Blue&GoldST. MARY’S

The End of an Era

St. Mary’s Gains National Recognition for Graduation Rates

PRESIDENTCharles L. Cotrell, Ph.D.

(B.A. ’62, M.A. ’64)

UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENTVICE PRESIDENTThomas B. Galvin

(M.P.A. ’04)

CHIEF OF STAFFAND COMMUNICATIONS

Dianne Pipes

EXECUTIVE EDITORCandace J. Kuebker (B.A. ’78)

ASSOCIATE EDITORSAnastasia Cisneros-Lunsford

(B.A. ’92)Rob Leibold(M.A. ’03)

PUBLICATIONS DIRECTORSteve Weed

PHOTOGRAPHYMelanie Rush Davis

Andy HillTommy Hultgren

Sara Peete

CONTRIBUTORSPat Abernathey

Tim Bowman, Web DirectorWill Elliott (B.A. ’93)

and Karen Persyn,Advancement Services

Tai Ingram, Student InternStacy Maloney

Gold & Blue is produced for alumniand friends three times a year by theUniversity Communications staff.

Contents © 2005 by St. Mary’sUniversity. All rights reserved.

One Camino Santa MariaSan Antonio, Texas 78228-8575

www.stmarytx.edu

Personal Attention.Powerful Programs.

Outstanding Teachers Affect Student Achievementby Charles L. Cotrell, Ph.D., President

News from Around the Grove

A Legacy of Civic EngagementSt. Mary’s Role in the Civil Rights Movement (1954–1975)

by Patricia Mejia

St. Mary’s Nationally Recognized for High Graduation RatesQuality Teaching, Involved Students Yield Greater Success

The End of An EraSt. Mary’s Celebrates Meyer’s Career

by Candace Kuebker and Pat Abernathey

Cheerio from London Travelogue of the Writer’s Adventures Abroad

by Francisco Vara-Orta

Benjamin F. BiagginiFriends Honor Lessons Kept for a Lifetime

by Melissa Valek

Class Notes and Notables

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CONTENTS From the Editor

Throughout St. Mary’s history, there havebeen events, people and eras that have shapedthe University we know today.

Beginning in the 1950s, St. Mary’s students

and their professors became intensely involved

in the emerging civil rights movement. Their

commitment during that era to social justice

was carried through the sometimes turbulent

1960s and 1970s, and has formed the

cornerstone of modern students’ dedication to

civic engagement and service.

You’ll read about the roots of St. Mary’s

passion for student engagement, the influence

of which is recognized in today’s students.

Results of the National Survey of Student

Engagement reinforce our belief that involved

students are successful students.

That premise is confirmed by The Education

Trust, which praises St. Mary’s for its

graduation rate among all of its students and

acknowledges that engagement plays an

important role.

In the early 1960s, the Buddy Era began at

St. Mary’s. Herman A. Meyer Jr., “Buddy” to

all who know him, enrolled at St. Mary’s in

1961. His more than 40-year ride as player,

teacher, mentor, athletics director and head

coach will end when he retires in May. Buddy

is a St. Mary’s and San Antonio icon, and we

will miss him.

Before World War II a young man attended

St. Mary’s to study mathematics. The lessons

he learned from the Marianists while a student

here launched him into a life of leadership that

has resulted in the Benjamin F. Biaggini

Endowed Chair at St. Mary’s University.

Current students are exposed to many more

opportunities than their predecessors. Study

abroad programs were introduced at St. Mary’s

15 years ago, and you’ll get a firsthand look at

one student’s experience. And, three of our four

Class Notables give you a glimpse of the

quality and diversity of our current students.

They and their peers, and the events of their

generation, are forming another chapter in

St. Mary’s history.—Candace Kuebker

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On the Covers

On the front cover, one of the many poignant moments in Buddy Meyer’s 27 yearsas St. Mary’s head basketball coach was captured at the conclusion of the Rattlers’successful weeklong pursuit of the 1989 NAIA National Championship, when Meyertearfully hugged senior post Zachary Lawson.

On the back cover, Memorial Plaza sits between St. Louis and Chaminade halls, andhonors former St. Mary’s students and graduates who lost their lives in World WarII, and the Korean and Vietnam wars.

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St. Mary’s University’s graduationrates are a testament to studentachievement and our commitment tothe enduring Marianist mission ofacademic excellence. It is my pleasureto announce that the University hasgarnered national recognition for highgraduation rates from The EducationTrust, a nonprofit research andadvocacy organization based inWashington, D.C., that recently citedSt. Mary’s as a national model ofsuccess.

What makes this nationalrecognition significant is howSt. Mary’s compares to other publicand private colleges and universities inTexas. Among these schools,St. Mary’s has the 10th highestgraduation rate, but when looking atthe various criteria among the top 10institutions in the state, the fact is that

St. Mary’s is the only majorityminority institution, and it succeedswith far fewer financial resources.

The Education Trust studyparticularly focused on St. Mary’scontinued success in graduatingminority students at the same rate asnon-minority students. Surpassing therates of other peer schools andHispanic Serving Institutions, St. Mary’s has an overall graduationrate of 63.3 percent (see story on page10).

Foremost among ourresponsibilities at St. Mary’s is toensure that our students succeed.Challenging our students academically,focusing on quality teaching, as well as

involving them in service learningactivities are chief among the reasonswhy St. Mary’s students graduate ontime.

How St. Mary’s does its job

For 153 years, the Marianist legacyof scholarship, service and communityhas served the University well. Wecontinue to connect these traditionswith a culture of service andengagement on campus and in thelarger community.

We know that student successinvolves much more than classroomlectures, tests and grades. Reports fromThe Education Trust and the NationalSurvey of Student Engagement(NSSE) connect student success,including higher graduation rates, withsocial and academic engagement. Thisis what St. Mary’s does best.

From providing students withpersonal attention and quality teachingto linking them globally withtechnology and study abroadprograms, from building homes for thepoor to feeding the homeless, fromregistering area residents to vote tomentoring high school students at riskof dropping out, the Universitycommunity is called to direct what islearned in the classroom as a response

to public service. St. Mary’s offers a wide variety of

service-learning courses, opportunitiesand programs to educate engaged andresponsible students. This kind ofsupport not only encourages studentsto finish college, but also helpsstudents make a difference in thecommunity after they graduate.

Challenges ahead

Student success also hinges onother factors—accessibility andaffordability. State-financed supportlike the Tuition Equalization Grant(TEG) continues to impact the lives ofstudents who seek an affordableeducation at a private institution inTexas.

In terms of enrollment andgraduating students on time, privateinstitutions meet the public need aswell, saving the state millions ofdollars. The key to those savings is theTEG, which was established to helpclose the tuition gap between state-supported schools and schools likeSt. Mary’s.

The purpose of the TEG is two-fold. It provides students access. It alsois a tool that leads to success, tograduate on time. And highergraduation rates are what makeindependent institutions like St. Mary’s attractive and distinctive toprospective students; however, furthercuts to TEG funds will thwart the“closing the gaps” effort, and blockeducational opportunities. So, tomaintain current funding of the TEGprogram, the St. Mary’s communityand other independent colleges anduniversities across the state areworking hard, encouraging legislatorsto act in support of the grant program.

To secure the future of all ourstudents and the generations to come, Ipray that state representatives andsenators will accept our challenge,which is nothing less than a successfulfuture for our state. n

Outstanding Teachers Affect Student Achievementby Charles L. Cotrell, Ph.D., President

It is my pleasure to announcethat the University hasgarnered national recognitionfor high graduation rates fromThe Education Trust

Universitycommunity leadsefforts for tsunamirelief

The St. Mary’scommunity, along withother area colleges anduniversities, joinedtogether to makedonations as part of theworldwide relief effortsfor the victims of theDec. 26 tsunami disasterin Southern Asia.

Cash contributionsexceeding $3,000 werecollected around thecampus and presented ata Sunday Mass in OurLady of GuadalupeChapel. Humanitarianrelief efforts support St.Mary’s mission as aCatholic and Marianistinstitution.

New alumnidirectoryis in the works

St. Mary’s ispartnering with HarrisPublishing to producethe 2005 AlumniDirectory, an excitingand invaluable resourcethat will includepersonal, academic andbusiness informationabout your classmates.Don’t miss youropportunity to be part ofthis important project. Ifyou haven’t completedyour directoryquestionnaire, take a fewminutes to update yourinformation—and besure your friends willknow what’s happeningwith you.

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Law Journal is third most citedby courts

St. Mary’s Law Journal ranks thirdamong legal periodicals mostfrequently cited in state and federalcourt cases from 1997 to 2004,according to a survey released byWashington and Lee University.

This is the third straight year thejournal has been ranked in the top 10by the survey. Now in its 36th year ofpublication, the St. Mary’s LawJournal improved from last year’ssurvey when it was the fourth mostcited legal periodical. It ranked 10th in2002.

The St. Mary’s Law Journal wascited 136 times by courts throughoutthe country. That number wassurpassed only by the Harvard LawReview and the Columbia LawReview.

N E W SF R O M A R O U N D T H E G R O V E

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Short Subjects

Alumni making a difference inTEG funding

Last October St. Mary’s alumniresiding in Texas were invited tocontact their legislators to seek supportfor the Tuition Equalization Grant(TEG) program. The last Legislaturecut the grant for Texas residentsattending one of the state’s 40 privatecolleges and universities by more than14 percent.

As the second largest TEG recipientin Texas, cuts to the program resultedin a $1.5 million loss of funds forSt. Mary’s students over a two-yearperiod.

Alumni have responded to ourappeal in great numbers. Unique visitsto the St. Mary’s University TEG Website, www.stmarytx.edu/teg, havesurpassed 1,500 and of those contacts,there have been more than 1,000downloads of sample and printableletters, and fact sheets about the TEG.

‘Eyes Wide Open’ on CampusNearly 1,500 visitors and volunteers attended “Eyes WideOpen: An Exhibition on the Human Cost of the Iraq War” atSt. Mary’s in February. The exhibit, sponsored by the AmericanFriends Service Committee, displayed some 1,500 pairs ofboots honoring each U.S. military casualty in Iraq since 2003 atChaminade Field, along with 1,000 pairs of shoes representing aportion of the Iraqi civilian deaths in the conflict. Theexhibition provided a reflective space to consider each life lostin the Iraq War.

Students Lobby for TEGSt. Mary’s students traveled to the State Capitol inFebruary where they met with legislators and their staffsto discuss the importance of their continued support ofthe TEG. From left, beginning in the front row, are MyraSalinas, Carla Aguilar, State Representative Carlos Uresti(B.A. ’85, J.D. ’92), Sally Pretorius, Carlos Cuellar, ArthurBryan II, Evita Ayala, Selena San Miguel, ValereeVillanueva, David Peña, Monica Morales, Rocio De LosSantos, Jesus Garza, Vanessa Cobarrubias, Lydia Endeland Alan Perez.

San Antonio; andSt. Mary’sUniversity. Theweeklong scheduleof activitiesincluded culturalevents, concerts,documentary films,literarypresentations, andart and photoexhibits, alldedicated toNeruda.

PPC springprogram targetssexual dialogue

Sex and gendercolor our dailyinteractions withothers, so the President’s PeaceCommission’s bi-annual program oflectures, panel discussions andpresentations focused on sexualdialogue.

Healthy dialogue about sex andsexual issues helps one understand howanother views the world we share,which is crucial to creating peace.The PPC programs annually attracthundreds of students, and members ofthe faculty and staff.

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Newsmakers

Trustees recognized foroutstanding leadership

St. Mary’s trustee Bill Greehey(B.B.A. ’60), chairman of the boardand CEO of Valero Energy Corp., wasawarded the San Antonio Chamber ofCommerce Quarterly DistinguishedLeader Award.

Trustee Nancy Brown Loeffler, andher husband, the Hon. Tom Loeffler,were honored with the naming of theLoeffler Atrium at The University of

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Service marks Mary monument50th anniversary

A special prayer service Dec. 8 atthe fountain and monument of theVirgin Mary in front of the mainentrance to St. Mary’s commemoratedthe 50th anniversary of the dedicationof the monument and the Feast of theImmaculate Conception.

The monument and fountain are oneof the highlights of the Gateway toHistoric St. Mary’s Universitybeautification project.

Debate Watch engages studentsLast fall, some 650 students

gathered on campus to watch the threepresidential debates and to scrutinizethe political communications process.

Students completed a pre-debatesurvey and a post-debate survey, whichwere sent to the Commission onPresidential Debates, the officialsponsor of the national Debate Watchprogram since 1996.

After the debates, students alsoparticipated in an Internet-baseddiscussion with students at sisterMarianist universities, ChaminadeUniversity in Honolulu and theUniversity of Dayton.

International Education Weekcelebrates Neruda

The theme of InternationalEducation Week was “InternationalUnderstanding through Literature,” andhonored the centennial of the birth ofChilean Poet Pablo Neruda, who wonthe Nobel Prize for Literature in 1970.

The symposium was co-sponsoredby Universidad de Valparaiso, Chile;Instituto de Mexico—Hemisfair Plaza,

Texas Health Science Center at SanAntonio’s new Children’s CancerResearch Institute. Nancy also wasrecognized for her advocacy ofvolunteerism and community serviceby Texas Lutheran University’sExcellence in Leadership award.

Board of Trustees secretary Maj.Gen. Alfred Valenzuela received the2004 Albert Peña LifetimeAchievement Award from the MexicanAmerican Unity Council. The awardrecognizes those whose tenacious spiritworks tirelessly to improve the lives ofthe Hispanic community.

Calling all hoardersBrother Robert Wood, S.M.,

curator of Special Collections andUniversity Archives at the Louis J.Blume Library, is looking for losttreasures.

The collection of The Rattlerstudent newspaper is completefrom 1924 to present, except forthe year 1943-44. World War IIwas in full swing, but evidenceindicates The Rattler was published.Yet, there are no copies anywhereof any of the issues.

Alumni, or their descendents,take a moment to check your atticor basement. Donations to thearchives of that year’s issues arebeing sought, or copies of originalscan be made to complete thecollection. If you can help, contactBrother Wood at (210) 431-2126,or e-mail rwood@stmarytx.edu.

Justice Wainwright Leads DiscussionThe St. Mary’s University Black Student Union sponsoreda “Coffee and Politics” discussion Feb. 28 featuring TexasSupreme Court Justice Dale Wainwright. The event waspart of the Black History Month campus celebration thatfocused on “Who Are We in the Year 2005?”Wainwright, who has a long history of public service, waselected to the Supreme Court of Texas in 2002 afterserving as presiding judge of the 334th Civil District Courtin Harris County.

Rifkin Sharesa ‘Dream’Jeremy Rifkin, founderand president of TheFoundation on EconomicTrends in Washington,D.C., shared “TheEuropean Dream: A

New Vision for a Globalizing Society,” to open the2005 Lin Great Speakers Series. Rifkin spoke aboutthe differences between the American and Europeandreams, and why the European way of life has begunto eclipse the American way.

Paul Bonin-Rodriguez (M.A. ’91), anationally recognized artist, writer andperformer, received the Art of PeaceAward from the President’s PeaceCommission in March.

Couple nets InternationalBusiness Leader award

The Center for Global BusinessStudies at the School of Business andAdministration announced therecipients of the 2004 InternationalBusiness Leader Award, which honorsan international business leader in theSan Antonio area that has been aninstrumental force in expandinginternational focus.

The honorees were Jerry and KathyGore, president/CEO and executivevice president of Gore DesignsCompletions Ltd., a leading supplier ofcustom aircraft interiors. The SanAntonio-based company performsdesign, engineering, manufacturingand installation of interior componentsfor customers worldwide.

Two re-join board of trusteesThe St. Mary’s University Board of

Trustees added two members inNovember. Rosemary Kowalski, SanAntonio’s premier full-service catererand Vincent L.Y. Lin, Ph.D. (B.S. ’66,M.A. ’68), chief financial officer ofLinbro, a wholesale importer of foodproducts based in San Rafael, Calif.,both served previously as Universitytrustees.

Kowalski, a distinguishedbusinesswoman who is well-known forher philanthropic efforts in SanAntonio, has been creating memorableevents since 1946, when she andhusband Henry bought a small dinerserving mostly students from nearbySt. Mary’s. HemisFair ’68 put Cateringby Rosemary indelibly on the localentertainment map. Her son, Greg,now owns the company, The RKGroup.

Lin, the son of a Taiwanesebusinessman, is the co-founder, alongwith his brother George, of Linbro

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Inc., where he serves as the chieffinancial officer.

In 1990, with his mother, ChangLe-Chiao Lin, and family, Linestablished the Lin Great SpeakersSeries at St. Mary’s in honor of his latefather, Shu-Chi Lin. A dual graduate ofSt. Mary’s, Vincent played a key rolein establishing the Taiwan AlumniScholarship Fund.

He also taught economics atSt. Mary’s from 1973 to 1977 beforeLinbro was founded in 1978.

Marian award honors CigarroaFormer St. Mary’s trustee Francisco

G. Cigarroa, M.D., president of TheUniversity of Texas Health ScienceCenter at San Antonio, received the

Marian Health Care award at an on-campus banquet Feb. 25.

Cigarroa, a nationally renownedpediatric and transplant surgeon,received the Marian Health CareMedallion for his outstanding record asa health care professional, making asubstantial contribution to his field andhis unselfish dedication to the healthcare of the community.

All proceeds from the banquetsupported the Marian Health CareScholarship Endowment at St. Mary’s.

Marianist Heritage andDistinguished Faculty awardsannounced

During a Eucharistic celebration onJan. 20, Larry Hufford, Ph.D.,professor of political science andinternational relations, and KurtWeber, Ph.D., staff psychologist at theUniversity’s Counseling and TestingCenter, were recognized with theMarianist Heritage Award for theirdedication and faithfulness to theMarianist charism, and in supportingand promoting the Catholic andMarianist education mission andtradition at St. Mary’s.

Recipients of this year’s MarianistHeritage Student Leadership Awardwere seniors Luis R. Guerra and FredEsteban Hemphill. The Carl FitzgeraldMemorial Scholarship was awarded tojuniorsMeaganBrorman andHenry Van dePutte III.

Facultymembershonored by theSt. Mary’sAlumniAssociation inJanuary at the2005 FacultyAppreciationand AwardsDinner were:MargaretLangford,Ph.D.,management,School ofBusiness andAdministration; Gerald Poyo, Ph.D.,history, and Steve Neiheisel, Ph.D.,political science, School of Humanitiesand Social Sciences; Jose M.Cimadevilla, Ph.D., biologicalsciences, School of Science,Engineering and Technology; DanHiggins, Ph.D., education, GraduateSchool; and Lee Lytton, law, School ofLaw. Michele Trankina, Ph.D.,professor of biology, received thePresident’s Community ServiceAward.

Kurt Weber, left, and Larry Huffordshared the honor of being namedthis year’s recipients of theMarianist Heritage Award.

Recognized during the Faculty Appreciation and AwardsDinner for outstanding teaching and community servicewere, from left, Steve Neiheisel, Dan Higgins, MicheleTrankina, Margaret Langford, Jose Cimadevilla and LeeLytton. Gerry Poyo is not pictured.

Doing her part:Student helps raise awarenessfor St. Mary’s Fund

From Feb. 28 through April 28students will call alumni nationwideasking for their support of the St.Mary’s Fund. Monies raised for thisannual fund support a variety ofUniversity priorities includingscholarship assistance, academicprograms, campus maintenance andtechnological enhancements.

Janeth Huizar, a transfer studentfrom El Paso, and a key caller for theSt. Mary’s Fund, shares with readerswhy she’s involved.

Why did you decide to participate inphonathon?Because I found it a great way to beinvolved, and being a transfer student,it really helped me learn more aboutSt. Mary’s University.

What has your experience been whiletalking to donors?At first I was nervous but as time wenton I gained confidence. I’ll neverforget talking to one alumna whograduated more than 30 years ago. Shewas so nice and really interested in mymajor and the professors I had. Sheeven gave me advice on what classesto take.

What do you think is most importantabout the St. Mary’s Fund?It helps continue the cycle ofeducation. As phonathon callers, wetalk to former students who were oncein our shoes – we get to tell them ourstories and how their contributions willallow us to reach our goals.

If you would like to support theannual St. Mary’s Fund, you maymake an online gift at our secure Website, www.stmarytx.edu, or by calling(210) 431-8089.

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Good Deeds

Endowment surpasses $100million

For the first time in the school’s153-year history, the University’sendowment has grown to more than$100 million. The market value of theendowment surpassed $103 million asof Feb. 28, 2005.

The almost $2 million in incomegenerated by the endowment each yearis used to provide scholarshipassistance to students.

University reaps $3.5 millionfrom three major gifts

St. Mary’s has made some majoradvances in developing privateinstitutional support. Recently theUniversity received a combined $3.5million, some of which will be used towin the legal war on terror, and theremainder will build our endowmentsand recruit the best and brightestfaculty.

Contributions include:n

$1 million from an anonymousdonor to the Center for Terrorism Lawat the School of Law. The center willwiden its offerings of legal courses and

seminars in terrorism law, and expandoffice space and staff. n

$1 million toward the creation of theBenjamin F. Biaggini Chair in theSchool of Science, Engineering andTechnology (see story on page 16).The holder of the chair will engage inacademic research in addition to otherprofessional duties. n

$1.5 million from employees,retirees and board members of ValeroEnergy Corp. for the Bill GreeheyChair for Business Ethics andCorporate Responsibility. The chairspecifies that St. Mary’s teach onecourse each semester in BusinessEthics and Social Responsibility.

Gift from Marianist Provincehelps students

The Marianist Province of theUnited States recently gave a gifttotaling $145,500 to supportSt. Mary’s various projects andprograms including the MarianistLeadership Program, the annualSt. Mary’s Fund, operations andseveral scholarships.

Thanks to their support and amatching gift from an alumnus, theBrother Ralph E. Thayer, S.M.Scholarship has reached fullendowment and will be awarded tostudents majoring in history.

USAA Scholarships focuson service to community

St. Mary’s University is honored tohave recently received a generouscontribution from the USAAFoundation, A Charitable Trust insupport of scholarships. This is thefifth year the Foundation has supportedscholarships, which are awarded tostudents who exemplify the Marianistideals of academic excellence and ademonstrated commitment tocommunity service.

To qualify for the scholarship thestudents must undergo a rigorousapplication process where they presentevidence of a history of communityservice as well as maintaining aminimum 3.0 grade point average.Students from all academic disciplinesare eligible to apply for this prestigiousscholarship, which encourages studentsto be involved and concerned citizensin their communities.

Greehey Accepts ChairSt. Mary’s Board of Trustees Chairman Jack Biegler(left) and University President Charles L. Cotrell,Ph.D., present Bill Greehey, chairman and CEO ofValero Energy Corp., with a custom-made chair inhonor of the Bill Greehey Chair for Business Ethicsand Corporate Responsibility. The endowed chair wasestablished by $1.5 million in contributions fromemployees, retirees and board members of Valero.

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‘Hippo’ Garcia fund growsThe San Antonio Bar

Foundation has made a $10,000contribution to the Judge H.F.“Hippo” Garcia EndowedScholarship Fund. Monies wereawarded from the scholarship for thefirst time this spring to a first-year lawstudent.

Socrates slitherson the scene

Several thousand young alumnireceived a different kind of messagethis year as the St. Mary’s Fundunveiled Socrates, the newest additionto the St. Mary’s community. Socratesor “Soc”, a hand puppet designed tolook like the University’s rattlermascot, is part of a marketingcampaign which highlights the variousstudent activities supported by theSt. Mary’s Fund.

In his appeals to young alumni,Socrates describes the importance ofsupporting the University. In the newand exciting pieces created for youngalumni, Soc emphasizes the idea thatevery gift, no matter the size, doesmake a difference.

For more information, please call(210) 436-3303 orvisit online atwww.stmarytx.edu.

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Sports Corner

Men’s BasketballThe Rattlers ended the regular

season 21-6 overall and 11-1 inHeartland Conference play, tying themfor first place in the conference withDrury University. The Rattlers alsowon the conference tournament.

The Rattlers made their fourthNCAA tournament in five years, butlost in the first round to No. 3 seedPittsburg State University.

J.J. Edwards captured HeartlandConference Player of the Year honorsand Joe Allen was named conferenceFreshman of the Year. “Manny”Hernandez joined Edwards on the All-Conference first team, while BillyWhite was named to the second team.

Women’s BasketballThe Lady Rattlers’ ended a

disappointing season with an overallrecord of 12-15 and 5-7 in HeartlandConference play,were not eligible forpost-season play.

BaseballThe Rattlers are off to a fast start

with a 14-4 record as of March 15.Conference played commenced March4 and today the team stands at 8-0 in

Heartland Conference play. Seniorcatcher Jerry Verastegui and junioroutfielder Jared Natho are leading theteam in hitting.

SoftballThe Lady Rattlers are on fire,

starting the season with a 23-4 recordas of March 15 with conference playyet to start.

Senior third baseman Roni Garcia,an All-American in 2003 and 2004,leads the team in hitting, and by March8 had already earned a third-consecutive Heartland ConferenceHitter-of-the-Week award.

‘Snake Pit’ a hit Live Internet broadcasts of

St. Mary’s athletic events are in fullswing. Home games of men’s andwomen’s basketball, baseball andsoftball are broadcast live onwww.rattlerathletics.com, andfeedback has been positive.

Check the “Sounds from the SnakePit” link on the athletics Web site forbroadcast schedules and to listen togames.

To catch the latest scores, sportsnews, schedules and more, check outwww.rattlerathletics.com.

Out-of-State Alum Assists HisAlma Mater in a Special WayAlumnus David Ronzani (B.A. ’78),right, a former public justicestudent, provided funding for newpolice mountain patrol bicycles.His support will ensure that St. Mary’s police officers, includingOfficer Angel Acuña (left), are ableto carry out their duties moreeffectively.

The beauty and magnificenceof the new Gateway toHistoric St. Mary’s Universityshines through in this view ofSt. Louis Hall.

Jim Koett (B.B.A. ’63) retired as the publicannouncer of the men’s basketball games at the endof the 2004-2005 season. Koett began his 27-year“labor of love” in 1978 when his friend BuddyMeyer was named head coach. “The Voice of theSt. Mary’s University Rattlers” was inducted intothe St. Mary’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992.

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manner to the issue of unequaltreatment of blacks.

A similar event took place atJoske’s of Texas department store laterthat decade, when again St. Mary’sstudents, including then-student bodypresident, Lionel “Lone” Castillo (wholater was appointed under the CarterAdministration as the first Latino toserve as director of the Immigrationand Naturalization Service),participated in a sit-in demonstration todesegregate the store’s restaurants.

The challenge of changeThese were not isolated events.

Instead, for generations, St. Mary’s hasnurtured and developed leaders whoare committed to making a differencein their communities. When ordinarycitizens were fighting to make thepromise of equality true for all people,St. Mary’s University was there.

Whether some viewed their actions ascontroversial, or even confrontational,the result is a legacy of inspiringstudents who are committed to positivechange for our state and the nation.

To document the contributions ofSt. Mary’s student leaders whoaccepted the challenge of advancingcivil rights, the University organizedthe Legacy of Civic EngagementProject in 2002.

Service learning and civicengagement at St. Mary’s is foundedon our mission, which calls us to beinvolved in and serve our communityand society at large. The Legacy ofCivic Engagement Project aims tobuild a bridge from the past to thepresent by capturing the participationof St. Mary’s faculty, staff andstudents who have played an importantrole in the civil rights movements ofTexas and the United States.

In February 1961 students from

St. Mary’s University took a

moral stand outside the property

line of the Majestic Theatre in

downtown San Antonio. Along

with their brothers and sisters

across the land, they were part of

a larger movement that swept the

nation to end segregation.

On the celebration of AbrahamLincoln’s birthday, two dozen whiteand brown students worked in pairswith black students in an attempt topurchase tickets through the theater’smain entrance. After being deniedadmission, they simply moved to theend of the line to renew the process.The idea was to tie up business,bringing attention in a nonviolent

St. Mary’s Role in the Civil Rights Movement (1954-1975)

by Patricia Mejia (B.A. ’01, M.A. ’04)

A Legacy ofCivic Engagement

St. Mary’s students participate in a sit-indemonstration at Joske’s of Texas departmentstore in the 1960s.

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The project’s purpose is to capturea snapshot of our history, particularlyfrom 1954 to 1975, to recognize andhonor the commitment of thoseindividuals who made history withtheir service to the larger community,while better understanding the traditionof civic engagement that guides ouractions today.

Learning from the actorsThe civil unrest that gripped the rest

of the country also shaped student lifeat St. Mary’s as students questionedpolitical and social changes of thetime. From civil rights issues to thewar in Vietnam to Vatican II, theUniversity was open to challengingconventional wisdom, even providinga forum for speakers such as CesarChavez, Dick Gregory and SaulAlinsky.

The Legacy of Civic EngagementProject showcases the spirit of civicengagement so prevalent during thatperiod in our country’s history. Invitedback to St. Mary’s were a number ofindividuals involved on our campusduring that two-decade span.Fortunately some of them are still partof the St. Mary’s community. St. Mary’s President Charles L.Cotrell, Ph.D. (B.A. ’62, M.A. ’64),professor Tom Hoffman, Ph.D. (B.A.’73), former professor Ken Carey,Houston Chronicle columnist RickCasey (B.A. ’68), among many others,shared stories through personal oralhistories.

Each participant recalled that one ofthe most unique parts of the Marianisttradition is building community, whichcame alive through meetings amongfaculty members such as professorsCarey and Bill Crane, politicians, andgraduate and undergraduate students,which allowed them to make directconnections between government andeveryday life.

Casey articulated one particularlymemorable session included aninspiring discussion with Texas Sen.Barbara Jordan, who gave students theinsight to learn about political officefrom practical experience.

Alongside conversations onequality, students demonstrated theiradvocacy by standing up for justice.Carey recounted a trip to the StateCapitol where students saw first handhow government really worked. Aspart of the tradition, the students, oneof whom was black, gathered to sharea meal at a nearby restaurant. But therestaurant manager would only servethem if the black student ate separatelyin the doorway. When the plates for all50 students were ready to be served,Carey initiated a walk out with hisstudents to stand against inequality.

A message to the futureIt was an amazing time in the

history of the University when theclassrooms were blessed with adynamic group of students such asCastillo; Casey; Willie Velasquez,founder of the Southwest VoterRegistration Education Project; JoseAngel Gutierrez, author and professorof political science at the University ofTexas at Arlington; Ernie Cortes,Southwest coordinator for IndustrialAreas Foundation; and many others.These great leaders set an example—establishing values of service for a newgeneration of change agents.

The newest participants in theUniversity’s Marianist LeadershipProgram are some of the first studentsto benefit from the mining of thisextraordinary history. Earlier this yearthese students embarked on a “freedomride” across San Antonio to get apersonal look into our legacy of civicengagement. Through their experience,they began to understand in a differentlight their civic responsibilities asactive students.

The St. Mary’s students of the newmillennium coordinated Debate Watch,which brought some 600 fellowstudents together to hear thePresidential candidates lay out theirplatforms for the future. Others drove22 hours in vans to Colorado to blockwalk for candidates in some of itspoorest neighborhoods, and otherstransported fellow citizens to the pollsto exercise their voting rights. Theyorganized a campaign that registered,

educated and got more than 60 percentof St. Mary’s students to the polls.

The Legacy of Civic EngagementProject celebrates a rich andmeaningful tradition, one that remainsat the core of St. Mary’s mission.Today’s students are exploring the bestways to use their gifts and talents forthe benefit of others, to become changeleaders of the 21st century, to continuethe legacy. n

Patricia Mejia, the associate directorof the 21st Leadership Center, is adual graduate of St. Mary’s University,receiving her Bachelor of Arts degreein 2001 and Master of Arts degree inpolitical science in 2004.

Today, students are carrying forththe legacy of civic engagement. Lastyear, activities included DebateWatch, registering students to vote,and an election rally.

10

St. Mary’s University is a high-

performer nationally for its

success in graduating students,

according to findings released

recently by The Education Trust.

The report is the first to analyze

government statistics collected

from the trust’s new database,

College Results Online

(www.CollegeResults.org). The

interactive Web tool allows users

“to select any four-year college or

university in the nation, and

compare its graduation rates to

other, similar institutions.”

Schools can be looked at using thesame performance criteria and theresult, according to the trust, is that“…some colleges and universitiessimply stand out from the crowd,consistently graduating more studentsthan their peers, year after year.”St. Mary’s stands out, too, because agap in the graduation rates betweenwhite and minority students does notexist.

Education Trust report highlightsminority success

In its report, “Choosing to Improve:Voices from Colleges and Universitieswith Better Graduation Rates,” TheEducation Trust highlighted St. Mary’sfor its continuing success in graduatingminority students at the same rate asnon-minority students. In fact, with a63.3 percent overall graduation rate,St. Mary’s performs better than mostsimilar schools. Striking when

compared nationally is that theUniversity’s majority minority studentpopulation graduates at almost thesame rate—63.1 percent—which farsurpasses other Hispanic ServingInstitutions.

St. Mary’s studied the informationput forth by The Education Trust—which uses factors such as race,ethnicity, gender, size, selectivity, SATscores and the percentage of studentswith Pell grant eligibility whenassessing institutions—and found thatwe have the 10th highest graduationrate among the public and privatecolleges and universities in Texas (asshown in the “Graduation Rates atTexas Institutions” chart). Withinthose top 10 schools, several of whichcompete directly with St. Mary’s forstudents, ours is the only majorityminority institution among them.

With almost 72 percent of our

undergraduate students from an under-represented minority, including 68.5percent who are Latino, St. Mary’soverall graduation rate of 63.3 percentand correspondingly high rate amongminorities, is deemed exemplary.

“Providing educational opportunityfor all students regardless of theirbackground is central to St. Mary’senduring mission,” said PresidentCharles L. Cotrell, Ph.D. Therecognition by The Education Trust is

St. Mary’s Nationally Recognizedfor High Graduation Rates

Established in 1990 by the

American Association for Higher

Education as a special project to

encourage colleges and

universities to support K-12

reform efforts, The Education

Trust is a nonprofit research and

advocacy organization based in

Washington, D.C., whose mission

is to make schools and colleges

work for all of the young people

they serve.

Quality Teaching,Involved Students

Yield GreaterSuccess

11

“…a result of our commitment toquality teaching in the classroom, aswell as involving students in co-curricular and service learningactivities,” he said.

Student success at St. Mary’s isattributed to the University’s focus onteaching and an emphasis onengagement. And, according to TheEducation Trust, “High-performinginstitutions have found that when theybuild strong ties to their students,engaging students with the institution,their graduation rates improve. Simplyput, the more students are connected,the less likely they are to disconnect.”

St. Mary’s student engagementsurpasses peers

Student engagement comes in manyforms, the trust said, from the waysstudents connect socially to theiracademic experience in their chosenfield of study. Student success is afunction of both elements andSt. Mary’s students—like theircounterparts around the country—aremore likely to succeed academicallyand graduate when they are soengaged.

A notable effort to build on theengagement model of higher educationsuccess is the National Survey ofStudent Engagement (NSSE), which isconducted by the Indiana UniversityCenter for Postsecondary Research inBloomington. St. Mary’s students, like163,000 first-year and senior studentsat 472 different four-year colleges and

universities, answered questions on the2004 NSSE report (“StudentEngagement: Pathways to CollegiateSuccess”) that gauge the nature andfrequency of participation in a range ofacademic and social activities that arerelated to student success.

Results indicate that students atSt. Mary’s are challenged moreacademically, are more involved incollaborative learning, and interactmore with faculty than students atcolleges and universities across thenation. The fifth annual survey alsoshowed that St. Mary’s students havemore and better enriching collegeexperiences and have a moresupportive environment.

Individual schools can benchmarktheir own level of student engagementamong first-year and senior studentsagainst other schools. In these nationalcomparisons, St. Mary’s benchmarksfor first-year students and seniors werehigher than similar Master’s-levelschools and higher than the nationalaverages in all five categories. The five

key areas ofeducationalperformanceinclude: levelof academicchallenge,active and collaborative learning,student-faculty interaction, enrichingeducational experiences, andsupportive campus environment.

The benchmarks give schools anidea of how well their programs andservices are working.

The NSSE study is a leadinginstrument used by colleges anduniversities to compare themselveswith each other and to target theirefforts toward quality enhancements.The premise of NSSE is that studentslearn more when they devote theirefforts to educationally purposefulactivities, and the survey helps toestablish the connection betweencollege quality and studentengagement. n

Graduation Rates at Texas Institutions

Institution Median SAT Student-Related Percent Pell* Percent GraduationExpenditures/FTE Undergraduate Rate

Minority

Rice University 1410 $38,509 12.5 18.3 90.5

Texas A&M University 1185 $12,147 14.4 12.3 75.2

Trinity University 1300 $17,820 11.1 12.6 74.8

Austin College 1230 $16,340 24.5 11.9 74.4

Southwestern University 1245 $19,899 13.1 18.2 73.5

Southern Methodist University 1200 $17,130 15.9 14.8 71.7

University of Texas at Austin 1230 $10,328 18.1 18.5 70.5

Baylor University 1145 $12,474 15.9 14.9 70.3

Texas Christian University 1160 $14,049 13.2 11.8 65.2

St. Mary’s University 1065 $11,827 37 71.9 63.3

Source: “College Results Online” The Education Trust *Federally-funded, need-based grant program

“(St. Mary’s) is a place where they really care about you. You get this feeling of

community—that everyone, your professors, the staff, everybody—wants you

to succeed and will help in every way they can.”

Michelle GonzalesStudent Government Association PresidentSenior corporate finance major

12

That’s how he was discovered bySt. Mary’s Coach Mel Barborak whowas scouting a couple of militaryteams at one of the local bases.

Buddy’s St. Mary’s No. 44 jerseyhas deservedly been retired for hisstellar exploits as a point guard, but itis his coaching that arguably has hadthe biggest lasting effect on St. Mary’sUniversity and its athletics program.

Since arriving at St. Mary’s as astudent-athlete in 1961, Buddy has sethis sights high. Whether pursuing hisfuture wife Anna Hibberd, or scouringthe country for the best small collegeathletes as assistant coach to EdMessbarger, or rebuilding a flaggingbasketball program when he took over

head coaching duties, or movingSt. Mary’s sports programs forwardwhile serving for more than 20 yearsas athletics director and head coach,Buddy has committed his life tobettering himself, his sport and hisUniversity.

Once he got to St. Mary’s, Buddyleft only once—for three years—tocoach at local Antonian High Schoolwhere he led his Apaches to a statetitle. But St. Mary’s was home, and hereturned as quickly as he could.

Meanwhile, Anna and Buddystarted a family and welcomeddaughters Suzanne, Mary Beth andJennifer. By the time Buddy wasappointed head coach in 1978, their

The End of an EraSt. Mary’s Celebrates Meyer’s Career

“After playing professionally in Europe,and being away for a few years, sayinghello to Buddy was one of the top thingson my agenda when I returned to SanAntonio. Most players and coaches havea bond for life. I’ve played basketball onthree levels, and he, by far, has been thebest of them all.”

—Larry Gooding (CL ’77),post player 1975-77

“Coach Meyer has always had hisplayers’ best interests at heart,and his passion and motivationfor the game of basketball andin life sets the standard ofexcellence for winning on and offthe court.”

—Lacy Hampton (B.B.A. ’98,M.B.A. ’01), starting point guard

1993-97

“Coach has a system. It tookme awhile to listen to what hesays and not how he says it. Heknows what he wants to do, andif you go out and do it, itworks. He’s a great coach.”

—Billy White, four-year startingwing who will finish his degree this

summer

For 27 seasons men’sbasketball Coach Buddy

Meyer has roamed thesidelines of Alumni Gymand Bill Greehey Arena.

At times he’s paced like a pent-up tigerand at others sat quietly at the end ofthe bench. Always his goal has been tomake his Rattlers better, as players andas individuals. With his decision toretire at the end of the 2004-2005basketball season and academic year,the Buddy Era will come to an end.

Meyer’s is the story of a life shapedand defined by basketball, family andSt. Mary’s. Herman August MeyerJr.—or Buddy as just about everyoneknows him—began playing ball as ayoungster in Davis, W.V. Afterstarring on his high school team, heenlisted in the U.S. Air Force andspent four years as a communicationsspecialist and basketball standout.

by Candace Kuebker, Editor, and Pat Abernathey, Sports Information Director

13

fourth and last child, Herman August“Bubba” Meyer III—who would playthe point as a Rattler 18 years later—had arrived.

Guided by Buddy, the Rattlerprogram built on its winning traditionsand the program thrived. Year afteryear, St. Mary’s won conference titlesin the Big State, Heart of Texas andHeartland conferences. More often thannot, the team headed to Kansas City foranother NAIA National Tournament or,more recently, to NCAA Regionals.

In 1980, athletics director was addedto Buddy’s title and responsibilities,and during the next 21 years, heorchestrated the expansion of all sportsat St. Mary’s, and transitioned the

University from the NAIA to theNCAA.

A long-held dream came true in1989 when the Rattlers won the NAIANational Championship. Thataccomplishment, certainly, is thepinnacle to which all coaches andplayers aspire and Buddy’s noexception. There’s something else,though, that he’s even more proud ofwhen he looks at his career.

What his players are and becomeoff the basketball court aftercompetition ends strikes a chord withBuddy. In the men’s locker roomhundreds of name plates are mountedto the walls. Each one carries the nameof a student-athlete who has graduated

“He would say stuff in thehuddle like, ‘This is fun, isn’tit?’ … just make a littlewisecrack like that. We’d belaughing and go out and dowhat we had to do. It seemedto help because he wasn’tnervous.”

—Anthony Houston (B.A. ’89),starting point guard 1985-1989,

in a March 1, 2005 SportsIllustrated.com article

from St. Mary’s and that, according tothe coach, is the most important thinghis players can do.

Buddy is much more than basketball.He is a mentor. He is a teacher. He is akey and tireless supporter of St. Mary’s.He is an icon on campus and in the SanAntonio community.

Does Buddy have any regrets aftermore than 40 years at St. Mary’s? Notreally. He’ll tell you St. Mary’s is wherehe met his wife and where his childrenearned their degrees. He’ll also tell youhe treasures most the relationships hehas with athletes and alumni. And, he’lltell you he’s not leaving St. Mary’sentirely. It’s home. n

n

17 All-Americanrecognitions for his players

n

40+ All-Conference playersn

530-253 career record n

1983 St. Mary’s UniversityAlumni AssociationDistinguished Alumnus

n

No. 44 player jersey retiredin 2004

n

17 conference championshipsn

Seven district titlesn

1989 national championshipn

16 NAIA and NCAA tournament appearancesn

Hit 500-win mark on Jan. 22, 2004n

Eight-time Conference Coach of the Yearn

1989 National Coach of the Yearn

Four NCAA tournament appearances in five yearsof post-season eligibility

Meyer’s Legacy

On Feb. 12, 2005, at the last regular season conference home game Buddy Meyer would ever coach, some 2,800 friends and fans–including almost100 former players–paid tribute to the man who has defined Rattler basketball for decades.

There is no typical day in the lifeof a student studying abroad in

a city such as London. Thehistorical significance of what wasonce ‘the center of the world’permeates everything studentsfrom South Texas and beyond dowhile in London.

From royal palaces,Big Ben, Parliament andfree museums thatshowcase some of theworld’s oldest art, towitnessing the impactcultural icons like theBeatles, SherlockHolmes and the RoyalFamily have had on

society, London is an endless seaof intrigue.

London remains ‘center ofthe world’

I chose the LondonStudy Abroad program toexperience somethingnew—and perhapssomething slightlyfamiliar—in part becauseGreat Britain and theUnited States haveenjoyed a “specialrelationship,” as so aptly

‘Pedagogy of place’is cornerstone ofprogram

The program began15 years ago under then-Vice President forAcademic AffairsCharles L. Cotrell, Ph.D.,with about 15 students.A few years ago,

political science professor StevenNeiheisel, Ph.D., helped form apartnership with the Foundation forInternational Education (FIE) toenhance the program.

“The FIE program and St. Mary’sbelieve in the ‘Pedagogy of Place’requirement so that all courses must betaught as often as possible on site,”Neiheisel said. Classes met at thevenerable British Museum andImperial War Museum, historic sites ofWestminster Abbey and Parliament,and even theater performances of “LesMiserables” and “Stomp.”

The program allows us to take up to12 hours of classes or we can choose todo an internship. Everyone takes therequired British Cultural Class to helpbetter understand the differencesbetween our cultures and how historyhas shaped modern-day London.

For Chuck Kerr, a junior majoringin music and an award-winning staffcartoonist for St. Mary’s Universitystudent newspaper The Rattler, the tripwas an eye-opening experience.

14

stated by Sir WinstonChurchill after WorldWar II. It may well be aland of royalty, pompand circumstance, andtea and crumpets, but it’salso much more.

London remains agreat world city, thelargest in westernEurope, and is host tomany cultures.

“London is a city of everyone andanyone, therefore, things likediscrimination shouldn’t occur aseveryone is mixed up,” our tour guidetold us on our arrival.

London’s post-World War IIimportance and how it represents GreatBritain recently was summed up byBBC radio commentator Robert Elmswho said, “(London) is the one citywhere, at many given points in itshistory, you would have felt you wereat the center of the world, because allthe world was here. And in many waysit is still here.”

Before the Christmasholidays, anotherdelegation of St. Mary’sstudents in the LondonStudy Abroad programreturned to the Statesafter almost four monthsof soaking up British andEuropean culture.

V{xxÜ|É yÜÉÅ _ÉÇwÉÇTravelogue of the Writer’s Adventures Abroad

by Francisco Vara-Orta2004 London Study Abroad program student and Editor-in-chief of The Rattler

15

“If you’ve ever wanted to take abreak from your job, your work-study,or just need a change of scenery, as Idid, then studying abroad is theanswer,” Kerr said in his newspapercolumn. “(It’s) crucialto gain insight into theworld we live in . . .Education is aboutmaking options foryourself and yourfuture; learning adiscipline andultimately, learningabout yourself.Experiences like thisteach you all that andmore.”

Teachers treasure learningexperience

That sentiment is echoed by currentand former program participants alike,and by the professors from St. Mary’swho adapt their lesson plans to thecontext of London.

Leona Pallansch, Ph.D.,associate professor ofpolitical science, gainedmuch when she taught twocourses focused on politicsand media in the UnitedKingdom last semester.

“I feel I have learned asmuch or more than mystudents during this pastsemester,” Pallansch said. “Reading ascholarly analysis of the pros and consof the British Empire is one thing, butto stand in front of the Prince AlbertMemorial is to be witness to one of themost perfect critiques imaginable. Andto be a political scientist in Londonduring the U.S. presidential electionyear is an experiencethat I will rememberfor a long, longtime.”

Being in a foreignland and hearinghow the rest of theworld sees myhomeland was aneye opener. As an

aspiring journalist, I kept a journalabout the presidential election for amedia class and saw how the Britishand European media reflected thegrowing anti-American sentiment thatis surfacing in Europe.

Confronting anti-Americanism andcultural differences betweenAmericans and Britons is part of theoverall study abroad experience, and itshowed me how two similar cultureswith one language can still bedramatically different.

Students immersethemselves invarious cultures

Most students in ourgroup took the opportunityto encounter other culturesand languages by venturingto Italy, Greece, Spain,France, Germany and theNetherlands, among others.

London is a springboardto anywhere in Europe. Travel is partof the culture and the Continent is buta brief train ride on the Eurostar. Planeflights are inexpensive, too, and wecapitalized on experiencing other partsof the historically rich and culturallydiverse continent on a 10-day trip

granted to students inthe program.

“The key is toimmerse yourself inthe culture you’vebeen thrown into, tomake the effort tolive like a citizen, nota tourist,” Kerr said.“If all you do istransplant your ownAmerican lifestyle,

you’ve missed the whole point ofliving abroad and should’ve just stayedhome.”

While the exchange rate has shrunkmany budgets of Americans travelingabroad, and the British accent can beunclear to American ears, waking up

and going to bed in London,as well as walking down thestreets and seeing centuries-old buildings and people ofall backgrounds minglingevery day, is a true world-city experience. Comingfrom Texas, there is a cultureshock, to be sure, but theexperience is an education

Flat Stanley Crosses the Pond

St. Mary’s students are encouraging Woodlawn HillsElementary students to attend college by showing themwhat life is like studying abroad through an interactiveproject titled “Flat Stanley.”

St. Mary’s students who studied in London last falljoined Woodlawn Hills Elementary students in their “FlatStanley” video project. Flat Stanley is a paper doll featuredin videotaped messages sent by elementary students to St.Mary’s students in London. They then took Flat Stanley toLondon elementary schools and videotaped him enjoyingschool abroad. Upon their return to San Antonio, St.Mary’s students will meet with the Woodlawn elementarystudents face-to-face, allowing them to return Flat Stanleyand share their experiences.

Kathe Lehman-Meyer, director of St. Mary’s LearningResources Center, and Doug Hall, Ph.D., director of thegraduate computer science program, organized FlatStanley as a community service project intended toencourage elementary students to attend college so thatthey, too, will one day have an opportunity to studyabroad and encounter foreign cultures.

Lehman-Meyer and Hall hope to send Flat Stanley withSt. Mary’s students to a variety of countries to teachelementary students the value of education and culturalenrichment.

In the book, “Flat Stanley,” by Jeff Brown, Stanley issquashed flat by a falling bulletin board. An advantage isthat Flat Stanley can now visit his friends by traveling in anenvelope. The Flat Stanley Project is a group of teacherswho want to provide students with another reason towrite.

Students make paper Flat Stanleys and begin a journal,which are sent to another school where students treatFlat Stanley as a guest and complete the journal. FlatStanley and the journal are then returned to the originalsender. Students can plot his travels on maps and sharethe contents of the journal.

unlike anythingthat could ever beput in a book.

The LondonStudy Abroadprogram is a“true life”experience that brings education to awhole new level is the unanimousopinion of students who attend theprogram. n

16

It all started in the spring of2004. Robert Krebs was visiting

with his mentor and friendBenjamin F. Biaggini (B.S. ’36)

during a trip to San Francisco.Over lunch their conversationfocused on making a long-termimpact in the community and,

afterwards, Krebs beganexploring ways he might

establish a lasting legacy for aman whose professional

endeavors and civiccontributions have helped so

many. With the support ofBiaggini’s former colleagues and

personal friends, Krebs tooksteps to establish the Benjamin

F. Biaggini Endowed Chair atSt. Mary’s University.

A foundation is setIt seems Benjamin Biaggini

was destined from an early agefor great things in the railroad

industry. His parents, Benjamin Sr.(an official with the Pullman Co.)

and Maggie Switzer, met whileon a train trip in Louisiana.

Growing up in a railroadenvironment it seemed only

natural that young Ben wouldchoose to begin his career in

that major U.S. industry. While talking with a Southern

Pacific executive, Biaggini’sfather learned the company waslooking for college graduates toassist in railway rehabilitation.

After graduating from St. Mary’swith honors—and at his father’s

insistence—Biaggini sent off aletter of inquiry. Soon he heard

back and began his 47-year careerwith the Southern Pacific Co.

Friends Honor Lessons Kept for a Lifetime

Benjamin F. Biaggini

17

Biaggini’s were humble beginnings.He joined the company as a rodman inthe engineering department in Ennis,Texas, working his way throughmanagement, and eventually assumingthe title of CEO in 1968. He continuedto lead Southern Pacific until hisretirement in 1983. When asked ifthere is a secret formula to professionalsuccess, Biaggini answers with anemphatic no. “Success is based uponhard work and determination. There isno easy answer.”

His successful career is no surpriseto anyone, least of all Biaggini. As anextremely focused senior, he noted inhis high school annual that his greatestambition was to become president of amajor corporation. To accomplish hisgoal, Biaggini set his sights onSt. Mary’s University, where he knewhe would receive a quality education.He was an active undergrad, serving asvice president of the Rattler Club,captain of A Company in the ROTCcadet battalion and president of thestudent council. After classes andactivities, he worked on campusdigging flower beds and maintainingthe horseshoe courts for 30 cents anhour.

Learning life’s lessonsAlmost eight decades later,

Biaggini continues to value hisexperience. “St. Mary’s was a naturalchoice for me. While academic qualitywas certainly at the forefront of mydecision to attend, it was equallyimportant for me to stay close to hometo help my mother and sister while myfather was away on business. I am verygrateful for the guidance provided bythe Marianist instructors. The brothersshowed us how to live and contributeto our community. I have kept theselessons with me all my life.”

Biaggini’s journey has not been onetraveled alone. Shortly after startinghis first job, he met his future wife,Anne, at a local San Antonio hangout.Biaggini remembers their first meetingwell. “Anne was a senior at IncarnateWord at the time. She and her friendwere doing their homework and wereexperiencing difficulty with a mathproblem. I offered to show them howto work through the problem, andAnne later agreed to see me again even

though I didn’t give them the answer.”Married for 67 years, theirs is a truepartnership of love and devotion.

Respect, gratitudeand friendship

After months of secret plans andfund raising, Rob Krebs organized asmall gathering on Nov. 15, 2004, toannounce the endowed chair. With thehelp of St. Mary’s staff, Krebs invitedBiaggini to attend the luncheon underthe premise he was meeting withUniversity administrators. After theinitial greeting, donors began to sharetheir stories about the impact Biagginihad had on each of them.

And, that impact has been far-reaching. Krebs noted everyone therehad their own reasons for supportingthis endeavor, but “my interest can besummed up with three words: respect,gratitude and friendship. You havebeen a mentor, a supporter and anadvocate, and I thank you for thedifference you have made in my life,”he said.

Another close friend, formerchairman of Chevron Corp. HaroldHaynes, agreed, stating that being amentor “is the kindest thing one personcan say about another.” Biaggini wasguide and adviser to Haynes when hearrived in San Francisco. He countsBen among his best friends.

The roles of mentor and leader aretaken seriously by Biaggini. “There isa great deal of responsibility when youare charged with directing a companyand its employees,” he said. “You mustdevelop them to their maximum extent.All experiences help mold a personand shows them where they fit into thewhole scheme – as a leader you mustinspire people to improve their lives.”

Stephen Bechtel, chairman emeritusof the Bechtel Group Inc., reflected, “Iknow of few people who can combinegreat business ability with the love oflife. Ben has always worked hard, buthe has taken time to enjoy his life.”

At the close of the luncheon after ashort silence, Benjamin Biagginiaddressed his friends who, together,honored him by establishing theBenjamin F. Biaggini Endowed Chairat St. Mary’s University. “I appreciatethe love and friendship shown here,”he said, “and I accept with pleasure

and as much grace as I can summon.This is far from what I expected tohappen today. I am extremely grateful,and I will always remember.”

Full circleMore than 30 years ago, Benjamin

F. Biaggini addressed an audiencefilled with St. Mary’s alumni and SanAntonio business leaders when heaccepted the 1973 St. Mary’sUniversity Distinguished AlumnusAward:

And so, it would appear thatthrough his significant contributions tohis profession and community, afoundation has been established fromwhich many will benefit. Throughfunds generated by the Benjamin F.Biaggini Endowed Chair, invaluableopportunities for scholarly researchand academic endeavors will positivelyimpact St. Mary’s students forgenerations to come. n

St. Mary’s University extends sincere thanks tothose generous individuals and organizationswhose gifts have helped fund the Benjamin F.Biaggini Endowed Chair.

Victor K. AtkinsS.D. Bechtel Jr. FoundationBurlington Northern Santa Fe FoundationLyman H. CaseyChristopher C. DeMuthRobert B. GagoisanHarold and Reta HaynesEric L. JohnsonJames L. and Kathryn L. Ketelsen

Charitable FoundationRobert D. KrebsLakeside FoundationRichard G. LandisMacDonnell FoundationMr. and Mrs. Denman K. McNearThe Michelson FoundationGeorge B. MunroeJack and Elaine ParkerCharles M. PigottRoberts FoundationMichael W. WilseyKathryn and Walter Wriston Family Fund

b y M e l i s s a Va l e k ( M . A . ’ 0 2 )D i r e c t o r o f C o r p o r a t e a n d F o u n d a t i o n R e l a t i o n s

“By now we know that the sands of time run fast. In

the end, we see our contribution as but a small part in

a long process of development. By now we know that

any one man’s work in this world is largely

unfinished work on which another man may build if

he will. What we have done is to accomplish a few

things while opening up many more new opportunities

for the others to seize in their time.”

Ichose to attend St. Mary’s University over other schools

because of its fine reputation. I had a wonderful four

years and have such fond memories of the Marianists

who were our instructors and our mentors. I still feel they

are the greatest people I ever met.

I have a soft spot in my heart for the University, and

although I could never repay St. Mary’s for

everything it has done for me, I felt it was time for

me to give back. The annuity is going to support

athletics, which I believe are an integral part of a

university – they build school pride and provide

lessons in teamwork and discipline.

A deferred gift annuity may be an ideal way tosupplement your retirement income and make agift to St. Mary’s. For a minimum investment of$10,000, you can expect an immediatecharitable income tax deduction, guaranteedretirement income, reduced capital gains taxesif you make your gift with appreciatedsecurities, an excellent yield, and membershipin the prestigious St. Mary’s 1852 Society.

For more information on planned giving opportunities that will

support scholarships and programs at St. Mary’s University, please

contact the Development Office at: One Camino Santa Maria,

San Antonio, Texas 78228, or telephone (210) 436-3718.

www.stmarytx.edu/development

“St. Mary’s University was a major influencein shaping my life.”- Homer Burkett (B.A. ’40)

Homer BurkettCenter/Linebacker

St. Mary’s University Rattler Football Teamcirca 1936

St. Mary’s UniversityOne Camino Santa Maria

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