Irish Ayes - Winter 2018

A Story of Family and of Life

F E AT U R E S TO R I E S Remembering April 1968 9 0 Ye a r s o f t h e P e r f o r m i n g A r t s S a l u t i n g a F a m i l y o f Ve t e r a n s w w w. f a t h e r r y a n . o r g I

Help Prepare Today’s Students for a Lifetime of

Faith, Knowledge and Service

Board of trustees

CONTENTS

Executive Committee

Winter Spring 2018

David Glascoe, Chair Bill Stejskal ’79, Vice Chair Jack Polson, Finance Committee Chair J udy Komisky Orr ’75, Membership Committee Chair

Volume XLIV Number 1

Cover Photo: Ryan Nation is a community of families, different in their experiences but united in their connections to Father Ryan. Those roots are telling in this issue’s feature on Matt Davis ‘89 and the path to his two families.

Beginning on page 14.

Committee Chairs Mary Brennan, Advancement Brett Wesnofske ’88, Facilities

Ex-Officio Members James A. McIntyre Dr. Therese Williams Bishop J. Mark Spalding

Feature

Table of Contents

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In the News

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Meet the New Bishop

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Athletics

Board Members Tom Bauer Rev. Mark Beckman J. David Bohan ’66 Tommy Bradley ’81 John Bumpus ’78 Betty Lou Burnett Lee Clark Dave Gallagher ’88 Warner Hassell Judy Hoover Dr. Robert Labadie Philip M. Mattingly, Sr. ’69 Bob Mendes Pat Nolan ’69 Julie Norfleet ’88 Ralph Schulz Thomas Turner

Tuition alone is not enough to pay for the many programs, activities and opportunities that make a Father Ryan education distinctive.

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

Administration

Your gift to the Annual Fund can make the difference. To make a gift today, visit fatherryan.org/giving.

Thank You.

James A. McIntyre, President Paul Davis ’81, Principal Jennifer Anton, Academic Dean Michael La Haie, Dean of Students E lizabeth Coyle Elfers ’02, Dean of Campus Ministry and Student Life Connie Steinmetz, Chief Financial Officer Fr. Gervan Menezes, Chaplain Dr. Devin DeLaughter, Director of Athletics

Page 19

More National Merit Honorees. A world-class triathlete. Relay for Life astounds again. AP turns 50. Singers and trainer are honored.

Fall Sports Roundup. Football’s Homecoming finish. Two Final Fours

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The Faces of Service and Sacrifice

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Total Eclipse Day

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A Strong Foundation

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Celebrating the Arts

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April 1968

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Class Notes, Births, Weddings & In Memoriam

Veterans Breakfast. Three Burns Veterans. VFW Voice of Democracy honors three students.

The story of Matt Davis ’89 and his families.

90 years of the Performing Arts. New series begins. Legacy Gala 2018.

The arrival of the troops. Remembering the 1968 Basketball Team.

Page 22

A Tradition of Faith, Knowledge, Service I

©2018 FRHS 24146

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In The News winter 2018

Ryan Conger

Quentin Rummo

Emma Dooling

Michael Valencia

Kade Foster

William Antony

Caroline Kreh

Will Brown

Rachel Phan

Will Drexler

The Semi-Finalists:

The Commended Scholars:

RYAN CONGER is a St. Matthew alumnus and parishioner who is taking three AP courses this year and has already completed one other AP course. He has participated in SEARCH, plays on the Rugby Team, is an Eagle Scout, volunteers regularly at Safe Haven and works a part-time job.

WILLIAM ANTONY is taking one AP course, writes for The Moina, and is a member of the Purple Masque Players, the Rock Climbing Club, the Irish Service Corps and the National Honor Society. This Christ the King parishioner and St. Bernard alumnus is also a Peer Mentor, a Student Ambassador and an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.

EMMA DOOLING is taking six AP courses and is a member of the Varsity Volleyball Team, Mu Alpha Theta, the National Honor Society, the Cum Laude Society and is a Peer Mentor.

She is also a Student Ambassador, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, participated in the March for Life, and was a Father Black Award Finalist. Emma is an alumna and parishioner of St. Matthew.

KADE FOSTER, a St. Henry parishioner and alumnus, is a member of the Chinese Club, the National Honor Society, Model UN, the Irish Service Corps and Quizbusters. He has participated in the National Catholic Youth Conference, Catholic HEART Work Camp and in the March for Life. In addition, he is part of the Melchizedek Project and is a Student Ambassador and a Peer Mentor. He is taking five AP courses this year while also participating on the Golf and Bowling Teams. Kade also attends daily Mass.

CAROLINE KREH is a member of the National Honor Society, the Cum Laude Society, Mu Alpha Theta, the Peer Mentor Program, the Speech, Acting and Debate Team and regularly volunteers at Dismas House. This Holy Rosary parishioner and alumna is taking six AP courses and participated in the March for Life.

Thomas Hill

Ryan Hudson

Renee St. Jacques

NATIONAL MERIT Success Once Again!

As usual, we have much to celebrate when it comes to the academic achievements of our students. We are proud to announce the 13 Father Ryan honorees selected by the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Seven members of the Class of 2018 have been named National Merit SemiFinalists, and another six have earned Commended Scholar status. The seven Semi-Finalists are once again the largest number of any Catholic high school in Tennessee, and they will now compete to join the elite group of National Merit Finalists.

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RACHEL PHAN, a Christ the King parishioner and alumna, is taking five AP courses this year. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Cum Laude Society, Mu Alpha Theta and the Creative Writing Club. She serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, is on the Girls Varsity Basketball Team and volunteers regularly at The Little Pantry That Could.

QUENTIN RUMMO is a St. Philip parishioner and an alumnus of Grassland Middle School. He plays on the Hockey Team, is taking two AP courses and is a member of Model UN and Mu Alpha Theta. He also serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and was a Relay for Life Team Captain.

MICHAEL VALENCIA, a parishioner at Our Lady of Guadalupe, is an alumnus of St. Edward. He is a member of La Sociedad Honoraria de Hispanica, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, the Cum Laude Society and Science Olympiad. He also works with the Purple Masque Players and the Speech, Acting and Debate Club, and serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. The Father Black Award winner his freshman year, Michael takes five AP courses and regularly volunteers at Dismas House.

WILL BROWN writes for The Moina, takes two AP courses, is a member of the National Honor Society, plays on the Hockey Team, regularly serves at Room in the Inn and was active on the Relay for Life Committee. He is a Christ the King parishioner and a St. Bernard alumnus.

WILL DREXLER is a St. Ignatius parishioner and St. Edward alumnus who is the Field Commander for the Marching Band.

He is taking four AP courses and is a member of the Chinese Club, National Honor Society, the Cum Laude Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Science Olympiad, and Quizbusters. He also serves as Student Body Secretary, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, a Student Ambassador and is a member of the Music Ministry and the Melchizedek Project. Will attends daily Mass and was a Father Black Award finalist.

THOMAS HILL, a Christ the King parishioner and alumnus, is a member of Mock Trial, Model UN, the National Honor Society, the Cum Laude Society and Quizbusters. He is currently taking four AP courses while also running on the Cross Country Team and serving as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. Thomas is also an Eagle Scout.

RYAN HUDSON is active in the Chinese Club, Model UN, Mock Trial and the Fishing Club. He is a National Honor Society member who is taking three AP courses. Ryan is a Brentwood Middle School alumnus and a parishioner at St. Philip. He also participated in Catholic HEART Work Camp.

RENEE ST. JACQUES is a Holy Family parishioner and a Grassland Middle School alumna. She is on the Yearbook staff, a member of the National Honor Society, the Cum Laude Society, and the Relay for Life Committee, and serves as a Student Ambassador. She is taking four AP courses, regularly volunteers at Mary, Queen of Angels and attends daily Mass.

Additionally, Senior MICHAEL VALENCIA has also been named a National Hispanic Scholar by the College Board.

All of these students join an illustrious and growing group of Father Ryan National Merit honorees. Congratulations to all of them for these impressive academic achievements!

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TAKING ON THE WORLD, One Race at a Time What were your goals as a 15-year-old? Finish Freshman English with an A? Win a State Championship some time in your high school career? Make a great group of friends who will take you through the next four years?

WILL STACEY ’21 has those same goals and a whole lot more. By the time he is 19, Will wants to win the Xterra World Championship for his age group, turn professional and then win the championship as a professional a few years later.

there, he competed again in the Southeastern United States Championship at Oak Mountain State Park in Birmingham, AL. This qualified him for his first race in the Xterra World Championships.

He had a great race, as evidenced by his placement, which completely exceeded all expectations. But, now Xterra determination: (clockwise from top) Will emerging from the Pacific he is going to give himself a Ocean; airborne on the bike trail; a media moment. well-deserved break.

For Will, reaching that goal seems more than possible. In October 2017, he competed in the Xterra Worlds as the youngest competitor in the entire race and finished 107th among 800 athletes, and 9th in his 15-19 year old age group.

The Xterra World Championship is the world’s premier offroad triathlon. It includes a 1-mile swim in the Pacific Ocean, a 20-mile mountain bike ride that climbs 3,500 feet up and down the West Maui Mountains in Hawaii, and a 6.5 mile trail run that traverses forest trails and beach sand.

Will finished his first triathlon at six years old. He swam the length of the pool, biked for three miles and ran half a mile.

He was hooked.

“My whole family is active. We like to cycle, mountain bike, go hiking, rock climbing. My parents introduced my brother and me to this type of active lifestyle at a very young age, and it all kind of clicked for me,” he says.

After he completed many triathlons as a kid, Will competed in his first Xterra race at the early age of 13. After a good race 4

“I took November as my rest month—to recover and enjoy my time as a student and not as a competitor. Then, in December, I began my training in earnest again. I’ll train for about five months for the Southeastern Championship in May with the goal of making the Worlds again this October.”

With his relentless work ethic and hectic training schedule, life doesn’t slow down too much for Will, but even when he is training, he takes time to enjoy his life as a Father Ryan student. He is a member of the Cross Country team and the Rock Climbing Club and is a hard-working honors student.

“The Cross Country team has been great training for Xterra, plus, the guys on the team are a great group of guys. I’ve really enjoyed it,” he said.

Will has three more years to continue his studies and run races with those same cross country buddies, then the world is his oyster. Watch out future Xterra competitors, Will Stacey is coming!

FATHER RYAN’S RELAY FOR LIFE: A GIFT BEYOND MEASURE Father Ryan students led the fight against cancer at the annual Relay for Life and set a new record for the eighth straight year.

On September 30, 2017, from noon to 10 p.m., more than 1,100 participants, including 12 teams outside of the Father Ryan community, joined together to salute and support cancer survivors and fighters. The weather was beautiful, the field was packed, and Relay for Life at Father Ryan could not have been a bigger success.

Michelle Mast, Student Activities Director and Social Sciences teacher, who helped coordinate this year’s Relay, said that the experience of Relay not only makes a difference in the lives of cancer survivors but also in the students.

“This is a school committed to service,” Mast said. “These students commit so much to make this successful. It is the students who organize and who put together the activities and events.

And by doing all of this, they not only get a great deal of satisfaction and develop their own leadership skills, they also discover that the work they do reaches further than they think. That’s a powerful set of lessons for high school students to learn, and those are the lessons they will carry with them the rest of their lives.”

By the end of the night, Father Ryan’s 2017 Relay for Life had raised $194,478.83, and with donations that came in after the event, the grand total reached $199,203—beating last year’s total by more than $20,000. This earned the title of the largest per capita student-run Relay in the nation. Yet again, it was an amazing testament to the Relay for Life Committee, led by seniors Caroline Long and Ayers Callahan, the Father Ryan student body, and all of the families and friends and community members who donated to this worthy cause.

In addition to the Father Ryan community, this year’s Relay included teams from Pope John Paul II, St. Cecilia, St. Ann, St. Henry, Christ the King, St. Edward, St. Matthew, and St. Henry, as well as Franklin High, Harpeth Hall, MBA, and FRA. “We were so pleased to see all of these teams participating. We wanted this to be a community event that showcased the entire community’s efforts, and that has clearly happened,” said Long.

Of course, the real heroes of the day, and every day, are those courageously battling cancer. With the money raised from this year’s Relay for Life, individuals will receive cancer treatment in the Hope Lodge, TN for almost six weeks each, free of charge, including transportation and meals.

Highlights from the event included: dozens of young women cutting and donating their hair to be used in wigs for cancer patients through the Pantene Beautiful Lengths Program, a beautiful Mass led by Father Gervan, and the lighting of the luminaries after dark. While students relaxed and tossed frisbees and A beautiful gift of life. footballs during the day, the main stage continued all afternoon, Another Relay Record: (clockwise from top left) Mary Hampton featuring musical acts and lip-sync performances.

Hayden ’20 shares her tresses; the survivors/fighters walk the track; the dollars raised only grows.

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50 Years of Advanced Placement Courses AT FATHER RYAN In the Fall of the 1968-1969 school year at Father Ryan, some students looked at their class schedule for the first time and saw two new letters next to one class, letters that did not have anything to do with their grade but everything to do with potential – AP. AP courses, or Advanced Placement courses, appeared for the first time at Father Ryan, thanks to the research, planning and effort of one brilliant teacher, Mrs. Joanne Wallenhorst.

Fifty years ago, AP English was the first class offered to eager young men, with about 20 enrolled in the class. Thanks to the efforts of Mrs. Wallenhorst and the many teachers after her to implement new AP courses, the Advanced Placement program at Father Ryan has grown significantly during the last 50 years.

Today, we offer 26 AP courses with topics as varied as Studio Art, Environmental Science, and Government and Politics. In 2017, 402 AP exams were taken by 22 percent of our students, which shows the significant growth of our AP program from 2010, when the number of AP exams taken was 286. We are also extremely proud that 83 percent of our students who took these tests received qualifying scores of a 3 or better, a number that has remained consistent since 2010.

These Advanced Placement Courses are available to qualified students: 2-D Art 3-D Art Biology Calculus AB Calculus BC Chemistry Computer Science English Language English Literature Environmental Science European History French Government and Politics 6

Latin Macroeconomics Microeconomics Music Theory Physics 1: Algebra-Based Physics 2: Algebra-Based Psychology Spanish Language Spanish Literature Statistics Studio Art U.S. History World History

FATHER RYAN SINGERS Hit the Right Notes Congratulations to the Father Ryan Singers who dazzled the judges at the Mid-State Chorus auditions last fall. John Bottei ’19, Maggie Rodgers ’19, Serenity Ogedegbe ’18, Sarah Barry ’19, David Kim ’20, and Ryan Davis ’19 were all named to the MidState chorus and performed with the group on November 14 at Brentwood United Methodist Church.

Adding to this impressive showing, John was one of 15 baritones chosen to sing in the All-State Chorus that will perform April 11-14 at the Opryland Hotel.

SHE'S GOT YOUR BACK Father Ryan’s Athletic Trainer, Lauren Baes, won the prestigious Backbone of the Year award from the Tennessee Athletic Trainer's Society in January.

What makes a Backbone of the Year Award winner? Behind many great leaders there are personnel who demonstrate a work ethic that often goes unrecognized. The professional dedication and personal sacrifice of these individuals allow those with supervisory responsibility to better meet their obligations. The Backbone Award is given to that person whose commitment and enthusiasm exemplifies the unselfish loyalty to their respective programs, staff and athletes.

Director of Athletics Devin DeLaughter said, “We are pleased that Lauren won this much-deserved award and recognition. We are thankful for the countless hours of support and encouragement she provides to all of our Irish student-athletes!”

Lauren truly is the backbone of our athletic program at Father Ryan. Congratulations!

Meet the NEW BISHOP Last year was bittersweet for both Father Ryan and the Diocese of Nashville, as we collectively mourned, in June, the passing of Bishop David R. Choby ’65.

While we certainly miss our “hometown” Bishop, God has blessed us with his successor. We are thrilled to welcome to Nashville Bishop J. Mark Spalding.

Bishop Spalding hails from Fredericktown, KY, and most recently served as pastor of Holy Trinity Parish and Holy Name Parish in Louisville. His appointment was met with great excitement as he was introduced in November at a press conference at the Cathedral of the Incarnation on West End Ave. Father Ryan President Jim McIntyre, Dean of Campus Ministry and Student Life Elizabeth (Coyle) Elfers ’02, and Chaplain Fr. Gervan Menezes were in attendance, and all are eager to work with Bishop Spalding in Nashville’s already strong Catholic community.

“Pope Francis has appointed a man who is a happy priest who has many, many experiences in his life, who loves his people and is excited about coming to the Diocese of Nashville, and what more could we ask,” said Rev. Michael Johnston ’63, who has served as administrator of the diocese while the search for Bishop Choby’s successor was conducted.

The entire Nashville community is excited for Bishop Spalding’s arrival, and it is easy to see why. At his announcement press

conference, he summed up his view of his job: “I need to tell you. I love being a priest. Love it.” He also expressed his enthusiastic commitment to Catholic education, and shifting to Spanish, greeted Nashville’s Hispanic community, saying how Nashville’s cultural diversity is one of its greatest strengths.

With his genuine and contagious enthusiasm, many see the new bishop, only 52 years old, connecting with Nashville’s vibrant and growing population of young people. The city has seen a surge of post-college transplants, and their inclusion in the Catholic community is vital to its growth.

We at Father Ryan have no doubt that Bishop Spalding will do amazing things in Nashville. We couldn’t be happier that he’s here, and we look forward to a long and successful tenure for the native Kentuckian.

An Irish welcome for Bishop-elect Spalding: greetings from Fr. Gervan Menezes and Reed Robinson ’18 and Nick Cragon ’18 (top) and President Jim McIntyre during announcement.

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Athletics winter 2018

GIRLS SOCCER It was a thrilling season for the Lady Irish Soccer team, and it remained intense and exciting until the end. After tearing through the first rounds of the playoffs, the Lady Irish, headed by longtime coach Robin Dieterich ’73, found themselves in the State semifinals against Baylor. Despite losing 2-1 in overtime, the Lady Irish’s season was nothing short of exceptional. Hannah Morton ‘20, who scored the Irish goal in the semifinal match, and Carolyn Darke ’18 received All-State recognition for their play this season. Hannah Hubbuch ’20 and Sarah Neuser ’18 made All-Region and Kelsey Roche ’18, Lily Rummo ’20, Minsaw Kwak ’21, and Kelly Tuerff ’21 all received All-Region honorable mention. It was another successful and thrilling season for the Lady Irish soccer players.

CROSS COUNTRY GOLF

FALL SPORTS Roundup A march to two Final Fours...a stirring playoff run that came up just short...and a race to remember. These highlights marked a season of success for all our athletes and their coaches during the fall of 2017. Check out the memorable performances these Irish athletes delivered.

FOOTBALL The bleachers were packed, the Friday night lights were bright, and the Irish fans were loud all throughout this football season at Father Ryan. The Irish squad, led by head coach Brian Rector, had an exciting and memorable season, defined by its quick and athletic play. Opponents often found themselves seeing only a blur of purple as the Irish speedsters flew down the sidelines toward the end zone. After a convincing 35-7 victory over rival JPII in the first round of the playoffs, the Irish season came to an end in the quarterfinals as they fell to the undefeated Christian Brothers High School squad of Memphis.

to tie, but holder/quarterback Seamus O’Connell ’19 kept the snap and flipped it back to Byrd, who flew around the line on a reverse route and motored into the end zone! That play, that game and this entire season for Father Ryan football will be talked about for years to come.

There were multiple highlights this fall for Father Ryan Cross Country. Both the Girls and Boys teams, headed by coaches Robert Kent ’74 and Doug Jones, respectively, achieved great success. The season began on a high note when the Boys Team won the Hoka Postal National in late August behind strong finishes from Joe Hoots ’18, Ryan Knapp ’18, Jonathan Conricode ’18, and Ian Boer ’19. To bring the successful season full circle, Knapp, Mary Hampton Hayden ’20, and Hoots (pictured above) received All-State honors at the TSSAA State Cross Country Championships in November. Knapp finished 3rd individually, which propelled the Boys Team to a 5th place finish, while Hayden finished 13th overall and Hoots 15th. Both the Girls and Boys Cross Country Teams can look back proudly on what was an excellent season.

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball has long been one of Father Ryan’s most celebrated fall sports, and ever since Coach Jinx Cockerham and the 1992 Lady Irish Volleyball won the State Title, Volleyball has been a program marked by success. The 2017 Lady Irish Volleyball squad, led by head coach Ann Mullins ’03, lived up to those standards. After a 19-14 regular season, the While the playoff win and subsequent marquee game in Mem- team advanced to the final stages of the playoffs after victories phis were thrilling, this season will certainly be remembered over Ensworth and St. Benedict (Memphis). Despite losing in for the Homecoming game versus Ravenwood. Down 31-20 the final four to Briarcrest in a tight, 5-set semifinal in Murheading into the fourth quarter, running back Jackson Byrd freesboro, this season was undoubtedly a success, especially ’18 scored two touchdowns, including the game winner on a for Jacquelyn Krumnauer ’19, who received Division II AA trick play. Down 31-28, the Irish lined up for the field goal First Team All-State honors. In addition, Emma Dooling ’18 was named All-Region and Savannah Gibbs ’18 received DII The play for the ages: Senior Jackson Byrd ’18 (#22) finds the end AA All-Region Honorable Mention. The bar is certainly set zone as the horn sounds and celebrates a huge Homecoming win high—and rightfully so—for the Volleyball Team heading with teammates and Coach Rector. into next season.

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Head Coach Christy Foreman and the Golf Team can look back on this year with proud memories. The team, which featured Seniors Palmer Sadlowski, Parker Sadlowski, Sam Melton, Kade Foster and Liv Cunningham, competed strongly through the grueling dog days of July and August before a strong end to the season in the more golf-friendly weather of September and October. Liv led the Irish Girls to several first place finishes and Palmer had a standout post-season. The Nashville native represented Father Ryan in the TSSAA State Golf Championship, where he wound up finishing in 5th place.

After a rocky day one, Palmer regrouped and shot a 69 on day two, which was the second-lowest score of the tournament.

Palmer and the rest of his teammates certainly made Father Ryan proud this fall.

COACH DIETERICH NAMED TO HALL OF FAME Robin Dieterich ’73, Father Ryan’s longtime Boys and Girls Soccer Coach, has been named to the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association’s (TSSAA) Hall of Fame. The first soccer coach to be named to the Hall of Fame, “Coach D” is one of the most accomplished and respected members of the soccer community and coach of nine State Championship Soccer Teams at Father Ryan. Coach Dieterich helped establish the sport of soccer in its earliest days in Tennessee. He was part of the first team at Father Ryan and was the goalkeeper for the Irish’s 1972 and 1973 State Champions. He returned to Father Ryan in 1979 as Head Coach, and has led the Boys Team to five titles and the Girls Team to four championships. While his accomplishments on the soccer field are unmatched, Robin has also been a widely-respected educator at Father Ryan for more than 30 years, currently teaching British Literature.

The induction ceremony will take place on April 14 in Murfreesboro.

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Standing next to his son, Alvin, both of them wearing their service hats, John said that at 18 and far away from home, heading up a bazooka squad was an eye-opening experience. “You didn’t have time to be scared, although everyone was,” he said. “You worried about getting the equipment to work and not blowing yourself up. Mostly, you wanted to make sure everyone around you was safe.”

Alvin drew one of the low lottery numbers in 1971 and knew he was going to be drafted, so after a short stay at MTSU, he joined the Army and went to Vietnam toward the last year of the war. He started out as a driver for one of the commanding generals. “It was a strange experience,” he recounted. “In the last few months of the war, I would drive the general to his office and then head to the staging area, where I would typically join a squad for a helicopter sortie. I’d fly through the day, returning in time to drive the car and pick up the general. It was an unusual look at two sides of the war.”

One carried a bazooka in the Argonne Forest. Another was one of the last soldiers to leave Vietnam. A third flew miles above the earth in a U-2.

Three Father Ryan alumni, all from the same extended family, and all part of the 2017 Veterans Breakfast at Father Ryan.

As more than 120 alumni veterans gathered on a sunny November morning to celebrate service across all branches of the military, the stories of these three Burns relatives captured their attention.

John Burns and his twin brother, Robert, graduated from Father Ryan in May of 1944 and were in the Army before their diplomas were even framed. All of 18 years of age, they were sent to Europe, shown a bazooka, and pointed toward the enemy lines in the part of war-ravaged Europe that soon became the site of the Battle of the Bulge. John’s introduction at the breakfast drew loud applause and a standing ovation from the veterans.

The spirit and the commitment of John Burns are in his DNA, and he shared that same spirit of service with his family. All four Burns brothers served in WWII. John’s son Alvin, Class

“You didn’t have time to be scared, although everyone was...Mostly, you wanted to make sure everyone around you was safe.” of 1970, served in Vietnam and was one of the last soldiers to be wounded and to leave the country, in 1975. John and Alvin’s cousin, Chris Burns ’83, served in the Army, then went to college and later returned to fly U-2s across the globe, looking in on some of the most dangerous places on the planet.

Alvin was one of the last U.S. soldiers to leave Vietnam and came back with gratitude, relief and a bullet wound. “I got shot in my hip in the last two days. You just never knew. But I came out fine,” he said.

Chris joined the Army immediately after graduating from Father Ryan in 1983. After basic training, he was sent on a two-year deployment in Europe. One night when he was chest-deep in snow crossing the Italian Alps during a Winter Warfare Training exercise with his unit, he saw two planes crossing the Alps and remembered a time back in his high school days when Father Jim Black ’64 took him flying. Chris recalls later “All of those memories came flooding back, and I knew then, the Air Force was where I wanted to be.”

After his two-year enlistment ended, he went to UT-Knoxville, where he joined ROTC. Not all ROTC

IRISH VOICES OF DEMOCRACY One of the highlights of the Veterans Breakfast each year is the presentation of the VFW Voice of Democracy essays by one of the Father Ryan students.

Celebrating the principles of America, the essay writing has long been a part of the programs of English Department Chair Randy Lancaster ’83, and it has attracted submissions from dozens of students each year.

This year, six Father Ryan students were finalists, and three of them saw their entries honored. Abby Cox ’19, Liv Cunningham ’18, and Trinity Tunstall ’19, finished 1-2-3 in the Post competition. Trinity presented her essay at the Veterans Breakfast. Abby’s essay went on to win 1st place at the District level and 2nd place at the State level, earning her $1,300 in scholarships.

Here are a few highlights of each essay. You can read the essays in their entirety and see highlights of the Breakfast event at www.fatherryan. org/veterans. We are proud to celebrate the spirit and the voices of these students.

In my grandfather’s childhood home, a plaque engraved with the words, “Without the courage to change, progress is lost. Without reverence for the past, chaos reigns,” was placed in the kitchen where he and his six brothers read it every day. After recently discussing this quotation with my grandfather, he commented, “It represents the attitude of the times. People believed that change was necessary, but without reverence for tradition, you lose the way things were.”

- Abby Cox ’19 Veterans understand and appreciate America’s rich history better than anyone because they were a crucial part in maintaining the values our country was founded on, most importantly freedom. To maintain freedom and sovereignty, youth must learn about the failures and accomplishments of our past to keep the American spirit alive for ages to come. - Liv Cunningham ’18 We are so blessed to live in a country where courageous men and women give their lives for us to feel safe and welcomed without regard to where we come from or what we choose to believe. Yes, there are problems, and, yes, they require frequent and thorough discussion.

Still, I remain optimistic about the future. As our history has shown us, there is no challenge, old or new, that we cannot conquer.

- Trinity Tunstall ’19 Voices of democracy: Juniors Trinity Tunstall and Abby Cox show off their awards; 2nd place Post winner Liv Cunningham.

(cont. on page 12)

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For Father Ryan students, TOTAL ECLIPSE IS TOTALLY COOL!

graduates receive slots as pilots in the Air Force, but he was a lucky one. After years of rising through the ranks in the Air Force, both as a pilot and an instructor on many bases, in 1998, Chris undertook a two-week interview process for the highly sought-after and notoriously challenging position as a U-2 pilot.

A U-2 airplane flies high above the clouds, capturing intelligence images that can immediately be transferred to the intelligence communities and troops on the ground, often making a huge difference in military strategy.

“Think of any hot spot in the world right now, and I guarantee a U-2 pilot is covering it,” Chris says, “Today, the information a U-2 pilot collects is all digital. So as soon as you land, the information goes right off the plane and is immediately uploaded to a satellite that goes to intelligence folks. There is even a voice link along with the data link, so you are talking directly to the troops who are getting shot at, and you can tell them what you saw.”

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Again, Chris’s work ethic and talent allowed him to rise through the ranks to a position as Director of Operations at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus in 2001. Then, September 11 happened, and like many others, his life was turned upside down. Although he cannot share what missions he flew or what information he captured, you only need to look at a map to know his job was of the upmost importance to all that happened afterwards.

These Burns men were just three of many proud faces that morning, each taking to heart the message of Retired Colonel John Krenson ’82, the speaker for the event and the CEO of Operation StandDown in Tennessee. Saluting the spirit of service embodied in the lives of our military, and hearkening to the message in Isaiah, John thanked the group “for answering that call and saying ‘send me,’ and to the families that supported them, thank you for your service.”

Faces of service: (clockwise from top left) the Burns veteransAlvin ’70, John ’44 and Chris ’83; U-2 pilot Chris ready for flight; Krenson family gathers to hear John’s ’82 powerful words.

For most people in the United States, August 21, 2017, was not just any other day. It was Total Eclipse Day. For Father Ryan students, who were along the path of totality that stretched from the coast of Oregon to the coast of South Carolina, it was a day filled with wonder and awe at this natural, rarely occurring phenomenon.

To celebrate this special day and to turn the day into a learning exercise, Father Ryan planned a host of activities. From telescopes arranged by science teacher Mr. Cyrus Pour and science teachers Mr. Mike Mascari and Mr. Doug Jones capturing reflective eclipse images on the ground, to inviting families to spend this memorable day together, to watching the most amazing sight of the total eclipse with food trucks all around, it was certainly a day to remember.

It was also a time to share in the spirit of welcome and accommodation that is synonymous with the school’s giving mission.

When students and staff from St. Joseph Catholic School in Mississippi were looking for a place to view the total eclipse, they reached out to the Eidt family, whose daughters Maggie and Julia were students at St. Joseph and are now at Father

Ryan, for help finding a place to stay.

When the Eidt family contacted Father Ryan about a place to house the students, the administration’s response was an immediate invitation to stay on campus. For the eclipse weekend, Father Ryan opened up Catignani-Drennan Fieldhouse to the 66 people from St. Joseph to spend Sunday night. Father Ryan also held Mass the next morning and provided breakfast to all who attended.

A totally cool day, indeed.

Sight for eager eyes: (clockwise from top left) Maggie Eidt ’18 and Mr. La Haie welcome St. Joseph students; glasses up; Mr. Mascari and his science on display.

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Cover Story winter 2018

In elementary school years ago, a class project often entailed drawing a family tree, a project that would help young students connect with their ancestors. The student would fill in the roots of the tree with the names of grandparents and conclude with the child’s own name at the very tip-top of the branches.

Today, this project isn’t widely used anymore, if at all. Teachers and educational institutions realized that the typical nuclear family unit fits no simple pattern. Some children may have a single parent; some kids may have two moms or two dads; some may have multiple siblings and step-siblings, and some kids, such as Matt Davis ’89, may have two loving adoptive parents but do not know their birth parents.

Matt Davis ’89 and the story of his families, reconnections and life

Davis was born in Nashville, October 2, 1971. His birth mother, a 17-year old girl, immediately gave him up for adoption through Catholic Charities, an agency that also provides services such as refugee resettlement, immigration counseling, senior assistance and more.

Ten days after his birth, Matt was adopted. He grew up in a wonderful home with two loving parents, Bob and Mary Jane Davis, and his adopted sister, Kelly Davis ‘87. He has led a very successful life since his Father Ryan graduation, first as a 1993 Notre Dame graduate and then as the founder of the firm, Grapevine Interactive. From the beginning, Matt knew he was adopted.

“As far back as I can remember, I was told about my birth parents. I always knew I had my parents, and I had my birth parents. I had a happy home, amazing parents and a great life. I never felt like I was missing anything. I never felt like I needed to know more,” Davis says.

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Matt knew his birth mother was 17 years old and gave her son up for adoption through Catholic Charities, but that was all he knew. And that was all right with him.

“I never pursued or even gave much thought to pursuing my birth parents because I was happy. I felt complete and didn’t need to know. I felt like if I did ever happen to meet my birth mom I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for what you did.”

er, he received a message on the site that said: “looks like we might be related. Would you mind sending me your family tree?” To that request he had only one answer, “I don’t have one. I’m adopted.”

CELEBRATING ALL LIFE:

9th grade through the 11th grade, and at the end of her junior year, she found out she was pregnant.

March for Life 2018

Cindi didn’t have a lot of options then, but she knew one thing for sure. She was going to have this baby. She wait-

Since he was never on the search for his birth parents’ identities, Matt didn’t think too much about buying the An-

“Would you mind sending me your family tree?” To that request he had only one answer, “I don’t have one. I’m adopted.” cestry.com birth kit. As he tells it, he really only bought it to learn more about his genetic background – to see what countries he hailed from. He thought he was Irish, but after turning in his DNA and completing the kit, it turns out he is actually Cajun. His ancestors came from France to Nova Scotia and then to Louisiana.

That isn’t all the birth kit revealed. It also showed a list of potential names on his very own ancestral tree. Although it didn’t show who his birth mother is (it only shows other members of your family who have also completed the DNA birth kit), it did come up with two names on his family tree that had a 98% match.

Knowing he never intended to look for his birth mom and wasn’t ready to face contacting his potential birth family yet, he decided to leave Ancestry.com alone for a while. But two months lat16

Matt and Mary Jane Davis.

doctors appointments, studied for tests and researched adoption agencies. She decided on Catholic Charities knowing (and hoping) they would place her son in a good home.

On October 2, 1971, she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. She stayed in Nashville until she was cleared to fly, and then returned to Florida.

Matt Davis ’89. Matt with his mom and sister. Leader of SEARCH. Matt at Notre Dame with Bob Davis.

Cindi Salyer had a unique childhood.

Her family was military and was stationed in Japan, Georgia and New York before settling in Florida in the 60s.

Cindi lived on Marco Island and attended high school in Naples, Florida. She was a fun, outgoing girl who enjoyed waterskiing, bonfires on the beach and typical high school fare like football and basketball games and school dances. She dated the same boy from

ed six months before she told her mom, and even then she only told her once she started to show. The very next day, her mom sent her to Nashville to live with her older sister, Linda, so she could have the baby away from prying eyes and gossip before returning to Florida to complete her senior year.

Cindi arrived in Nashville in late summer and went to a school for pregnant teens for two months while she waited for her son to be born. She went to

“Those nine months of my life were so hard. I knew I couldn’t keep him. Back then, we didn’t have any programs in Florida for pregnant teens on how to raise a baby, but I knew I didn’t have the skills or the education I needed to support a child on my own. I knew I had to give him a better home and a chance at a better life. It was the toughest decision I’ve ever made, but I did it for him.”

After Cindi returned to Florida and received her high school diploma, she met her future husband, whom she married in 1973. They later had a daughter, Christine, in 1978. When Cindi first met her husband, she was very open about her son, and when their daughter was old enough, she told her about him, too. She made sure all of the grandchildren and extended family knew about her son and the love she had for him. Many years later, her daughter even hired a private investigator to find him, but to no avail.

“I thought about him every day, and especially on his birthday. On October 2 each year, I would look up into the stars and hope and pray he was being taken care

Matt Davis’s story is one that the Father Ryan community celebrates, here and around the country.

As an integral part of its Catholic identity and mission, Father Ryan High School advocates for a consistent ethic of life from the moment of conception until natural death. As a tangible opportunity to advocate for pro-life issues, three busloads of students traveled to Washington, D.C., on January 19 for the national March for Life, the world’s largest pro-life event. This opportunity is open to all students as a powerful way to be a voice for the voiceless.

In addition to marching to the Supreme Court during this year’s March for Life, students attended the Youth Rally and Life is Good Mass through the Diocese of Arlington.

During the visit, students also visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and various other sites in our nation’s capital.

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of and loved. I hoped he knew about me and hoped he was ok.”

Bravo! A Standing Ovation for the Arts

She even had a special song, “Somewhere Out There” from the Steven Spielberg-produced movie, American Tale, about a mouse who is separated from his family, that she would repeat in her head, hoping the lyrics were true for her and her son, too:

When deciding what extracurricular activities to participate in, what elective classes to select or what major to choose in college, some people may ask “Why the arts?” Fortunately, that doesn’t happen often at Father Ryan.

And even though I know how very far apart we are It helps to think we might be wishin’ on the same bright star And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby

From the production of Seventh Heaven in 1928 to the award-winning performance of Thoroughly Modern Millie last spring, the Performing Arts have always been a hallmark of the Father Ryan experience.

It helps to think we’re sleeping underneath the same big sky Somewhere out there, if love can see us through Then we’ll be together somewhere out there Out where dreams come true.

Matt and Cindi’s first meeting.

“I would look up into the stars and hope and pray he was being taken care of and loved. I hoped he knew about me and hoped he was ok.”

According to Cindi, “It would give me great comfort thinking that he and I are truly looking at the same stars in the sky and hoping that he is doing well and knowing that I love him no matter what.”

Flash forward to 2016, to when Matt received the Ancestry. com request from a distant relative asking for his family tree.

He began thinking about that message and how non-threatening it was. He decided to take a leap and contact the two people who were 98% matches to see if they were related.

He sent a message similar to the one he received previously, and within a short amount of time he heard from a high school girl, Shey Oliver. Matt asked if any of her family members had ever lived in Nashville, and she reported back that her grandmother’s sister who lives in Florida had lived in Nashville many years ago.

When Cindi received the first text from her granddaughter, Shey, with news that they had found her son, she was overcome with emotion.

“I couldn’t stop crying all day. It was the best news ever. I had to ask a few more questions to make sure it wasn’t a hoax. I literally couldn’t believe it. I had always dreamed this would happen, and now it had.”

Cindi and Matt began texting immediately and were talking the next day. She has visited Nashville several times since and sees Matt as often as she can. Her sisters, including Linda, who had lived in Nashville and held Matt in her arms when he was born, have met him too.

“I have so many questions for him. I want to know all about his life and fill in all the gaps I have, but I don’t want to overwhelm him,” says Cindi.

In time, Cindi is looking forward to the day when she can introduce her daughter, Christine, to Matt and hopes she can meet Matt’s adoptive father, Bob, (Mary Jane passed away in 1997) sometime soon, too.

Emboldened by this discovery and hoping it was not just a coincidence, Matt asked the million dollar question: “Did anyone in your family ever give someone up for adoption?”

“I can’t wait to meet Matt’s father. I want to thank him for what a great job he and Mary Jane did, raising Matt. He did exactly what I wanted and prayed for. I couldn’t have done it better myself.”

The girl, having known the story her whole life, immediately responded, “yes, my grandmother.” Matt told the girl his birthday, October 2, 1971. He waited for a response.

Matt, for his part, remains extremely grateful for Cindi’s decision all those many years ago and for his parents’ loving embrace and support ever since.

Within just a few minutes, she wrote back: “OMG, you are my grandmother’s kid.”

“The way I see it is: I got two gifts. The gift of life and the gift of a great family.”

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That first show, Seventh Heaven, was performed in only the third year of Father Ryan High School’s existence, and was staged by a club of 24 young men, which was 15 percent of the student body at the time. Guided by Professor Robert E. Freidel, the first group of Purple Masque Players put on two plays a year on stages like the Hillsboro Theater, predecessor of the Belcourt Theater, St. Cecilia Academy, St. Bernard Academy, as well as their own gym stage. They were actors, yes, but they were also Irish football players, journalists and class officers. These young men gave life to the Purple Masque Players.

Today, the Purple Masque Players continue this reputation for Performing Arts excellence, producing a play in the fall and a musical in the spring each year. With more than 90 students performing on stage, crafting sets, or working behind the scenes, the Players are highly recognized for their talent and their versatility, as evidenced by the 2017 spring production of Thoroughly Modern Millie earning the prestigious Spotlight Award for theatre excellence, with three members of the cast named to the All-Star Cast.

One of those named to the All-Star Cast, Maggie Rogers ’19, who played the title role in Thoroughly Modern Millie, is an actress who has always loved musical theatre and appreciates the program and teachers at Father Ryan. As told to the Nashville Arts magazine in a feature on the Father Ryan arts program, Maggie relayed that “the stage has always been the place for me to express myself, to find out how to bring characters to life, connect with others, and bring an audience joy!”

She has been cast in a number of productions throughout her time at Father Ryan. She especially recalls her selection as a freshman for one of the lead roles in Big Fish as a dream come true, and, she admits, a bit of a surprise. “Our teacher, Mrs. Kelli [Ware] McClendon, is wonderful about casting based solely on talent and the right match of actor and role.”

The arts on display every day at Father Ryan; (top) Maggie Rodgers ’19; (center left) Members of the accomplished Marching Band; (center right) actress Erin Davie ’95; (Dancers) Cordelia Newton ’20 and Cara Orlich ’20; (bottom) Luke Beaty ’19 hits the right note.

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In addition to our current students who are making waves in our local arts community, our Father Ryan graduates are wowing audiences in college productions and professional theatres around the country, from Columbia College Chicago to the Great White Way in NYC. There’s Erin Davie ‘95 who has performed on stage throughout the country as well as on television with appearances that include Law and Order: SVU, The Good Wife and Orange is the New Black. But, it is musical theatre where she really shines. Her Broadway credits include: the revival of Sunday in the Park with George, Grey Gardens, Curtains (with David Hyde Pierce), the musical revival of Side Show and A Little Night Music, in which she co-starred with Bernadette Peters, Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

There’s Pat Dortch ’85 who teaches at The Actors Lab in Charlotte, N.C. and has appeared on shows such as Nashville, MacGyver and 24:Legacy. He has said his time with the Purple Masque Players gave him a sense of community that is unmatched elsewhere.

There’s also Colin Carswell ‘14 who was selected to participate in the Open Jar Institute in NYC this past fall. This Residency Program is an eight-week intensive where 10 students are selected to take singing, acting, and dance classes from Broadway professionals. They are mentored

by Broadway actors on how to prepare for auditions, callbacks, and the next steps for their careers. During the 7th week of the program, the students put on a showcase for Broadway casting directors and agents.

It doesn’t just happen on the stage. The choral and dance performances prove the value of the arts in the lives of Father Ryan students on a daily basis, while the Marching

Band, the drumline and color guard continue to dominate area and regional competitions and contend for national championships.

Our acclaimed teaching artists have built on the legacy of Professor Freidel, Father Angelo Nobile and many others, elevating the caliber of production and developing the students’ love of and enthusiasm for the Performing Arts.

For instance, thanks to the work of our Dance Company Directors, Ms. Lauri Gregoire and Ms. Alicia Brooks ’11, and our Choral Director, Mrs. Julie Cox, (all teaching artists), these two programs have grown significantly since they joined the Visual and Performing Arts Department.

The Dance Program now offers multiple levels of dance (all classes designed by Ms. Gregoire) with a roster of 64 students, plus a performance dance class for students of all levels and abilities. There is also a competitive dance team that performs at pep rallies and athletic contests and represents the school in local, state, and national competitions.

When Mrs. Cox began teaching at Father Ryan in the 20092010 school year, the choral program had one choir with 14 female students. Today, thanks to Mrs. Cox’s innovative teaching that bridges the gap between school and real-world experience, the choral program boasts four choirs, with varying degrees of difficulty, of 60 female and male students. The Father Ryan Singers have performed throughout the United States in concert and festival competitions, including Carnegie Hall in New York City. Members of the Father Ryan Singers are consistently chosen for National and State Honor Choirs. In addition, some students have had the unique opportunity of singing on recording projects for Musical Theater International and Broadway Disney recordings.

WHY ARTS? A New Series

Understanding the art process and what art can offer is one reason the Father Ryan Visual and Performing Arts Department recently started a new speaker series called “Why Arts?”

This series explores the positive impact that creative and performing arts have on an individual. It focuses on using arts for good in the world and how letting go of obstacles enables you to step into the role God has in store for you.

With the most fine arts offerings of any private school in Middle Tennessee and the 2nd most fine arts offerings of any school, public or private, Father Ryan and its students understand the value of the arts.

As Hannah Vogt ’18 told Nashville Arts magazine recently in a feature story on the Arts program at Father Ryan, “art is 20

incorporated into everything.” In daily life Hannah already understands that “it’s the creative expression of ideas, the ‘story’ that sets the brand, the product innovation that sets a company apart, and all of these are grounded in the arts.”

According to art teacher Mr. Mike Mitchell, the entire Visual and Performing Arts Department works “collaboratively to position students with the skills and resources to challenge them to become creative members on the local, regional, national, and international artistic ecosystem.”

But, even if a student chooses not to join the “artistic ecosystem,” the classes they take at Father Ryan can benefit them in learning and understanding the art process, a pro-

cess which Vogt has already identified as everywhere. Visual Arts instructor Mr. John Durand explains, “When students leave my class, even if they never take another art class, I want them to understand and appreciate the skills and thought process involved in creating a piece of art.”

The inaugural event in this series was on September 12, 2017, and featured veteran Broadway actress, speaker, and author Allison Allen. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon’s Acting program, Allison has appeared on Broadway in approximately 650 performances of the revival Grease. Allison talked about the confidence you gain from the arts, both as an artist and as a woman.

Then, on November 7, Nashville-based artist Omari Booker spoke about his life as an artist, why someone would choose this career path, and in his case, how art chose him. He also delved into how, through art, he has been able to explore topics that are important to him and may be, for some, difficult to discuss.

With every enhancement of theatre, dance, choral, and visual art productions, the caliber of all the Performing Arts has risen, enabling Father Ryan to stage more elaborate and challenging shows that incorporate the full spectrum of students’ talents and further their growth. The result has been thunderous applause from and a connection to the Visual and Performing Arts experience that binds students and graduates across the decades.

Why Arts indeed: (facing page) artist Omari Booker with art teachers Mr. Durand and Mr. Mitchell; (top) Alison Allen talks about her writing and the arts.

Hannah Vogt ’18 in Nashville Arts.

Saluting 90 Years of the Performing Arts at Father Ryan The 39th Annual Legacy Gala was quite a show...literally...as the performing arts students and alumni of Father Ryan paid tribute to the heritage of the arts at Father Ryan, and in the process, saluted Visual and Performing Arts Chair Kelli Ware McClendon (top, 2nd from left) and all the teaching artists at Father Ryan. Father Ryan supporters gathered at the Omni Nashville, welcomed new Bishop Mark Spalding (above, bottom left) and applauded the performance by MICHAEL BOTTEI ’16, ALICIA BROOKS ’11, ISA DERRICK ’20, LISA DUKE ’07, ANGELICA FLORES ’16, JESSICA GIANNONE ’05, KATHLEEN GUIDRY ’13, CATIE BENENSON HEGINBOTHAM ’11, JOSEPH KENT ’19, WILL PATTERSON ’15, SPENCER POMEROY ’18, MAGGIE RODGERS ’19, and MADDIE SAMPSON ’15. It was a night to remember and one for the record books as we smashed previous auction totals! Now, let the show continue!

See the next Purple Masque Players performance when they stage Seussical, The Musical in the Center for the Arts, April 19-21, 2018.

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Then

Now troops there to protect all citizens or to intimidate some? Why should blacks be barricaded in their neighborhood when it was a black man who had been shot dead in Memphis?

Lindsey Draper may not remember the details of his baptism

by Dr. King, but he has vivid memories of the dark days that followed King’s assassination, with the most poignant being one that concerned his chemistry teacher, Mrs. Betty Gray.

Lindsey Draper

Harry Guess

In September 1954, Father Ryan was the first of two schools in Tennessee to integrate, and although those beginning years proved difficult for many, 14 years later Father Ryan students of all colors felt the pain and anguish of losing Dr. King.

Jim McKay ‘68, an African-American student, came to Father Ryan from a predominantly black grade school, St. Vincent, and largely felt ignored and invisible to white classmates during his Freshman and Sophomore years. But he says he felt a change on campus his Senior year, especially when Dr. King was assassinated.

“Everyone was emotionally affected— black or white. The entire campus was quiet for about a week. You could hear 22

a pin drop.”

Another black student who was deeply affected was Lindsey Draper ’69, who was baptized by Dr. King in 1959, at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, AL, when he was just seven years old.

“Dr. King’s assassination was deeply personal for me,” Draper said. “At the time, I didn’t remember much about the baptism itself since I was so young, but I remember him, his presence and his big hands.”

As the tragic news of the assassination spread, protests, riots and displays of military force consumed cities including New York, Washington D.C., Raleigh, N.C. and Nashville.

Harry Guess ’68, a classmate of Jim McKay’s at both St. Vincent and Father Ryan, remembers hearing of Dr. King’s assassination while he was driving home and feeling outrage and anguish over the news. He says he drove around for a long while trying to absorb it all and figure out what to do next. Then, he heard on the radio about the riots downtown. He headed over near Meharry Medical College, a historically black college.

“When I got close to Meharry, they had blocked off the streets so far back I couldn’t see what was going on or even get close, so I settled myself and went home, to the joy of my mother,” Guess recalled.

In response to or anticipation of riots, many cities called on National Guard troops to “keep the peace,” including in Nashville, where Tennessee National Guard troops took up residence in Centennial Park, across the street from Father Ryan, the day after Dr. King’s assassination on the premise of public safety. But safety had a different feeling for people of different colors. Were the

According to Draper, Mrs. Gray didn’t treat the murder of Dr. King, the mobilization of the Tennessee National Guard or troop deployment in Nashville (in predominantly black communities) as “business as usual.” She took the time to talk about these events and their impact on her students, black or white.

“I will always be grateful for her sensitivity,” says Draper.

Lindsey Draper

Harry Guess

Often times, it would take teachers like Mrs. Gray or another student to truly open the eyes for others.

A Challenging Spring – 1968 There are some events that were so jarring and horrifying that you remember exactly where you were or what you were doing when you heard the news. There was 9/11 when the Twin Towers fell. There was January 28, 1986, when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded. And there was April 4, 1968, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated.

“The day after Dr. King was assassinated I passed the Tennessee National Guard troops in Centennial Park on my way to school and was completely floored. I didn’t know what to do, but I knew they were not there to be my friends. But when I got to Mrs. Gray’s chemistry class she said: ‘They expect me to teach chemistry today. But, I have never lived in occupied territory. And I can’t imagine what Lindsey or Ted (Lennox ’69) are going through.”

Jim McKay

For example, Jon Conlin ’68 was a white basketball player who shared the court with his black teammates Paul Douglass ‘68 and Willie Forte ’68. They took classes together, went to practices together and played games together. Their whole days were wrapped up together doing the same things. But, when they went home at night, it was a very different story.

Jim McKay

With the National Guard using Centennial Park as its home base, it essentially cut off North Nashville and West End, leaving North Nashville on one end, where most of the African-American population lived, and white Nashville on the other side.

Eileen Beehan

Therefore, at the end of each day at Father Ryan, most of the African-American students would leave the campus on Elliston Place and have to cross through the military checkpoints to try to make it home before curfew.

Although McKay grew up in the north side of Nashville, he moved to the south side in 1967. He still had several family members and friends on the north side and said a prayer every time he had to cross the perimeter.

Eileen Beehan

“Whenever I went to visit any friends or family,” McKay said, “I knew I would have to cross paths with the troops, and every time I would think ‘please don’t randomly stop me,’ because I didn’t know what they would do to me.”

Jon Conlin

And although McKay did not have to encounter the troops as often as his friends who lived on the north side of Nashville, he did have a close encounter with the troops right across the street from Father Ryan.

Jon Conlin

(cont. on page 24)

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“For those who were [African-American] Seniors and Juniors, this march for civil rights had been going on since our early childhood,” says Guess, a Senior at the time. “So I saw the arrival of the National Guard in Centennial Park as just another chapter in our journey for equality and civil rights. But I do think everything that happened in the spring of ’68 helped people see we really did have problems.”

Jon Conlin would agree. “I didn’t really appreciate how different my life was from Paul and Willie’s until my Senior year when the troops showed up,” said Conlin. “What if there was a sporting event at 5:30 p.m.? How would they get home? Even the smallest details were made so much more difficult just because of the color of their skin.”

But it was another incident that had first opened Conlin’s eyes to the types of injustices and ignorance that his friends had to face.

During a Father Ryan basketball tournament in Clarksville, Paul and Willie and two other teammates, Kevin Hounihan ’68 and Tommy Lynch ‘68, grabbed a quick bite to eat between games at a local diner, but from the moment they walked in, it was immediately obvious they were not welcome.

Images of 1968: Douglass, Forte, Lennox, and Gray.

“It was lunch period at Father Ryan, and some other guys from St. Vincent and I were outside eating lunch and one guy picked up a rock—not trying to start anything—really just to see what would happen, and before we knew it, our entire group was staring down the end of five rifles pointed directly at us. I will never forget that.”

While many black Father Ryan students already understood and lived through the inequalities that black Americans faced every day, the arrival of National Guard troops highlighted those disparities for many white Father Ryan students.

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“The air in the room changed as soon as we walked in, and the men would not stop watching us,” Conlin remembered. “We ordered our food, and when it came, Paul and Willie’s orders were an uncooked slop of mess. They started calling them names and would not back down. But Paul and Willie didn’t say a word. The two of them just told us we needed to leave, and I truly believed they saved all of us that day.

Because who knows what would have happened if we stayed.”

To this day, Conlin still remembers that encounter and his many other experiences with Paul and Willie and says he believes his friendship with both young men shaped who he is today.

Paul Douglass and Willie Forte are also locked in the memory of another Father

Ryan student, of sorts. Eileen Beehan, St. Bernard Academy Class of 1968, took a class at Father Ryan through a transfer program offered to students at the three all-girl Catholic high schools.

If their school did not offer a class they wanted, then they had the opportunity to take a class at Father Ryan.

Eileen and two girlfriends decided to take third-year German in 1967, three years before Father Ryan became coed. Although Eileen was initially excited to take a new class and as a teenage girl was thrilled to be at the all-boys school, she didn’t realize how much she and her girlfriends would really stand out.

“Before we started, I didn’t think it would be as uncomfortable as it was.

The worst part was going up or down the stairwell or coming or going each day. That was the time when tacky things were said. But, we felt safe once we were in the classroom, and a big part of that was because Willie and Paul were there. “ By chance, Paul and Willie happened to be taking German that year, too, and were in the same class with Eileen and her friends. Eileen sat right next to Willie, and Paul was one desk behind Willie. It was a chance encounter that the only three girl students in the entire school were seated right next to other students who knew what it felt like to be seen as “other.”

“Paul and Willie were kind and made us feel safe. They understood we were uncomfortable because they knew what it was like to be seen as different and to feel out of place. That made a huge difference,” Beehan said.

COURT MIRRORED NATION 50th Anniversary of 1968 District Championship The assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in April 1968 was the most vivid and painful evidence of this tumultuous period and one of the most important moments of that epochal year.

Fifty years later, in December in Nashville, a group of men who were part of that era gathered at Father Ryan to talk about their experiences as basketball players and students who helped define race relations in the city. Meeting with the current Irish basketball players and being honored at the Willie Brown ’65 Memorial Christmas Tournament, the men provided insight into that time, both on and off the court.

The 1968 basketball team was one of Father Ryan’s best and a threat to go to state. It was also a team that reflected the changes that were happening in Nashville and the South. Just four years after Willie Brown ’65 and Jesse Porter ’64 integrated sports in Nashville, Seniors Paul Douglas and Willie Forte were leading this Irish team. Along with fellow Seniors Tommy Lynch, Kevin Hounihan Jon Conlin, Jim McKay and Ronnie Coles, the team was a showcase for the sport and a key part of the continued development of Nashville.

Eileen says she will always remember Paul and Willie. “I didn’t show gratitude then because I didn’t realize just what they were doing. But I do now, and I’m ever so grateful,” she reflects.

The Civil Rights activities, both nationally and locally, made the 1968 basketball game between Father Ryan and Pearl High School even more important. While Father Ryan had integrated in 1954, just four months after Brown vs. Board of Education, Nashville was still a city with obvious remnants of segregation. The basketball game offered a chance for the communities from Pearl and Father Ryan to come together and to witness a fantastic game of basketball.

The spring of 1968 was a trying, difficult time for many Father Ryan students.

But it was their experiences during this

On a cold and snowy night in January, an overflow crowd of over 2,000 individuals—parents, teachers, students and residents from all across Nashville—packed into the Father Ryan gym. On paper, the Irish did not match up well. Tommy Lynch ’68, recounted recently that, “I was 6'2" and that made me

the starting center for [the Irish]. Their starting center, Claude Grant, was 6'9".”

Despite their physical disadvantage, the Irish came out in aggressive fashion that evening. Led by Coach Bill Derrick ’48, the Irish pressed every time they transitioned to defense, irritating the Pearl players and forcing them to amend their offensive game plan.

Lynch was joined in the frontcourt that evening by Forte and Hounihan, while Seniors Paul Douglas and Conlin handled the backcourt duties. Having five Seniors on the court was undoubtedly an asset in a game that took place in such an intense and competitive atmosphere.

In the end, Father Ryan’s defensive prowess, grit, and perseverance proved to be the right formula for success. The Irish walked away victorious, winning the game 72-61, and went on to win the District crown.

More importantly, however, the game served to remind the community of its rich diversity. “That’s the beauty of sports; on the court—or the field, the rink, the diamond, etc.—there is no black or white. There are merely athletes—teammates— working together, pushing their limits, striving, together, towards a common goal,” said Director of Athletics Dr. Devin DeLaughter.

Remembering a season on the court and in the streets: Jon Conlin ’68 jumps center against Pearl’s Claude Grant; ’68 team meets today’s hoopsters; a gathering of the soon-to-be Golden Grads, with Ann Brown Beatty, Willie Brown’s ’65 sister.

(cont. on page 26)

25

Classnotes winter 2018

time that helped chart their path in the future.

Lindsey Draper continued his Catholic education at Seattle University and Marquette Law School. He worked for many years as an Assistant District Attorney in the Public Defender’s Office in Milwaukee and was appointed to Children’s Court bench there. He has since retired and now teaches American history through the Constitution to high school students through a program called “We the People.” And he believes Mrs. Betty Gray is the adult who had the most impact on his life besides his parents.

Eileen Beehan continued her Catholic education in college and eventually became a Metro Council member in Nashville. She was one of 10 women of the 40 Council members and says her time at Father Ryan as one of the only females on campus and as a friend of Paul and Willie prepared her for her time on the Council.

After Jon Conlin graduated from Father Ryan, he went to Virginia Tech to play football. Of all the students on the team, Jon was chosen to be the roommate for the school’s first African-American scholarship football player, John Dobbins.

“I totally attribute 99% of that decision by my coaches asking me to be John’s roommate to what happened while I was at Ryan. Thanks to my friendship with Paul and Willie, and my viewpoint that was created by my experience at Father Ryan, I was the perfect candidate,” stated Conlin.

Harry Guess stayed in Nashville after graduation and went to Vanderbilt University. Later, Guess joined the Navy, where he served for 42 years.

He says he is pleased to see that Father Ryan holds the Willie Brown Invitational each year to honor Father Ryan’s first African-American basketball player, and that the school continues to tell its story of inclusion.

But what he is most grateful for is the preparation Father Ryan gave him for his time at Vanderbilt and his career in the Navy. “There are going to be adverse experiences in your life and you can do one of two things.

You can turn around and go home or you can call upon your faith when times are tough. Father Ryan taught me that, and it has really helped me along the way,” he stated.

Jim McKay went to Tennessee State after graduating from Father Ryan, and then worked for 43 years in the IT industry, making servers that have been used in space shuttles and in the health industry among others.

“After what happened at Father Ryan and in the spring of ’68, I decided I wanted to do something – however small – that made a lasting impact on the lives of others. So even though I’m retired now, with all of my servers out there, I’m still making a difference,” says McKay. Although reflecting on his time at Father Ryan can be difficult at times he says, he is proud that his alma mater continues to remember and shed light on this important part of the school’s and the country’s history.

“It is extremely important that we don’t forget the past,” McKay said, “as dark as some of it may be, and that kids today learn what really happened. I’m glad Father Ryan continues to tell its story. We have to keep telling it, so we are not doomed to repeat it.”

26

Troops Go to the Mat for Irish

RICK BRUNNER ’15, BILL BRUNNER ’77 (FACULTY), FATHER MARK BECKMAN (FORMER ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL), CHARLIE SCOTT ’84, JOHN FOREMAN (FORMER FACULTY), JOHN DURAND (FACULTY), and FRANCIS CORBY ’09.

The arrival of the Federal troops in Centennial Park in April 1968, created an unusual atmosphere in Nashville and, as the accompanying story shows, a range of responses and concerns on the Father Ryan campus.

However, their presence also created a market for a part of the Father Ryan community that was in the midst of a major fundraising effort.

At the first week of April, the Wrestling team had just completed its 1968 season about six weeks earlier—one that had seen Frank Baltz ’69 claim the school's second individual wrestling state title—and the team was in need of a new mat to replace the old, itchy horsehair one that had served them for five years. The idea was to raise funds by selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and a purchase of many dozens of these delights was made.

Unfortunately, the demand was slow among the Father Ryan community. Facing an inventory that wasn't moving quickly and the prospect that the mat wasn't going to happen, someone had the idea to take the boxes to the bivouaced troops and sell them there.

The marketing idea proved prescient. A couple of trips into the park moved all the inventory, fed the troops and provided the funds that produced the new mat. Ten months later, in February 1969, the Irish claimed its first wrestling State Championship.

*1947 JACK DEEGAN was immortalized

with a commemorative brick cemented into the front porch of the James L. West Library during a recent ceremony at Texas Wesleyan University. He was a marketing professor there for 28 years where Jack established the marketing major, writing and teaching all nine courses.

1992 OFFICER BRAD BURNS, Metro 1970 CHRIS WILLIAMS is president of Nashville Police Bomb Technician, SGT. Williamz Constructors, and his son, MELISSA RILEY ’92 , PhD, Metro Office RYAN WILLIAMS ’07, is vice president of of Emergency Management K9 Division, their family-owned business in Nashville. and JONATHAN CRAWFORD ’05, Met-

Williamz Constructors was featured in three episodes of HGTV’s “Listed Sisters” during Season 2. To see their work, visit williamzconstructors.com.

1972 FRANK MONDELLI, SR. is a can-

didate for General Sessions Judge in Division X in Nashville on May 1. For more details go to Facebook @Mondellilaw, Twitter @mondelli4judge or email mondelliforjudge@gmail.com.

1977 BILL BRUNNER and several alums

recently completed a backpacking trip in the Wind River Mountains in western Wyoming. Pictured at the Cirque of the Towers (above, l-r) are PATRICK CORBY ’11, CHRIS CORBY ’80 (FORMER FACULTY), MICHAEL BRUNNER ’12 , PAT-

ro Nashville Fire Department, responded to Hurricane Irma as a part of the Tennessee Task Force 2 Urban Search and Rescue Team in Tallahassee and Jacksonville, Florida.

1992 CORINNE (WRIGHT) CRABTREE

is the owner of Phit-N-Phat in Nashville.

Her podcast “Losing 100 lbs with PhitN-Phat” is #3 in Health and Fitness on iTunes and #18 overall in health. Learn more at phit-n-phat.com.

1994 NICK LEONARDO, former Metro

Councilman in Bordeaux, was appointed by the Metro Council as the Division III General Sessions judge in Nashville. He is running in the Democratic primary on May 1 to fulfill the remainder of the judi-

cial term. For details, visit Nickleonardoforjudge.com, nickleonardoforjudge on Facebook or @leonardo4judge on Twitter.

1998 ANDY and CHAD BAKER have ex-

panded their dog daycare, boarding and grooming concept with their latest location in Nashville’s 505 Tower. This brings the number of The Dog Spot locations to four in the Nashville area and two Spot’s Pet Supply stores. Andy and Chad also invest in real estate, with more than 30 residential and 20 commercial properties.

2001 PAUL SCHLACTER is a Senior Visual Designer at Google in New York City.

His recent work includes design.google and the SPAN design conference. Prior to Google Design, Paul worked on Yahoo’s Mobile and Emerging Products team, the Google Creative Lab, and Google UXA. He got his start at Trollbäck+Company, working on network brand packages, commercials, and film titles. While at Father Ryan, Paul developed his creative talents in the classroom and as a member of the marching band, concert band, and winter drumline.

2002 ALLISON JARRETT, a teaching artist in Nashville with a Master of Arts in Art Education from NYU, recently launched Art School, a subscription box featuring engaging art activities for kids. Allison also creates custom mobile art workshops, parties, and events for children and adults, where the focus is on exploring the creative process in an approachable and comfortable environment. When she isn’t teaching or hauling art supplies all over Middle Tennessee, 27

STREBEL SETS USAF SCORING RECORD

His foot has always performed for him, from his memorable free kick against MBA in double overtime that won the State Soccer Championship in 2014 to his prodigious field goal and point after work for the Irish Football Team.

Now Luke Strebel ’14 is in the career record books at the United States Air Force Academy for his kicking performance for the Falcons Football Team. In his final game, in November, Luke kicked five extra points and one field goal against Utah State and in the process set the all-time career record for Air Force.

Luke was perfect on all 131 of his point afters and converted 41 of 48 field goal attempts, giving him a career total of 254 points.

Luke’s success is also evident in the classroom, where he maintains a 3.7 GPA and was selected for the Mountain West Scholar-Athlete Team. He is specializing in Systems Engineering and will be learning of his Air Force assignment this spring.

28

Allison combines her love of graphic design, hand-lettering, and embroidery in her commissioned handstitched artwork. Visit artschoolbox.com to learn more about Art School subscriptions, and artschooltn.com to book an art event or contact Allison 2008 COLE JAMES and his brother JEREabout custom work.

MIAH recently opened Brothers Burger Joint in Berry Hill after the success of The Broth2005 FRANCES (LEATHERS) MEZA is a ers Burger food truck. The duo was recently Staff Sergeant in the United States Marine featured on an episode of “Chrisley Knows Corps, serving for 11 years. A year ago, she Best,” where they served desserts made by Juearned the position of Supply Officer at the lie Chrisley at a food truck event. Find them Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico. She @BrosBurgerJoint. and her team manage the budgetary operations and account for all gear related to 2008 RACHEL LYTLE was recently named ground support of the airfield. Frances ex- the recipient of the National Association of plains, “our mission at the Air Facility is to Biology Teachers 2017 Outstanding New support the Presidential Lift ‘no fail’ mis- Biology Teacher Achievement Award. The sion of Marine Helicopter Squadron One award, sponsored by Pearson, the Neil A. (HMX-1).” In April, she will attend Recruit- Campbell Educational Trust, and NABT, ing School in San Diego, CA and, upon suc- recognizes outstanding biology and life scicessful completion, will serve as a recruiter ence teaching in grades 7-12 by a “new” bifor three years. ology/life science instructor. Rachel teaches honors and AP Biology at Brentwood High School. She earned a B.S. in Biology and her position of Middle M.S. in Biology with a research interest in School Principal at science education.

Stratford Academy in Macon, GA, beginning in June. He will finish the year at Episcopal Day School in Pensacola, FL, where he teaches history and serves as the Associate Head of Middle School. In his new role, Logan will also be responsible for hiring, leading the faculty through curricular review, and working to ensure alignments and integration of the middle school program with Stratford’s lower and upper schools.

2008 CHARLES RODRIGUEZ is an Assistant Coach for the Stanford University 2008 CHLOE GODARD is an actress resoccer team. The Cardinal won their third cently cast in a national commercial for straight NCAA National Championship PetSmart. To view it, go to ispot.tv/ad/ in December. Charles is pictured with the wT2M/petsmart-grooming-runway-songtrophy and his sister KATHERINE RODRIby-meghan-trainor.

GUEZ ’12 .

2008 JUSTIN GUIDRY secured his CPA 2010 GRACE MORELAND is an intern (Certified Public Accountant) designation in in Father Ryan’s Personal Counseling DeSeptember 2017. He graduated from MTSU partment this semester and next fall as in December 2013 with a B.S. in Accountshe works toward a Master of Professioning. Justin is a Senior Staff Tax Accountant al Counseling from Grand Canyon Unifor Crowe Horwath, LLP in Franklin, TN. 2008 LOGAN BOWLDS has accepted the

versity. She graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

2016 LOUIS HINLO is a sophomore International Business major at St. Louis University who has been selected for a study abroad program in Beijing, China, this semester at the University of International Business and Economics.

In addition to taking regular classes at UIBE, he will be interning at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing under their Commercial Service Department.

Typically, Louie says, “It would be an understatement to say that Ms. Chin-Shefi has been a huge influence on my interest for the Chinese culture.

The mere fact that Father Ryan offered the Chinese language as a foreign language course during my freshman year was enough to pique my interest, but, on top of that, I could see that Ms. Chin-Shefi sincerely cared for her students and brought out the best in them.”

As another testament to Father Ryan’s Chinese program, Louie was so prepared for college-level Chinese courses that he tested into Chinese 2010 (equivalent to Chinese III).

2014 MADDY BROCATO is the President

of Delta Gamma’s chapter at the University of Mississippi. A speech and language disorders major in 2010 LIZZY WESTBROOK earned a Masher junior year, Madter of Education from Providence College in dy leads the 400+ member sorority.

May 2017. She teaches middle school English and Religion at Saint Francis Xavier School in 2014 MACKENZIE CHALIFOUX graduated Massachusetts. She is a graduate of the Provi- from The Ohio State University in three years dence Alliance for Catholic Teachers (PACT), and is now at Northwestern University purwhich is designed to allow teachers to earn a suing a graduate degree in Speech Pathology. master’s degree free of charge while teaching in a Catholic school in Rhode Island or Mas- 2015 CONNOR MOREL and TRAVIS STEINMETZ ’15, an accounting major, are serving sachusetts. as President and Vice President, respectively, 2011 QUINN O’HEENEY graduated in May of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity at the Universi2015 with honors from the University of No- ty of Tennessee. The chapter’s outgoing presitre Dame with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. dent is HUNTER DUFF ’14.

He was a Chi Epsilon and Tau Beta honor student and received Notre Dame’s chapter 2016 ALEX BARNETT was accepted in the of The American Society of Engineers Activi- University Leadership Honors Course at New ties Award. Quinn was hired by Notre Dame York University. Only 20 students from all to color code their underground utilities in disciplines at NYU will take the University 3D digital formats and was on the team for Leadership Honors Course, which focuses E2E Housing Expo constructing prototype on high-achieving sophomores who might housing for Haiti. Quinn and his wife live in be strong candidates for prestigious national Louisville, where he is a project manager for and international post-graduate fellowships, scholarships, and leadership programs. The Sullivan Cozart, Inc. course is team-taught and combines readings, 2013 DAVY GREGORY graduated summa discussions, interactive sessions, self-assesscum laude from Cumberland University. ment tools with specially arranged meetings David was awarded the President’s Award, with top-level leaders and academics, who will which judges candidates based on their scho- share their insights on the nature and skills lastic attainment, personal bearing and in- of effective leadership, professional growth, tegrity, leadership development, moral and communications, and self-awareness. ethical conduct, and loyalty to the University.

2016 CALEB WISEMAN He is pursuing his master’s degree in Business is spending this semesAdministration at Cumberland. ter in Rome, Italy, for a study abroad program.

2013 CHRISTOPHER SPRANKLE sang the He is a sophomore at St. National Anthem at the 21st Annual ChukLouis University and is a kers for Charity in August. He has sung the member of Beta Theta Pi National Anthem at this fundraiser for the fraternity.

Rochelle Center and Saddle Up! since he was eight and has lived and worked on Riverview Farm his entire life. Christopher is in 2017 MATTHEW WEHBY is a freshman at Miami University-Ohio the Army National Guard Infantry Unit 278 and a member of the based in Springfield, TN. He was recently inNCAA Division I Mivited to California to try out for the hit show ami University Swim“The Voice,” but has decided to postpone this ming and Diving Team. until his commitment is up with the National He swims the 50 yard, Guard.

100 yard, and 200 yard freestyle events.

29

births winter 2018

weddings winter 2018

In Memoriam winter 2018

Miles Clinton to LYNNSAY (CLINTON) and MICHAEL CALHOUN ’99,

MARGIE DAVIS: MOM SAYS GOOD-BYE

born on November 8, 2017.

Lane Michael to MARY BYRNE (PIGOTT) ’01 and CHRIS DAILEY,

born on November 7, 2017. He joins big brother Connor (3 1/2-years old).

Savanna Dawn to PAIGE (FRANCESCON) ’05 and RUSTY DENSON ’06 , born on August 22, 2017. Savanna joins big sister Summer (2-years old).

Jim and Elizabeth Elfers

Eric and Rebecca Gibson

Wesley and Maria Sanders

Maverick Zander born to MALLORY (PRUITT) ’06 and CHRIS LAW,

born on December 9, 2017.

Lucas Joseph to JENNY and December 21, 2017.

DYLAN LYNCH ’03 ,

Miles Clinton Calhoun

Connor and Lane Michael Dailey

born on

Henry Andrew Mosley to JENNA (SAALE) ’06 and ANDREW MOSLEY ’06 ,

born on December 26, 2017.

Princeton Lamar to ANNA and CORRY STEWART ’06 (FACULTY),

Rachel and Cory Sharp

born on November 17, 2017.

Sebastian James to AMY and JASON TALLEY ’00, born on

were married on July 22, 2017, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Nashville.

Parker James to CRISTINA (BEASLEY) ’98 and MIKE

born on August 18, 2017. Cristina is Director for Nike’s European headquarters outside Amsterdam, Netherlands. Skip ’68 and Laura (retired Faculty) Beasley are proud first-time grandparents.

Quinn and Emma O’Heeney

ELIZABETH COYLE ’02 (ADMINISTRATION) and JIM ELFERS

March 18, 2017.

WEEKS ,

Kelsey and Nick Pollard

Savanna Dawn Denson

Maverick Zander Law

REBECCA CRUMBY ’13 and ERIC GIBSON were married at Cathedral of the Incarnation on September 23, 2017. Rebecca graduated from Tennessee Tech in May with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and is a critical care nurse at Tennova of Clarksville on the ICU Stepdown Unit. The couple lives in Clarksville, TN with their puppy, Bauer.

MARIA NICHOLSON ’08 and WESLEY SANDERS were married on October 7, 2017, at Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville.

Stay in Touch with the FATHER RYAN FAMILY

EMMA COLLIS and QUINN O’HEENEY ’11, were married on March 18, 2017 at The Basilica of the Sacred Hart on the campus of Notre Dame. Tony Frazier ’11 and Tanner Hamilton ’11 were in the wedding party. The O’Heeneys live in Louisville where he is a project manager for Sullivan Cozart, Inc. and Emma is in dental school.

Henry Andrew Mosley

Princeton Lamar Stewart

Irish Ayes is always eager to hear what and how our alumni and families are doing. Send us your updates on college experiences, jobs and promotions, marriages, births and other personal highlights to fatherryan.org/alumni and click on Stay in Touch to complete the form.

RACHEL RODRIGUEZ and CORY SHARP ’05 were married on October 7, 2017, at Barn in the Bend in Madison, TN. The couple lives in Old Hickory, TN.

Parents of ALUMNI If your son or daughter no longer lives at home, please notify the Father Ryan Alumni Office by going to fatherryan.org/alumni and click on Stay in Touch to complete the form.

30

KELSEY TOMPKINS and NICK POLLARD ’10 were married at Spring Creek Ranch in Collierville, TN on October 21, 2017. The couple lives in Chattanooga where Nick works as a Financial Advisor for UBS and Kelsey works as an Account Manager for Derryberry Public Relations.

MELISSA RENEE DUMPERT and ROBERT LANDON SNYDER ’10

were married on September 16, 2017, at Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville.

Sebastian James Talley

Parker James Weeks

VIOLET PROKOPEK and MICHAEL WEHBY ’02 were married on

October 14, 2017, at St. Hyacinth Basilica in Chicago, IL. The couple lives in Seattle, WA, where Violet works for Starbucks and Michael works for Eddie Bauer.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” Father Ryan principal Paul Davis ’81 and his family would agree with President Lincoln, as their dear mother, Margie Davis, passed away on January 10, 2018.

Margie Elizabeth Pruitt Davis was a loving Mom to Paul and his five siblings, each a Father Ryan alum: Tucker Davis ’75, Sissy (Davis) Murphy ’76, Lucy (Davis) Blair ’78, Rick Davis ’83, and Christy (Davis) Cullison ’90. But she was also “Mom” to hundreds of other children— friends and classmates of her children—friends of her extended family and young people who were lucky enough to meet her. She welcomed each of them into her home and into her heart, asking her well-known “20 Questions” of each of these guests. She used those questions to learn about them so she could be a proud and helpful second mother to every one of those young boys and girls.

A product of Catholic education, Marjorie attended Cathedral Elementary School and St. Bernard Academy, and was a lifelong supporter and proponent of Catholic education. She instilled that love in her six children.

After graduating from Ward-Belmont, Margie spent more than 20 years living out her faith by working with the Diocese of Nashville, serving as building and grounds manager of Saint Mary Villa and at Christ the King Church. In 1955, she married the love of her life, Bobby Davis ’50, at Cathedral of the Incarnation and, together, they raised their six children and celebrated their 13 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. According to those who knew her best: to know her was to love her and to love her was to be part of her family. She will truly be missed.

Because of Margie's commitment to Catholic education, and in memory of her grandson, Kevin, the family asks you to consider contributions to the Kevin Paul Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund at Father Ryan High School; 770 Norwood Drive; Nashville, TN 37204 in support of tuition assistance at Father Ryan High School.

31

In Memoriam winter 2018*

CIVIL RIGHTS PIONEER AND NASHVILLE NATIVE PERRY WALLACE DIES

Perry Wallace, who attended Pearl High School, competed against Father Ryan’s Irish in the first integrated athletic contest in Nashville’s history, and later became the first black varsity basketball player in Southeastern Conference history for Vanderbilt University, died on Dec. 1 in Rockville, MD. He was 69.

While he isn’t an alumnus of Father Ryan, Wallace will always be connected in a positive way to Father Ryan’s history. A Nashville native who attended the all-black Pearl High School and was valedictorian of his class, Wallace was one of the leaders of Pearl’s Tigers varsity basketball team, long an athletic power among Tennessee state and southern black schools.

Together Pearl and Father Ryan launched a new era for athletics when the two teams met for the first integrated contest in Nashville at Municipal Auditorium on January 4, 1965.

In 2015, Wallace and his Pearl teammates along with the Father Ryan players from the 1960s gathered together again at Municipal Auditorium in front of thousands of fans and to great fanfare for an event hosted by Father Ryan called “A Day to Remember: The 50th Anniversary of the Game That Changed the South.”

Wallace endured racism and prejudice of all kinds both at Vanderbilt and during his career as a basketball player traveling throughout the South for games. But, nevertheless, he improved in each of his seasons on the varsity team. After graduating in 1970 with an engineering degree, he played minor league basketball before earning his law degree from Columbia Law School.

Throughout the years, he worked as a trial lawyer for the Justice Department and as a law professor at American University in Washington, D.C. He came back to Nashville often and has been recognized at Vanderbilt as a civil rights pioneer.

32

ANTHONY A. “TONY” ADGENT J. EDWARD “EDDIE” BRUCE, JR. ’66: Father of Sarah Drennan ’95 ’80: Brother of Barry Bruce ’82 and

and Margaret Adgent ’98, and Tina Rutherford. brother of Tim Adgent ’68.

SAMUEL L. BRYANT ’71: Brother DOLORES BARDILL: Mother of of Panthea Bryant ’75.

Bill Jr. ’71, Karen ’75 and Angela ’78 (all deceased), Kathy Vaughan ’73, Mary Bardill ’74, Pat Bardill, Theresa Adkins ’76, Anne McIntire ’79, Joe Bardill ’80, Maureen Bardill ’82 and Dan Bardill.

DENNIS L. “DENNY” BURNS: Fa-

ther of Shona (Burns) Nerstad ’93, Lance Burns ’97 and Brett Burns.

NELL N. BYRD: Wife of the late Jim

Byrd ’50; mother of Marty Byrd ’73 NEAL M. BARNETT: Father of and Ellen Butrum ’77; and sister of Yvonne Denton ’72 and Mitchell Jerry Neidert ’50 (deceased) and Bob Neidert ’55.

Barnett ’73.

Father of Pauline, Kevin, John, Matt ’82 (all deceased), Michael, Steven, Frances Baird, Trisha Fultz, Cathy Bateman ’73, Barbara Barrett, and Peggy Cooper ’83; and brother of the late Pauline Wehby and Tommy Bateman, Sr. ’56.

FRANK C. BATEMAN:

P. SCOTT BATEMAN ’78: Son

GUILLERMO CADENA: Father of Fernando ’80, Eduardo ’81 and Alberto ’86 Cadena.

Father of John Cain, David Cain ’83 and Christie Swanbeck.

JOHN D. CAIN:

JOHN T. CAINE ’12: Son of Larry

and Mary (Montague) ’79 Caine and brother of Sarah Caine ’19.

of Tommy Bateman, Sr. ’56, and brother of the late Tommy Bateman MARY CALLAHAN: Sister of the ’75 (Susie ’75), Chris ’81, Paul late James H. Preston ’42. ’82 (Karen ’82), and Rhett ’88 Bateman.

JAMES C. “CARL” CANNON ’66: Brother of John ’67, Tom ’70 (deLINDA (WARNER) BATTS: Daugh- ceased), Pat ’73, and Chris ’80 ter of the late Alex T. Warner, Sr. Cannon. ’43 and sister of Alex “Tommy” Warner ’68 (deceased), Paul War- THOMAS E. “TOM” CANNON ’70: ner ’73, Kathy Smith, Alice Warner Brother of Carl ’66 (deceased), John and Beth Shearron. ’67, Pat ’73, and Chris ’80 Cannon.

GRIFFIN K. BAUER ’16: Son of

RODERICK F. CONNOR, SR.: Father of Rosemary Disser, Patricia Kowite, Kathleen Bell, Rod Connor JENNIFER A. BECK: Sister of Da- ’70 and Joe Connor ’79. vid Beck ’98 and Kathleen Holland.

Christy Murray ’75 and Bill Bauer.

WILLIAM A. BECKER; Father of

JOANIE (DERRICK) CONRAD ’80: mother of April (Linn) Weath-

Beverly Upchurch, Mary Pat Baltz erly ’04, Luke, Jacob and Daniel (Frank ’69), Bill Becker ’74 and Bet- Conrad; daughter of Bill Derrick ty Ann Lay. ’48 (former Faculty and Coach); and sister of Matt Derrick ’74 (deANNE C. BRODEN: Wife of the ceased), Mary Ray ’75, Ann Strode late Earl Broden, Jr. ’42 and sister ’76, Theresa Andrews ’77, Margaof Jim ’42, Catherine, Mary Mar- ret Simpson, John Derrick ’84 and garet (deceased) and John T. Con- Ruthie Glover ’85. ners, Jr. ’37 (deceased) VICTOR COODE ’56: Brother WILLIAM C. “CHARLIE” BROWN of Jack Coode ’42, Joseph Coode ’50. ’48, Thomas Coode, Margaret

Morris, Ellen Varley, Sister Mary Demetrius Coode, RSM (all deceased), George Coode, Mike Coode, Dedo Brandt and Sister Mary Judith Coode, RSM. PATRICIA M. CURLEY: Wife of the late William T. “Tom” Curley, Sr. ’52, and mother of Tom Curley, Jr. ’80 and Diane Bawcum.

ROBERT S. “STEVE” DAHL:

Father of Melanie (deceased), Steven and Bailey ’15 Dahl.

Wife of the late Joseph Dillon, Sr. ’43 and mother of Cassandra Estes, Joseph Dillon, Jr. ’72, Jeanette Hamlington and Ed Dillon ’77.

FRANCES

DILLON:

DALE L. ERICKSON: Father

JOHN B. SALTSMAN: Father of Tim ’70, Joseph, Terry ’77, MATTHEW WILSON HALE: all ’58, Mary (both deceased), Victoria, and Chip ’86 SaltsSon of Mittie (Wilson) Hale Virginia, Joe ’63 and Pat ’67 man. ’74 and brother of Gentry Lynch.

KATHLEEN LINDER SAMPHale ’06.

THOMAS D. “TOMMY” MAD- SON: Sister of Tom ’61, Mike BETTY ANN MCCREARY: Sis- DOX ’84: Stepson of Glenn ’67 and Patty Linder. ter of Jean Ferrell (deceased), Seigenthaler ’60 and brother Mattie Parham (deceased) and of Chuck and Lisa ’86 Mad- TARI STEJSKAL SANTANA ’80: Sister of Tanya Neales Frank Halliburton, Jr. ’59. dox. ’78, Bill Stejskal ’79 (Jeanne HELENMARY (CLOUSE) DONALD J. MARTENS, SR.: ’80) and Brad Stejskal ’83.

HENDRIX ’77: Sister of Mike Father of Renee Wall ’75, Don Clouse ’79, Kathy Jones ’81 Martens, Jr. ’80, John Mar- BETTY P. SHEA: Wife of the and Tim Clouse ’83. tens ’80 and Joseph Martens. late Jimmy Shea ’50.

vived by Jim Hailey.

THOMAS G. “TOMMY” LYNCH ’70: Brother of Kend-

RANDELL E. HILLS: Broth- JOHN R. “JACK” MCKENZIE CARL “RICK” SINNOTT ’69: er of Edward “Rudy” Hills II ’65: Father of Rob ’95, Pat Father of Adam and Jacque

’78 and Comina Hills.

’96 and James ’05 McKenzie.

MARY K. HOBBS: Mother of JOHN L. MCKENZIE III ’60.

Mike ’65, Joe ’69, Ronnie ’71 JAMES “JIMMY” MCMINNIS, and Johnny ’83 Hobbs.

JR. ’41.

DAISY

SUE

HUFFAKER:

of Carrie Erickson, Penny Mother of the late Bill HufMast, Beth Wood and Chris faker ’80, Joe Huffaker ’82 Erickson ’86.

(Maggie ’88), and Tim HufGEORGE M. FRANCIS ’45: faker ’84.

DAVID L. NEEL ’95.

Sinnott ’99, and brother of Patrick Sinnott ’70 (deceased), Tom Sinnott ’72 and Barbara Pittard ’76.

ROGER D. STEWART: Brother of Ronald “Bo” ’63 and Rita ’72 Stewart (both deceased), Larry, Joe ’69, Mike Stewart, Carol Hall, Janice Bonner, Cheryl Schou, Donna Wilson ’73, Michelle Taylor, Lisa Parks, Teresa Stewart and Sue Gattis.

DENNIS O’BRIEN ’71: Son of the late Phil O’Brien III ’45 and brother of Kathy MaFather of Richard Francis ’72 JOAN H. JEWETT: Mother of honey, Tom O’Brien ’67 (de(deceased), Darlene Robert- the late Bill Jewett ’75, Jamie ceased), Claire Barnes ’75, son ’76 and Diane Denney Bryan and Suzanne Catignani Philip J. O’Brien IV ’77, and Liz Guy ’83. ’86. ’78.

SIDNEY C. “SID” THOMAS, SR.: Father of Suzanne Odell, FRANK R. PARHAM ’56.

SHERI C. FRITZ: Mother of PAULINE KIRKPATRICK: Mary Vicki Thomas and Sid Robert Fritz, Lee Fritz, Deb- Mother of Linda Rotella, SUE WERRBACH PEFFEN: Thomas, Jr. ’79. bie Neyhart ’87 and Cindi William Smith ’68 and Wife of the late Tony Peffen Seaman ’91.

Dorothy Grimes. ’49; mother of Elaine Flick ’76, LATECIA “TISH” THOMSON: Robert Peffen ’77, Mark Pef- Mother of Beth Sparks, Jenny JOHN J. GEIST III ’48: BrothDENNIS B. LANE: Husband er of Theresa Smith, Rita Sing- of Marianne (Breen) Lane ’74. fen and Leigh Ann Zirkle ’79; Seybold and Melissa Thomand sister of Helen (deceased), son ’05. er, Dorothy Wilson, George Geist ’55, Robert Geist ’58, ROGER C. LEAVER ’63: Fa- Bernard ’45 (deceased) and DOROTHY “DOT” USSERY: and Rosemary Calvin. ther of John Leaver ’89 and Otto ’43 Werrbach.

Mother of Mike ’76, Bill ’77, brother of the late David JOSEPH G. “JERRY” PEL- Jody ’79 and Tommy Ussery.

BETTY L. GRAY: Mother of Leaver ’64.

LETIER: Father of Deborah David Gray, Jr. ’77 and Beth Phillips (Vince ’85), Mark BERNARD H. “BERNIE” Gwinn ’78, and former Fac- KENNETH E. LEWIS ’70.

VOOR III ’77. ’81, James ’85, and Jonathan ulty.

LADONNA LONG: Daughter ’87 Pelletier.

THADDEUS E. “THAD” MARK S. “GUNNER” GRIF- of the late Lawrence V. Long, WATKINS III ’74: Father FITH II: Son of Mark S. Grif- Sr. ’50, and sister of Lau- HERMAN ROGERS ’56. of Martha Thompson ’04, fith ’87. ria Hale ’73, Lisa Mayo ’74 NICHOLAS A. “NICK” ROSE, Thaddeus Watkins IV ’09 and (Mark ’72), Leah Morgan ’76 JR. ’61: Father of Nick Rose Charles “B” Watkins ’10.

SISTER BETTY HAILEY: Sis(Lamar ’75), Leslie Franklin, III ’95, Alex Rose ’96 and ter of deceased siblings John ELLARY W. WHITE: Mother Lawrence “Bubba” Long, Jr. Kirk Rose ’02. ’33, Robert, Joe, Lehman ’43 of Jay and Taylor ’91 White.

(Colleen ’84), Lorraine Bausand Mary Hailey, Rose Reale, THOMAS B. “TOMMY” cher ’84, Luke Long ’88 and * As of December 31, 2017 Sr. Roseanne Hailey, Francis ROWAN, JR. ’54.

Lance Long ’88 (Beth ’88).

Lawrence, Ann Curran; sur-

33

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Make Plans for Reunion Weekend • June 1-3, 2018

Save the date for a big celebration on the weekend of June 1-3. It’s a weekend of Irish Pride that you won’t want to miss, particularly for the classes ending in 3s and 8s.

Lou Graham Alumni Golf Tournament - June 1 • Alumni Reception at Father Ryan - June 1 Class Reunion Parties - June 2 • Golden Grad Mass and Brunch - June 3 Make sure you get all the news about Reunion 2018. Update your information at

www.fatherryan.org/alumni.