PURPLE GOLD & Brother Joel McGraw '63, Mark Bray, and Don Whittington retire from teaching after a combined 109 years of service to generations of Brothers' Boys End of an Era THE MAGAZINE OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER 2020coach tom nix ₍ 1926 - 2020 ₎LEGENDS ARE FOREVER This spring, our community mourned the loss of legendary CBHS coach and athletic director Tom Nix. Friends gathered to pay their respects to the Nix Family near the entrance of our football stadium named in his honor. As our Brothers gather this fall to play the sport Coach Nix loved, we will honor his memory time and time again through blood, sweat, and tears. We will leave our hearts on the field every Friday night. This season is for you, Coach. Go Brothers!6 7 8 9 11 President’s Perspective Alumni Profile: Tim Walsh '79 Honorary Brother: Mark Meservey '69 Brothers Fieldhouse Learning Never Stops The Unforgotten Brother Cover Feature: End of an Era The Brothers' Boy Alumni Network Alumni Happenings Valedictorian & Salutatorian 12 13 16 17 21 Our future home of Brothers Basketball, the Brothers Fieldhouse project was unveiled this spring. Through the generosity of CBHS donors, this state-of-the-art facility is slated for completion in late 2021.22 25 26 Purple & Gold - The Magazine of Christian Brothers High School EIN: 62-6049785 5900 Walnut Grove Road Memphis, TN 38120 (901) 261-4900 www.cbhs.org ADMINISTRATION President Brother David Poos, FSC Interim Principal Jamie Brummer, Ph.D. Associate Principals Jeff Blancett, Ed.D. - Dean of Academics Christopher Bunkley '10 - Dean of Students OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT Director of Advancement John Thatcher - jthatcher@cbhs.org Director of Community Engagement & Stewardship Carrie Roberts - caroberts@cbhs.org Director of Alumni and Annual Fund Jake Garbuzinksi '10 - jdgarbuzinksi@cbhs.org Director of Admissions Lauren Volpe - lvolpe@cbhs.org Associate Director of Admissions Natasha Sublette - nsublette@cbhs.org Director of Marketing & Communications Jamie Elkington - jelkington@cbhs.org Associate Director of Marketing & Communications Connor Stevens - costevens@cbhs.org Development Associate, Alumni Relations Laura Hughes - lhughes@cbhs.org Development Associate, Donor Records and Gifts Cindy Werner - cwerner@cbhs.org Development Associate, Parent Programs Tish Montesi - tmontesi@cbhs.org Class Notes In Memoriam Upcoming EventsNow, more than ever, CBHS relies on the support of our generous community to help strengthen our efforts to provide a holistic and transformative educational experience to each of our Brothers' Boys. Your contribution to the Annual Fund enables us to develop our students into better Men for Tomorrow and Brothers for Life, as we've done for nearly 150 years here in Memphis. give today at givebackhome.org THE CBHS Annual Fund6 Dear Friends of CBHS, Saint John Baptist de La Salle told his early Brothers that "to touch the hearts of your pupils and to inspire them with the Christian spirit is the greatest miracle you can perform, and one which God expects of you." Miracles take place daily within the walls of Christian Brothers High School. This year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic and our distance as a result of it, has been no exception. CBHS is truly blessed to have an incredibly dedicated and committed faculty and staff who took the challenge of providing a transformative online education to our students head-on. Then and now, I am proud of how we and our students all persevered under difficult circumstances. We successfully provided as close to the students’ normal learning environment as possible. While we have missed seeing our students in person, the payoff for our distance learning experience has been rewarding for all. As we prepare for the fall, we know that the past year has strengthened our mission and our purpose. We have endured together as a community with faith at the heart of it all. No matter where classes take place, we will recall that we are always in the holy presence of God. Now and always, we are steadfast in our commitment to prepare our students to be better MEN FOR TOMORROW and BROTHERS FOR LIFE. Without each of you and your unwavering support, none of this could be accomplished. We thank you, our friends and benefactors, for your part in building up the kingdom of God here at CBHS. May God continue to bless each of us most abundantly, and may Jesus continue to live in our hearts…. Forever! With heartfelt thanks, grateful appreciation, and the assurance of my prayers, I remain Brother David Poos, FSC President7 Tim Walsh, retired alumni engagement executive for the likes of Kentucky, Florida, and Ole Miss, was often known to end his weekly staff meetings with a quote. One of his favorites is, "I’m easily satisfied with the very best." It’s the practice of cultivating the very best that Walsh sees at Christian Brothers and that is one of many reasons he supports the school to this day. "I had a great experience at Christian Brothers," Walsh said. "I remember wonderful and dedicated teachers and administrators like Noel Carie, my tennis coach, Joe Baker, John Lavecchia, Fred Freres, Brother Adrian and Brother Stephen." "From our first day as freshmen, we were told, 'Don’t be an 8 to 2:40 student.' That really resonated with me," he said. "I loved the extracurricular activities—especially athletics. I not only played on the tennis team, but I attended every game or match I could. I’ll never forget watching us win the 1977 State Football Championship in the Liberty Bowl." "I’m proud to see my class’ involvement with the school today and I like to keep up with their professional accomplishments. Brothers' Boys have gone on to excel in all areas. The Mayor of Memphis is an alumnus." Walsh learned about the importance and satisfaction of charitable giving from an early age. His family had a long history of supporting the Poor Clares of Memphis. "If you read, study and pray the scriptures, how can you not be philanthropic?" Walsh said. "I am richly blessed, and I believe everything I have comes from God." Walsh actively supports his parish in Lexington, and he became a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem five years ago, a group founded centuries ago to help preserve the Christian sites in the Holy Land. Walsh attended Ole Miss upon graduating from Christian Brothers where he received two degrees. He went on to serve in the university's alumni office for 25 years, eventually becoming its executive director. After retiring from Ole Miss, he was recruited to become the assistant vice president of Alumni Relations at the University of Florida, then by the University of Kentucky in 2017. Walsh also sponsors a FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) missionary. Having spent his career working with alumni at the college level, Walsh knows the value of a good education and the doors it can open in the future. He generously supports Christian Brothers' Annual Fund as well as an endowment named in memory of his nephew, Clay Robertson ’06. Walsh also supports the school in his estate plan and Brothers' Boys directly through a scholarship he established at Ole Miss awarded to a Christian Brothers graduate each year. “Though the selection process is handled by others, this year the recipient is the son of a fraternity brother of mine from Ole Miss, which is especially poignant to me.” Walsh comes from a long line of Christian Brothers graduates, including his father, three uncles and numerous cousins. Though he gets back to Memphis just a few times a year, Walsh keeps up with the school by reading Purple & Gold Magazine and following a few of the athletic teams on Twitter. On a recent visit, Walsh was able to tour the campus and was impressed with the expansion. "Since its days on Adams Street, Christian Brothers has produced young men who are leaders in their church and community and I hope it continues to do so," said Walsh. "I would encourage alumni who aren’t involved to discover the Christian Brothers of today and consider lending their support. Together, we can make it even better." bROThERS FOREVER TIM WAlSh ‘79 Giving the Very Best8 At the end of eighth grade at Richland, Mark Meservey was planning to attend White Station High School until he talked to his good friend Mike Goldstein '69. “Mike told me he was going to Christian Brothers—the best school in the state. I went home that day and asked my parents if I could go,” recalled Mark. Christian Brothers was the perfect fit for Mark in many ways. “The brand-new Walnut Grove campus was within walking distance from my house (and air-conditioned, which this Michigan transplant appreciated). I had such great teachers—Brother Arnold for English, Brother Edwin for Math, Brother Emmett, Brother Adrian and Coach Nix, just to name a few.” As part of Christian Brothers’ admissions process, Mark took an aptitude test and was placed on a scientific track for his four years. “It was right where I belonged,” he recalled. Mark went on to Michigan State University, where he received his undergraduate degree in Biology and his master’s in Food Microbiology. He spent the bulk of his career with Domino’s Pizza, developing the company’s quality assurance program and managing the testing and chemistry labs during Domino’s nationwide expansion. While he may give Mike Goldstein credit for introducing him to the school, Mark credits Christian Brothers with playing a big part in his success; his wife, Amy Timmer, wholeheartedly agrees. Amy is the Associate Dean of Students and Professionalism at Western Michigan University’s Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where she received her law degree. As an educator, she especially appreciates the quality education Christian Brothers provides. “Christian Brothers emphasizes the importance of professionalism,” said Amy. “The boys are taught civility and respect for others. Every time we visit, we are more impressed with the students, faculty and staff and the school's leadership.” FOREVER 8 Though they make a point to visit campus when in Memphis, Amy and Mark stay most connected through Purple & Gold Magazine. They especially look forward to the annual issue focusing on giving. “We love to read about the amount of scholarships that are available because of alumni support,” Mark said. “These gifts make Christian Brothers a reachable goal for low-income families,” added Amy. When it comes to their own giving, Mark and Amy faithfully support the Annual Fund. They have also included Christian Brothers in their estate plans with a gift in their wills. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without Christian Brothers. Our legacy gift is an investment in the future of the school,” Mark explained. “When we look back at our lives,” shared Amy, “it is clear that education is what mattered most to us and led to our happiness and success. We are proud to support an institution that is producing thoughtful and respectful young men who will become some of our country’s future leaders.” Mark Meservey received his Honorary Diploma during a recent visit to campus with Amy Timmer, his wife. Mark moved out of state before completing his four years at CBHS. MARk MESERVEy '69 What Matters MostNext >