Cloud of Witnesses

One of the great blessings of my life is the many good people I've come to know, mostly due to my career in Catholic education.  Since 2005, I’ve had the honor of paying tribute to many of them upon their death. 

We had three unexpected snow days this week here in Dallas which has given me some time to reminisce, going through old posts, re-reading the eulogies I wrote at the time—nineteen people, as it turns out.  I re-share them here with the date of my original posting, as a way of re-celebrating their lives,  in gratitude for their example and friendship. 

Fr. Michael Labadie (July, 2005) - Fr. Labadie was a former student at Catholic High who was later ordained and then assigned as a teacher when I was principal.

Coach Tim Turner (April 2006)—Coach Tim and I coached with and against each other for years. He coached two of my sons, and later became our middle school football coach at Catholic High. 

Justin Braswell (June, 2006)—Justin was a junior at Montgomery Catholic who died prematurely due to complications of muscular dystrophy.

Carol Cassidy (September, 2008)—Carol was a revered volunteer at Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, TN

Grandma Marie Sprague (November, 2009)—My mom's mom, she was a dynamic, irresistible force for good in the life of our family. 

Jane Everest (August, 2012)—My high school English teacher at McGill-Toolen. I was asked by her family to give the eulogy at her funeral. 

Virginia Mayhan (February 2013)—My mother-in-law, she was a saintly, strong woman who put her family first throughout her life. 

Alice Ortega (January, 2014)—Catholic High’s dynamic English teacher of nearly forty years, a tour-de-force in the life of her many students.

Dad (March 2015)—Written nearly one year after his death, a wonderful father and person of great faith and joy. My brother and sisters regard him as the finest man we've known. 

Sr. Martha Belke (April,  2015)—A Loretto sister, long time Chemistry and IPS teacher at Catholic High. She was my mentor in my first year of teaching and a powerful example to me throughout my young career.

Rev. Holcombe Pryor (September, 2015)—Long time, deeply respected band director at McGill-Toolen and father to one of my close friends during my time as a student there.

Grandpa Albert Sprague (December 2015)—My grandfather and a Naval hero, I wrote this almost forty years after his death. 

Rusty Cowles (December, 2016)—Rusty was a ten year old boy, killed tragically in a 4-wheel drive accident. I write primarily about the witness of his parents' faith, the beauty of the funeral mass,  and the outpouring of love from the Catholic community of Baldwin County

Bishop David Choby (June 2017)—Bishop of Nashville during my 7 year stint as head of school at Pope John Paul II. He became a close friend during that time.

Caroline Berry (November 2018)—Caroline enrolled at St. Michael as a freshman and then found out around Christmas she had cancer. She fought it bravely for two years. I believe she is the first Cardinal student  to become a saint. 

Gerald Vrazel  (June 2019)—Gerald was a major influence on me when I was a teen-ager. He was one of the finest Christian men I’ve known in my life. 

Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb (July 2020)—Archbishop of Mobile during my entire time as teacher, principal and president of Catholic High. I admired him deeply. 

Mike McLaren (December, 2020)—Dean of Students at Pope John Paul II and one of the true co-founders of the school. One of the major figures that contributed to the school’s  sterling reputation. 

Dr. Tom Doyle (September 2021)— My mentor and friend, the most brilliant, passionate and generous Catholic educator I’ve ever known.