give all you with the most clutch performance can ... and the reward is history.”

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“So much dedication, discipline and motivation. He’s driven to be great ... and he is. A rare, rare talent.”

The landmark state title is the 14th for the Eagles since Netzel was named athletic director in 2008 ... including four in rugby (2009, 2011-13) ... three each in baseball (2010, 2011 and 2014) and wrestling (2011-13) ... two in basketball (2008 and 2011) ... and one in golf (2012) ... with Labus the one constant as the senior member within the Eagle coaching ranks.

“This is what continues to defined the Basilian experience for generations,” Netzel said. “Educating the complete person ... commitment to faith, college preparatory academics and elite level athletics. Success in every facet of life is the priority here and this is just another result that reflects the mission.”

Eagle

FIGHT TAPPS All-Sports........................... p60 STH Baseball.................................. p63 Jones - TAPPS Athlete of the Year......................... p65 May Signing.................................... p68 STH Golf......................................... p72 Memorials........................................ p74

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Eagle athletic director Mike Netzel

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T

he annual St. Thomas Spring Sports Banquet again provided not only a celebration of individual and team accomplishment but also served as an emphatic declaration that Eagle athletics continues to set the standard as the premiere private school program in Texas.

of ... that over last eight years STH has produced 18 state championships across six sports ... 15 state runner-up results in eight sports ... and reached the state semifinal round 25 times in eight sports.

Given that two dozen Eagles from the Class of 2016 were honored in May for embracing the opportunity to extend their careers at the For the seventh consecutive academic year collegiate level ... Eagle athletics has never STH has earned the TAPPS All-Sports demonstrated the depth and width of success Award after leading the state’s 5A boys in total points earned through playoff participa- that exists moving forward. tion and cumulative on-field performance A moment of mixed emotion swirled when across multiple sports ... an embodiment of hard work, dedication and an enduring com- Eagle Golf coach Billy Tuten was given a farewell salute ... leaving for the University mitment to excellence. of St. Thomas after a decade establishing the program and consistently delivering champiLeading the charge to distinction was Eagle onship contention.

Track which produced the 100th state championship in school history ...

Tuten guided the Eagles to the TAPPS state “To now consistently Eagle Baseball enjoying a title in 2012 and then finished with flourish historic 30-2-1 season and the ... a pair of second-place finishes in 2014 separate and lead the first national ranking in the acclaimed history ... and 2016 and a third place result in 2015. pack is incredibly program’s Eagle Golf finishing a strong “He is going to be tremendously difficult to satisfying ... it’s a second place at the state tourna- replace,” Netzel said. “Fabulous coach ... ment ... Eagle Football and teacher ... great understanding of the testament to all our Eagle Basketball reaching the swing mental approach to the game ... instilled great sports. Our student- state playoff semifinals ... and confidence and a belief in our players. Billy regional champion Eagle Swim- brought the entire package. His approach athletes should be ming contributing a fourthdeveloped a series of decent high school place result at the state meet. golfers into highly competitive high school commended for golfers. And he genuinely enjoyed every “Our focus is always on the their investment.” next challenge but occasionally team ... every player ... every year he was you have to look back and take here. He’ll be missed but we’re all extremely – Mike Netzel stock,” Netzel said. “Honestly excited for what he has upcoming at UST.”

STH Athletic Director

the athletic success here was limited during the 1990s and into the next decade. To now consistently separate and lead the pack is incredibly satisfying. And it’s a testament to all our sports. Our student-athletes should be commended for their investment. And I know our coaches are highly motivated in maintaining this mark. Many of them are not full-time employees of the school and to find that individual who’s a great fit for our value system is becoming harder and harder.

But we’ll find them.”

Departing state championship golf coach Billy Tuten

Netzel took particular pride in providing a quick recap to the sizeable crowd at Reckling Gymnasium that proves the depth and width Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016 - 61

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Among the student-athletes honored through the academic year ...

EAGLE BASEBALL Bryan Selby Award: James Grant ’16 Eagle Basketball Most Valuable Players: David Jones ’16 and Jeremy Peck ’16 (Drexel Univeristy) Offensive Player of the Year: Colin Jones ’16 (Trinity University) Defensive Player of the Year: Randy Brumant ’16 Most Improved Player: Brumant Chadwick Roberts Award: Kyle Dunphy ’16 Eagle Cross Country Most Valuable Runner: Wyatt George ’16 Eagle Heart Award: James Hebert ’16 Most Improved Runner: Lars Koehn Eagle Football Offensive Player of the Year: Michael Keating ’16 (University of San Diego) Defensive Players of the Year: Pete Huggins ’16

(Middlebury College) and Lorenzo Neal ’16 (Purdue University) Newcomer of the Year: Jhamon Ausbon ’17 Harnett Award: Cameron Owens ’16 Eagle Golf Most Improved Player: Cameron Condara ’16 (Loyola New Orleans) Comeback Player of the Year: Nolan Rizzo ’16 Eagle Spirit Award: Curtis Brady ’16 Most Outstanding Player: Henry Fisher ’16 (Texas Rio Grande Valley) Eagle Lacrosse Most Improved Player: Brad Delia ’18 Eagle Spirit Award: Carr Burgoyne’16 X-Factor: Ryan Miles ’16 Offensive Player of the year: Riley Lam ’17 Defensive Player of the Year: Jonathan McGovern ’16 Most Valuable Player: Huggins

Eagle Rugby Blake Pellerin Most Improved Player: Michael Blanchard ’16 Kurt Page Newcomer of the Year: Seth Deitz ’19 Michael W. Mills Leadership Award: Josh Pane ’16 Kieth Freeman Spirit Award: Seamus Sullivan ’16 (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy) Johnny Brown Golden Boot Award: Riley Bishop ’17 Coach Wolf Founder’s Award: Grant Guthrie ’16 Chris Lind Offensive Player of the Year: Pane Frodo Defensive Player of the Year: Sam Yeboah ’17 Andrew Locke Most Valuable Player: Robert Gonzales ’16 Eagle Soccer Offensive Player of the Year: Chris Burke ’16 and Jose Toscano ’17

Defensive Player of the Year: Zach Blice ’19 Most Improved Player: Daniel Guthrie ’17 National Soccer Coaches Senior Excellence Award: Santiago Gonzales ’16 Fr. Weh Coaches Award: Noah Penny ’16 Eagle Swimming Most Valuable Player: Luke Nicholson ’16 (Catholic University) and James Zetka ’16 (Grand Valley State) Most Improved Player: Andrew Baker ’18 Freshman of the Year: Shane Williams ’19 Eagle Spirit Award: Joshua Todd ’16 Eagle Tennis Eagle Fight Never Dies Award: Noah Penny ’16 and Paul Simon ’16 Eagle Track & Field Most Improved Player: Nick Pane ’18 and Jackson Odom ’16

Grant receiving the Selby Award

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UNITED

Eagle Heart Award: George and Ishmael Callandret ’16 (Loyola New Orleans) Most Valuable Performer: Landon Malouf ’16 (Texas A&M) Eagle Wrestling Most Valuable Player: Will Strickland ’16 Most Improved Player: Will Sage ’17 Newcomer of the Year: Nathan Bryant ’19 Eagle Heart Award: Rory O’Dwyer ’16 Eagle Trainers Newcomer of the Year: George Elarba ’19 Most Valuable Student Trainer: Matthew Hill ’16 Student Trainer of the Year: Trey Palomo ’17

AS ONE TO T

THE END

he lasting impression ... not simply the last.

Ryan Lousteau never struggled differentiating the two ... confidently identifying what was most memorable from coaching a historic romp through an unprecedented St. Thomas baseball campaign ... that which far outweighed the disappointing end-point.

“Just seeing how much our group enjoyed the process” is how Lousteau explained his greatest takeaway from the 2016 Eagle season highlighted by a

(continued ...)

Eagle Cheerleading Best All-Around: Madison Marchbanks and Darby Sorrells Most Spirited: Allison Lam Junior Varsity Most Improved: Sarah Dupuis

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28-game unbeaten streak. “This game brings more outs than hits. At times players can get down. It can be a grind. But every workout ... every practice ... every game these guys had smiles on their faces ... enjoyed just working to get better each and every day. The camaraderie was infectious.

What’s really better than that?”

Through doubleheaders and a tournament sweeps ... taking on top talent inside Texas and outside the borders ... the Eagles stacked win after win to seize a perch among the most acclaimed programs in the nation.

Two months and 18 straight victories and 28 games and not a single solely solitary defeat ... immune to the pressure that began to build while that target on their backs grew larger and larger.

pretty.’ He stuck to his word.”

And the Eagles collective focus remained fixed to their own mission ... paving the way to a select stay in the MaxPreps Xcellent 50 National Rankings ... the first such distinction in program history ... debuting at no.

21 before claiming a consistent stay among the top 10 in both the poll and the computer rank.

Lousteau has been allowed the luxury of time to cushion the sting of a “Our goal was never to win 30 in journey suddenly struck short of its a row or win every single game,” desired destination ... the frustration of Not one superior opponent ... stale perLousteau said. “I’ve been a questionable called in this game long enough third strike which and know enough to extinguished a furious understand winning 70% late game rally and “Our school is rooted in brotherof your games is a treended the STH state mendous season ... 95% is hood and our program has always championship drive never on the radar. with the tying run at been about exactly that.

Not one second base.

“It was just one of the A resilient team was suddenly slapped two wins shy of their clear and stated goal ... the 24th state title in the program’s tradition soaked history ... forced to absorb only their second defeat in 33 games.

The immediate sensation of feeling stunned was unmistakable.

guy cared who was pitching ... who was in the batter’s box ... who got the gaudy stats. They all believed and had great confidence that their teammates would accept their role and do their job. And they did.”

“But we kept our heads up, shook hands and moved on,” Lousteau said. “Our guys handled every situation throughout the season first class. None more so that that final game. And this summer in talking with some of them I wanted to emphasize what we all accomplished.

“That was a group that defined the word ‘team’ ... each guy genuinely played for the other ... played hard not just for their own individual goals ... but embraced winning every single game.”

For the overwhelming majority of the season the Eagles literally did exactly that.

For two months and 28 games ... undefeated and undaunted.

64 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

those rare seasons when up and down the roster each player knew their role, executed their role.

Seemed like every game it was a different player who provided the key hit or defensive play or the inning when we needed a zero. It all just fit.”

After assisting two-time championship coach and – Ryan Lousteau eternal Houston Astro icon Craig Biggio during five signature seasons, formance ... bad bounce ... rough inning Lousteau broke in with a bang when ... or fluke fly ball that suddenly caused he assumed the head coaching reigns the streak to come to a crashing halt. in 2014 and immediately led STH through a wild pushed-to-the-brink Alas, a substantial price was ultimately playoff run ... capping an emotionally paid. And assistant coach Clayton charged roller coaster season with a VanderLaan was more than willing to accommodate for the good of the group. walk-off RBI by Ben Condara ’14 to secure the state crown.

“Coach Vandy made a joke with the The 2015 encore saw the Eagles reach kids that if we ever got the streak the regional finals before falling to the to 20 games, ‘I’ll shave my head,’” eventual state champions ... costing Lousteau laughed. “He’s been in the STH a spot in a sixth consecutive game most of his life and figured it TAPPS 5A state tournament. was a fairly safe bet. You just don’t reach 20 games without a loss. That’s Lousteau’s three teams all embraced the not baseball. But we got to 18, then team-first mantra yet he readily admits 19 and he said, ‘This isn’t going to be that vital characteristic ran “broader and

deeper” within his 2016 group.

Nolan Lundholm ’16 (Catholic University), outfielder Philip Matulia ’18 and Owen Meaney ’19 (LSU verbal commitment) packed the punch in the middle of the lineup while third baseman Brandon Campos ’17 and second baseman Alex Carnegie ’16 were consistent catalysts as top of the order table setters.

Matthew Ashbaugh ’16 (Washington University) and Cameron Cash ’16 (Claremont McKenna) were again a left-handed pair of starting pitchers without parallel.

“It all started with talent,” Lousteau said. “You not going to put together that kind of regular-season run without kids who understand the game and how it should be played. But I believe the biggest dynamic that worked in our favor is that our guys really and truly care for each other.

Ashbaugh, Carnegie, Cash, Lundholm and Meaney all earned TAPPS 5A All-State distinction while Ashbaugh, Carnegie and Cash were named Academic All-State.

James Grant ’16 was recognized with the Brian Selby Award at the Spring Sports Banquet signifying persistent and unselfish dedication to Eagle Baseball.

Collectively the Eagles fell two wins short of the grand prize that would have cemented their undisputed place as an all-time St. Thomas team. There’s no changing that final scoreboard result.

Yet even a championship banner doesn’t always validate what is most important ... a selfless group accepting the quest ... exhausting their abilities ... staying united as one to the end ... infused by a sense of belonging and togetherness that is precious not only in sports but in all walks of life.

For Lousteau and his latest baseball band of Eagles, such is the lasting impression left indelible.

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Classic Closeout to

COLOSSAL

EAGLE

CAREER

D

avid Jones ’16 provided one final dose of four-year impact to St. Thomas athletics by being named the TAPPS 5A Male Athlete of the Year.

The multi-year, multi-sport, all-state and academic all-state performer energized Eagle Football in 2015 as a three-way game-changer ... scoring touchdowns as a defensive back, wide receiver and return specialist as STH won 10 games for the fourth consecutive season and advanced to its second straight state semifinals.

Jones then ignited Eagle Basketball in his third starting season to the program’s first state tournament since 2011 ... before contributing to Eagle Baseball and the first national ranking in the program’s rich history in a season that produced 30 wins in 33 games and a sixth state tournament in seven years.

“I certainly wasn’t expecting this (award),” Jones said. “What’s gratifying is that your name and school are not part of the evaluation process. The vote is strictly for whom they believe is most deserving. I’m thankful for all the support.”

Jones is the second Eagle to earn the TAPPS distinction following 66 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

Andrew Locke ’03 ... one of the most acclaimed rugby players in school history who also quarterbacked STH football and achieved standout recognition as a wrestler, pole volter and sprinter.

Captain Locke is currently a member of the World Class Athlete Program with the Men’s Eagles Sevens and staff member of the Men’s National Team that will compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

Locke graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2007 and played for Army as a Ranger with the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at the Best of the West Rugby 7s Invitational Cup in 2012.

Jones finished as a four-year force in the resurgence of Eagle Football which won 40 of 47 games during his varsity career while extending the winning

streak at Hotze Field inside Granger Stadium to 26 straight games.

Jones was previously recognized as the 2016 Ironman of the Year from the Touchdown Club of Houston and honored with the 2016 Carl Mitchell Allnoch Athletics Memorial Award for Excellence in Academics, the most prestigious distinction given to an Eagle student-athlete (see page 13).

In a contemporary climate when elite athletes at the high school level predominately lean toward specializing in one sport with a 12-month focus ... Jones admits he drew particular motivaton as a grade schooler at St. Thomas More Parish School watching his older brother A.J. ’11 set a championship standard in both basketball and baseball at STH. “I remember watching him win the state basketball title when they were

the underdog in the championship final ... and then weeks later winning the baseball title,” Jone said. “He set the bar really high ... gave me something to aim for. I wanted to match that.”

“What I appreciate most was the process. All the coaches who devoted so much time and effort to give us all the best opportunity to be successful ... my teammates who are also my best friends. I couldn’t have accomplished what I did without all they invested.”

Jones will continue his football career at Cornell University where he plans to enter the renown Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, ranked the No. 2 undergraduate business school in the United States by combining the annual results of the Bloomberg Businessweek and U.S. News and World Report rankings with the university’s overall national ranking.

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NEXT LEVEL

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W

hat has become an annual spring ritual measured with a deeper impact than even the most magnified occasions in the past.

The May signing celebration played before a packed Hall of Honor in Cemo Auditorium and saluted more than two dozen Eagles representing seven St. Thomas sports ... all now afforded desired university destinations stretching from Southern California to Washington University to Washington, D.C. ... from the Ivy League to the “Little Ivies” ... from military service to the most prestigious campuses within Texas.

“This is a celebration,” beamed Mike

Netzel, completing his eighth year as athletic director.

collaboration goes into make all this happen.”

“We all live in a result oriented world.

And these results are strong from a number of perspectives. Our teams continue to excel. Track just secured the 100th state championship in St. Thomas history. Golf was the state runner-up by two shots. Four other sports were regional champions. And these are the dividends ... the number of our student-athletes in demand by elite universities. Those opportunities don’t present themselves unless our guys can offer the total package ... as a student, an athlete, a person. It’s a gratifying day ... very proud for the families ... knowing how much

Six key contributors to the Eagle’s historic baseball campaign will extend their careers into college ... including tag-team left-handed starters Matthew Ashbaugh ’16 and Cameron Cash ’16 who anchored the staff and state championship contention for consecutive seasons.

Ashbaugh ... the 2015-16 STH National Honor Society president ... was accepted into the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis while Cash will enroll at Claremont McKenna College, 35 miles east of Los Angeles.

“I came to St. Thomas because it was known for its baseball program,” Ashbaugh said. “And I thought my academics might open the door for me to play at the next level. The clincher was that I can envision myself at Washington even without baseball.

But this was one of the goals ... to play at the next level.”

LIke Ashbaugh, Cash held the same dream for college baseball as a STH freshman ... fueled in large part by an extended up close view of the experience while serving as the bat boy at Rice University from 2007-2012.

Cash and his father attended a summer 2015 baseball camp at Stanford

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University and then mapped a tour of other West coast college stops before returning home. Claremount made an immediate impression and the mutual interested spiked during this spring semester.

“One of the compelling draws is the Claremont consortium,” Cash said. “Seven institutions each with about 1,500 students. Small school vibe similar as St. Thomas ... diverse enrollment larger than it seems ... one of the top liberal arts in the country ... competitive baseball. Checked a lot of boxes for me.”

Three-year varsity and state champion second baseman Alex Carnegie ’16 played with Cash in the same Bellaire Little League program and has been accepted into Cornell University while Nolan Lundholm ’16 and shortstop Eric Moore ’16 are headed to Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Relief pitcher Paolo Cannatella ’16 previously committed to Wharton Junior College and catcher Shane Podsednik ’16 continues to evaluate final offers.

“I’ll likely go in and redshirt that first year which gives me a chance to lay the right foundation,” Malouf said.

“I’m still developing in some of the field events and their coaches have had great success molding talent (including decathlete Lindon Victor, the current A&M and SEC record holder, and SEC Field Athlete of the Year who is representing Grenada in the Rio Olympic Games).

Malouf was a two-time champion (300 meter and 110 meter hurdles) at the TAPPS state meet ... adding a secondplace finish in the long jump and tying for third in the high jump ... after winning four events in the regional competition for the second consecutive year.

Golfer Henry Fisher ’16 finished a hard-charging career as one of the top private school amateurs in the state and sealed his position at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley before winning individual medalist at the state championship in April (see page XX). Teammate Cameron Condara ’16 will join his baseball pounding brother Ben ’14 at Loyola University New Orleans.

And yet his most memorable impact on Eagle athletics which will likely live the longest was the 2014 madcap catch and run touchdown in the closing seconds for a stunning 11-7 victory at Strake Jesuit in just his second varsity game.

One of the by products from the recent surge in Eagle Swimming are extended opportunities for James Zetka ’16 at Grand Valley State in Michigan and Luke Nicholson ’16 at Catholic University.

But as Malouf turned his full focus to track his father Joe Malouf ... who has served on the Eagle staff as a coach ... supported by his own notable career at the University of Texas ... believed A&M was “the front runner since his official visit.”

Seamus Sullivan ’16 will include rugby into his appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

Decision day arrived the morning of the signing ceremony for Landon Malouf ’16 ... one of the most decorated athletes in Eagle history and the irresistible force propelling St. Thomas “What was so impressive in our Track to the 2016 TAPPS 5A state title. ongoing discussions with them throughout the process was that the Malouf was choosing among offers emphasis was always Landon as a from Texas A&M, Texas Tech and student, Landon as a person, Landon Oklahoma to compete as a decathlete as a success.” Malouf said. “No lip ... a testament to his multi-pronged service. When he told the coaching skills as a high jumper, long jumper staff what degree plans he wanted to and hurdler at two distances. pursue they had a representative there to talk specifics.

Ultimately Malouf was swayed by the Aggies and one of the premier “Landon has the chance to develop track and field destinations in the that first year both in the classroom country with four outdoor national and on the track. Their resources championships since 2009 and a recent and pedigree are obvious. They’re one-month stay as the top-ranked building a $40 million facility (set for program in 2016. completion in 2017). Very exciting.”

70 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

Malouf’s teammates Ishmael Callandret ’16 and Jarrett Richard ’16 will remain connected at Loyola University New Orleans while Christopher Kjellqvist ’16 will next compete at the University of Rochester.

And the keeping up with the STH Joneses which began with Jeff ‘79 ... followed with three-time state champion A.J. Jones ‘11 ... concluded with twins David ’16 and Colin ’16 finally separating to pursue different athletic destinies.

Two-time TAPPS all-state defensive back and TAPPS academic all-state David closed a deal in the fall with Cornell University’s Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and Big Red football before being named Ironman of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Houston and the TAPPS 5A Male Athlete of the Year.

He and Colin then partnered in the

same backcourt for the third varsity season ... dribble-driving the Eagles to the state Final Four ... before a late opportunity surfaced for Colin to take his game to Trinity University.

“I’m still feeling the rush,” Colin said.

“I weighed some other options ... considered not playing and concentrating exclusively on academics going forward. But the visit to Trinity really pulled me to continue playing. There’s great rapport with the coaching staff and players ... style of play is a match.

The degree choices are first rate. I really couldn’t be more excited.”

Colin and David Jones (standing) with parents Jeff and Patricia

Previously all-state forward Jeremy Peck ’16 with Drexel University and fast-rising Randy Brumant ’16 opted for a year at the Kent School, a college preparatory school in Connecticut.

Eagle Football commanded center stage on National Signing Day in February when David Jones was joined by TAPPS second-team allstate linebacker Pete Huggins ’16 committing to Middlebury College ... two-time TAPPS all-state defensive tackle Lorenzo Neal ’16 to Purdue University ... and TAPPS all-state tackle Charlie Vatterott ’16 to Texas State University ... later capped with quarterback Michael Keating ’16 heading to the University of San Diego.

Malouf with family and head coach Nathan Labus (far right)

Netzel allowed himself one final pause of appreciation .... hoping that the depth of the afternoon’s significance paves the way for similar festivities to come.

“I want our underclassmen to witness this and say to themselves, ‘I want to be at the table. I want to be next like the guys who came before me,’” he said. “But they’ll have to make the same investment this group made. Pay the price ... make the same sacrifices so many others paid. And if that’s the case ... you have a pretty idea of what to expect.”

Head coach Ryan Lousteau with Cannatella and Ashbaugh (front), Lundholm, Moore and Cash.

Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016 - 71

Eagle

FIGHT Fisher closes out stellar Eagle career with defining state championship

Individualist Medalist

fisher ‘16

LEADS EAGLES To Runner-Up State Golf Finish

H

enry Fisher ’16 followed his career-best round of 68 with a two under par 70 to close out a stellar senior season as the individual medalist in leading St. Thomas to second place at the TAPPS 5A state golf tournament at Squaw Valley Golf Course in Glen Rose.

The Eagles began the day tied for the lead and took their title hopes to the final putt from Henry Suman ’17 who rolled in for an ultra clutch par on 18 to complete his round of 72.

Tuten now re-sets his sights on the college game

But the STH 581 team total fell two shots off the championship score.

“We just got beat,” coach Billy Tuten said. “Our number would have won any state tournament from the last decade.

But that’s golf. I’m disappointed in the outcome given everything that our guys have invested ... but not in the effort ... today or any day this season. No one backed down a bit.

Easily one of the hardest working team I’ve had here. The group enjoyed the process. We accomplished a lot. Just not quite as much as we wanted.”

In addition to Suman’s 78-72 a trio of seniors responded to position the Eagles for a second state title in five years. Curtis Brady ’16, who was ranked with Fisher among the elite private school players in Texas throughout the season, shot a consistent 74-74. Cameron Condara (Loyola New Orleans) carded 73-76 and Nolan Rizzo ’16 74-76.

Ryan Risoli ’16 shot 79-81 as a medalist.

STH’s runner-up result is the grand finale for Tuten who now

72 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

turns his full focus on the men’s and women’s programs at fellow Basilian University of St. Thomas after leading the Eagles to consistent championship contention for 10 years.

Tuten guided STH to the state title in 2012 and then closed out with a pair of second-place finishes sandwiched around a third-place result in 2015.

“I’ve had a great run ... really enjoyed every single day,” Tuten said. “Great people at St. Thomas ... many relationships which will last. But there’s a new opportunity. You shuffle the cards ... see the new hand that’s been dealt.

There’s great satisfaction in taking young men ... teaching the game ... motivating them ... watching them learn to compete and mature on the course and in life.”

Going back and forth for two days ... four-five-six players deep. I thought I had it under control on the back nine ... then missed a two-footer for birdie on 16 which is unacceptable. But recovered and closed it out.

“I actually think Henry’s 72 was tougher ... bigger. He played in tougher conditions in the afternoon. His up-and-down on 18 was the best I’ve seen. He thought ... we all did ... that was for the state championship. Under that pressure he really stepped up. Big time.”

“These are memories I’ll hold on to for a long time.”

– Henry

Fisher closed at 6 under par for a two stroke victory. He produced the only two sub-par Eagle rounds, his opening 68 the lowest score of the first round and part of a 289 team total.

“I’m thrilled with the title but at the same time it hurts to not take home that team championship,” Fisher said.

“I proved to myself I could close out a golf tournament.

Fisher will continue his career at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley with head coach Phillip Tate.

“It was all about setting and reaching goals,” Fisher said in summing up his Eagle career. “If someone had told me when I was a freshFisher ’16 man I would shoot 68-70 and win the state tournament as a senior ... would have said you’re crazy. If someone had told me when I was a freshman I would have the opportunity to play at the next level ... would have said you’re crazy. But I’m blessed to have had four great years with this group and now the opportunity to keep playing. These are memories I’ll hold on to for a long time.”

Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016 - 73

Eagle

FIGHT

IN MEMORIAM Garnett Emile Aydam Jr. ’44, brother of William H. ’43 and uncle of William H. Jr. Aydam ’76, April 26, 2016

Pauline Ann Palermo Arguello, mother of Norman J. ’82 and Raymond J. Arguello ’84, April 12, 2016 Fr. Braden was the distinguished president of UST between 1967 and 1979, and led the institution to many significant advances under his leadership, including doubling the student enrollment. After his years as president, he continued to contribute in additional capacities including chair of the Board of Directors.

Fr. Patrick O’Conner Braden, CSB ’41, June 16, 2016. A member of the prestigious St. Thomas Hall of Honor who served as the fourth president of the University of St. Thomas in a life deeply tied to his vocation as a Catholic priest.

Fr. Braden earned his B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering in 1944 from Rice University and then later excelled at the University of Texas at Austin where he earned his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering while recognized as a Distinguished Engineering Graduate in 1960.

During World War II Fr. Braden was an Aviation Radio Technician with the United States Navy before beginning Theology studies at St. Basil’s Seminary in Toronto, Canada.

On June 14, 1952 in St. Anne’s Church Fr. Braden was ordained a priest in the Congregation of St. Basil, the order that founded St. Thomas High School.

74 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

Fr. Braden was transferred to St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY, where he was president from 1980-86. After teaching again at UST, he was the Religious Superior of the Basilian Fathers of St. Lucia and taught science courses at the local university between 1991-95.

Fr. Braden returned to UST in 1995 as an adjunct professor of physics and math and in 2008 shared the distinction of entering STH’s illustrious Hall of Honor 67 years after his graduation.

John Elliot Bradshaw Sr. ’52, brother of Richard Bradshaw ’55, May 8, 2016. An author, television personality and public speaker who built a self-help empire exhorting his followers to conquer their emotional ills by “reclaiming” their “inner child, Bradshaw was a mainstay of bestseller lists, selling millions of copies of books that included “Healing the Shame That Binds You” (1988), “Homecoming: Reclaiming and Championing Your Inner Child” (1990) and, more recently, “PostRomantic Stress Disorder: What to Do When the Honeymoon Is Over.”

Joseph D. Becker ’60, brother of Robert ’54, Don ’58, James ’65, Uncle to Daniel ’96 and Jimmy ’98, February. 4, 2016 Daniel Anthony Breen, Jr., father of Patrick J. Breen ’92, June 27, 2016

David Leon Cleboski ’63, April 24, 2016

Charles Scott Landram IV, son of Charles S. III ’47 and brother of John T. Landram ’81, March 17, 2016 Mary Elizabeth Landram, sister of Charles S. III ’47 and aunt of John T. Landram ’81, March 5, 2016

Marjorie Kate Large, mother of John Mary Ray Curry Dwyer, wife of Robert H. Jr. ’40 and grandmother of Large ’80, February 11, 2016 Stephen Dwyer ’02, May 22, 2016 Sam Y. Lee ’82, March 16, 2016 Ellis Joseph Freitag ’56, March 27, 2016

Through his writings and speaking engagements, Bradshaw was credited with helping popularize concepts such as the “dysfunctional family” and “toxic shame” but was most associated with the term “inner child,” which became a catchphrase of the latter 20th century.

Mr. Bradshaw attended the University of St. Thomas before joining the Basilian Fathers, remaining in the seminary for nearly a decade before leaving days before his ordination, earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology, philopshy and theology from St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto, graduating Magna Cum Laude.

Elmer Francis “Frank” Gibbons Jr. ’49, May 8, 2016 Joseph Daniel Gillespie, father of Joseph D. Gillespie Jr. ’89, March 20, 2016 Margaret Ruth James, wife of Roy W. James Jr. ’48 and sister in law of Paul C. James ’52, May 19, 2016 Charles Gerald (Jerry) Grady ’57, February 29, 2016

Johnnie Mae Haywood, son of Andre Lean Marie Romeo Bua, wife of Michael A ’81 and Michael A. Haywood J. ’47 and mother of David M. Bua ’73, ’82, June 4, 2016 April 12, 2016 Gerald Dudley James Michael Kendall ’68, (Bubba) Butera Jr. ’59, brother of Joseph M.’65, brother of William Paul ’72, Michael A. Earl ’66 and Robert Butera ’67, and brotherD. Kendall ’73, in-law of John L. Maida March 16, 2016 ’56, February 28, 2016.

Janet Caliva Lodge, mother of John W. ’04 and Eric Lodge ’08, and Jason Keyser ’94, aunt of Mark N. ’81 and Victor J. Lange ’85, May 7, 2016 Leonard Spoyler ’43, May 23, 2016 Nancy Ann Keating, brother of Raymond B. Keating ’63, May 2, 2016 Samuel Joseph Marino ’49, June 21, 2016 Michael Thomas McCauley ’87, son of Buddy ’51, brother of Scott F. ’76, Brian P. ’78, Kevin Jr. ’81, Chris ’84 and Tim ’89, nephew of James P. ’53 and uncle of James. P. Jr. ’83 and Ryan F. McCauley 2000, April 12, 2016 Edna Christine Nowak, mother of Leonard J. ’66, Ted M. ’70, Michael T. ’71, grandmother of Matt S. ’95 and Mark A. Nowak ’98, May 14, 2016.

Anthony Joseph (Toto) Rao ’74, son of Charles C.’43, brother of Luke C. ’71 and Paul M. ’82, uncle of Stephen Rao ’13, June 19, 2016 Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016 - 75

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IN MEMORIAM Manuel Sandoval Ramirez, father of Ruben Ramirez ’74, March 1, 2016 Leon William Seidl Sr. ’44, March 20, 2016 Marie Jula Bashinski Schisser, mother of Frank G. Jr. ’59 and J. Richard ’63, and grandmother of Christopher R. Schisser ’92, April 12, 2016 Frank Anthony Reina ’46, father of Frank A. ’70, Charles A. ’73 and Anthony J. ’74 Reina, April 18, 2016 Annie Mary Tarnowski, mother of David J. Tarnowski ’65, June 22, 2016 Elzena Louise Boutte Verdun, grandmother of Derrik Anthony Verdun ’13, June 10, 2016 Joseph Frank Virgadamo ’48, brother of Paul ’43, uncle of Frank M. ’70, Anthony C. ’73 and Paul J. Virgadamo ’80, April 8, 2016 Robert J. Wey ’60, brother of Frederic W. Wey ’67, May 20, 2016

= Please let the Alumni Office know if an alumnus has passed away.

Call 713-864-6348 x150, fax 713-864-6402, or email alumni@sths.org.

Those listed in this edition were received by June 31, 2016

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Overflowing Crowds and Overwhelming Support for

frankie B.

mandola 1947-2016

B

eloved St. Thomas alumnus, forever Eagle ambassador and famed Houston restaurateur Frankie B. Mandola ’65 passed away July 8 at the age of 68 from complications following a heart attack.

“The Houston community, and in particular the St. Thomas community, has suffered a great loss,” VicePresident for Advancement Mark deTranaltes ‘83 said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Frankie’s immediate and extended family.

Personally, I am overwhelmed at the outpouring of love displayed this week. Frankie was a larger than life individual, yet treated everyone like family, and was always ready to swap a story or two about St. Thomas. He loved his classmates, his teammates and supported the mission of the Basilan Fathers. He was a true original who will be deeply missed.

Long known for his gregarious and infectious authentic personality, the co-owner of Damian’s Cucina Italiana and co-owner of Frankie B. Mandola’s Catering first distinguished himself as an Eagle state champion and high school All-American student-athlete later to be inducted in the STH Sports Hall of Fame. He packed his two-sport talents for Rice University ... and later

rose as a pillar among the first families of Houston food.

But Mandola perhaps earned his greatest acclaim living daily the Basilian motto of Teach me Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge ... a loyal and consistent force in his lifelong dedication to St. Thomas and contributor to civic causes ... none more cherished than leading the Texas ItalianAmerican Sports Foundation while working closely with former Eagle teammate Dan Sessions ‘65 to make college scholarships dollars available to a host of well-deserving student-athletes.

Mandola was eulogized during a Wednesday night visitation and rosary service which filled Cemo Auditorium and spilled into the Hall of Honor.

Life-long friends and former Eagles state championship teammates Jimmy Raley ’65 and Pat Snuffer ’65 paid emotional tributes, with Snuffer remembering Mandola as “a fun-loving kid, always smiling, always up for the challenge, what’s next ...

His athletic success was just another means to connect with people ... When the time came for him to turn in his cleats and spikes, Frankie carried that same intensity to every stage and phase of his life, the constants always the same, his strength of character and his love for people ... I love you Frankie.

“I don’t know anyone with a heart as big as Frankie B. His love for his fellow man went above and beyond anyone I’ve ever known.”

– Bubba Butera

We all love you. You’re home now.”

As of 2015, Raley shared with Mandola membership to the STH Sports Hall of Fame and “through the years at St. Thomas (as students) we formed a irreversible bond. Frankie was the leader of our group ... You couldn’t love Frankie B. and be jealous or possessive.

He belonged to many people ... Everyone wanted to know and be around Frankie B. And I’m so thankful to God for my part (with him) ... No one loved better, or was loved more than Frankie B.” Mandola’s Thursday morning Funeral Mass again drew a standing room only crowd of support to the St. Thomas campus. President Fr. Kevin Storey, CSB presided with Fr. Roy Oggero, CSB serving as the homilist.

A passionate testimony detailing the depth of the Mandola legacy was delivered

by Bubba Butera, whose relationship with Mandola measured much deeper than co-ownership of Damian’s.

“Frankie love being Italian in Texas. He lived it. He Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016 - 77

Eagle

FIGHT

CONTINUED

IN MEMORIAM breathed it every day,” Butera said. “And your name didn’t have to end in a vowel. You could be a Raley, a Snuffer, a Stegent or a Sage. Or any of the thousands he welcomed into his world, loved you and anointed you as family, our family ... I don’t know anyone with a heart as big as Frankie B. His love for his fellow man went above and beyond anyone I’ve ever known. When it came helping others he was always batted 1.000 ... His third passion was baseball.

His second passion was football.

And his number one passion was family and friends, where he shined brighter than anyone else.

That’s the Frankie B. I’ve known and loved my entire life.”

The celebration of Mandola’s life continued with Grammy Awardwinning vocalist Steve Tyrell ’63 following Butera with a stirring rendition of “Smile.”

Mandola’s influence and impact within the STH ranks was consistently felt even a half century removed from the graduation.

“I had the pleasure of working very closely with Frankie on all of the Capital Campaign events,” deTranaltes said. “If we needed catering, Frankie was there. And not just to feed us, on numerous occasions when we would be taking about the campaign and what it would mean for the student body, Frankie would chime in about his experience at St. Thomas, about the bond and fellowship that forms between the students and of his love for the school. He talk the talk and he walk the walk. I am so lucky to have had the time I had with him, 78 - Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016

and I will miss him dearly. “ Mandola grew up in his family’s Houston grocery store where traditional Italian meals were prepared for 50 or 60 people, a site which eventually became Mandola’s Deli, which remains open on Leeland Street in East Downtown.

Mandola partnered with his brother Luke and their friend Ray Hay to open Ray Hay’s Cajun Po-Boys on Richmond Avenue in 1974 ... later to be rechristened the now Ragin’ Cajun.

Frankie B. sold out his share in 1981 and was later affiliated with the Confederate House turned State Grille and Mandola’s Steaks and Burgers on Kirby Drive.

But the prized Mandola presence was created in the early 1980s when he teamed with four additional investors (Damian Mandola ‘71, Vincent Mandola ’61, Ciro Lampasas ’51 and Johnny Carrabba Sr.) to launch his signature Damian’s, a rustic Italian setting specializing in Tuscanstyle food still serving customers today on Smith Street in Midtown, the longtime host to the city’s power lunches, the restaurant that generations of Houstonians call home and where many of the city’s future culinary stars such as Johnny Carrabba ’77 and Bryan Caswell ’91 laid their foundation for gastronomic success.

The immediate outpouring of emotion in the wake of Mandola’s passing provided but a sliver of his impact to so many who enjoyed his company and friendship and was evident throughout social media.

JOHNNY CARRABBA ’77 Founder and owner Carrabba’s, Grace’s and Mia’s restaurants “The one thing that I have always told people about Frankie B., he always made you feel better about yourself, made you want to be a better person, an inspiration of sorts. He always found something positive in everyone he knew.

When I was a kid coming into St. Thomas I knew I had some tough shoes to fill ... everyone knew I was Frankie B.’s cousin.

He was a great Eagle athlete and I was never quite able to fill those shoes. Even to this day, I’m looking up to him, wanting to fill those shoes, knowing that I can’t. He just left a mark on you ... the most memorable person in my life. I haven’t taken a death this hard since I was 12-years-old and my grandfather passed away.”

AL CLAY ’61 Principal, Clay Development and Construction “Frankie never knew a stranger. And his commitment to St. Thomas knew no boundaries. We always clicked when it came to his school. In an unofficial way, he was Mr. St. Thomas. So genuine,

authentic. He was built for greatness regardless of where he went to school. We’re just fortunate he was an Eagle for life.

BUBBA BUTERA Co-owner, Damian’s Cucina Italiana “Frankie was big and bold with just a huge caring heart. A couple of weeks ago he met a young guy out in front of convenience store who was obviously in need. They started talking. Frankie took him home, got him cleaned up, took him to an AA (Alcohol Anonymous) meeting.

He called me and I said, ‘You don’t know his name?’ He said, ‘No. I’ll be in later at two o’clock.” He gets here and I said, ‘Where the hell you been?’ He said, “That kid needed some help, and I was going to get him some help.’”

DAN SESSIONS ’65 Audio and video producer, Dan Sessions Productions “The beauty about Frankie ... no pretentiousness. Several

years ago at the Italian Festival when it was held downtown, our organization was in charge of the pasta eating contest. And we were two contestants short. Frankie turns to me and says, ‘We have to fill these seats. Let’s go.’ We walk off the grounds at Tranquility Park and there are two homeless guys sitting there. Frankie asks them if their hungry. ‘Then follow us.’ We put them in the chairs. They end up winning the contest. That’s the guy Frankie B. was ... like a comet.

Rare.”

STEVE TYRELL ’61

DAN PASTORINI Former Houston Oiler quarterback “Frankie reminded me so much of my father, same mannerisms, played with people, made them laugh. When I first came to Houston, Italian background, I knew no one, and he brought me into the Italian community, embraced me. I’ll forever be grateful for that. And he’s part of the reason I’ve remained in Houston. He introduced me to so many great people (that) I never wanted to leave.”

Grammy Award winning-vocalist and acclaimed musical producer, song writer and performer

DAVID BAILIFF

“Frankie made everyone feel as though they were his best friend and that is a wonderful, glorious gift. It was just in his character.

There’s no better. You meet someone and you think, ‘Wow, I’m Frankie’s best friend. And then you soon learn he had 20,000 other best friends. I loved him. He was the closest I ever came to having a younger brother.”

“Frankie was special because he made everyone else feel special.

He had this innate ability, when you walked into the room, he made you feel as though you were the most important person. He was so generous with himself. He valued people and you could see that in his spirit everywhere that he went.”

Rice University head football coach

Eagles’ Nest Summer 2016 - 79

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