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EAGLES’ PRIDE
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2015-2016
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53
“For the rest
of my life I’ll
remember
my times at
St. Thomas.”
-Tucker
We always say there’s more to
our program than just wins and
losses. And this is just another
example to prove it.”
Proof that Eagle fight ... and
commitment ... never dies.
“Give the group credit. I didn’t
do a thing,” Athletic Director
Mike Netzel said. “The seniors
gave me a template for all
they wanted ... targeted the
game date, made the contacts,
acquired the auction items,
all the details, all the logistics.
Senior dads worked the
concessions. I can’t think of
a more fitting way to salute a
great father and
husband who
loved his family
and loved life.”
Hoesel
determined early
in the planning
stages that a
raffle would
be required to
drive the largest
dollars and
donations.
He hooked a
pair of midcourt
Rockets-Spurs
tickets in the
lower concourse
in the Club
Level, with a
postgame photo
opportunity at
center court
with play-by-
play voice Bill
Worrell and
analysts Clyde
Drexler and Matt Bullard ...
courtesy Randy Sorrells, whose
son Garrett ‘16 plays STH golf
for Billy Tuten.
Hoesel then approached
Lisa and Tom Ganucheau,
the parents of classmate
and teammate John ‘15, and
arranged for a weekend stay at
their Jamaica Beach house in
Galveston for the silent auction.
Also among the many other
items available were an
autographed Rockets jersey
from the Hall of Famer Drexler,
golfing rounds at Houston
Oaks Country Club and a
Redden Strong t-shirt signed
by members of the 2015 STH
varsity team.
“It wasn’t easy to get
started. But once we got the
ball rolling it seemed to all come
together,” Hoesel said. “I looked
for anyone I thought might be
willing to donate or push me
in the right direction. I made
some calls and stressed that
we were trying to help a family
during some tough
times and got
enough responses.
It’s what St.
Thomas is all
about. There’s a
brotherhood, no
question.”
The collective
effort was
similar in spirit
to the previous
STH benefit games, including
fundraisers to fight against
breast cancer and ALS.
But the personal nature of this
latest project proved profound.
Hoesel admittedly has felt
a recurring emotion after
attending the last services in
Rockport with more than a
dozen other Eagles, Lousteau
and assistant coaches Sean
O’Neill ‘00 and Keith Page.
“It was a humbling experience.
You take it for granted every
day that you have a father and
mother. And Tucker isn’t going
to have that the rest of his life,”
Hoesel said.
The STH ties to the Reddens
have turned stronger in the wake
of Tim’s passing. Tim, Jr. is a
house guest of Netzel while
attending South Texas School
of Law. Tucker completed his
senior season at Rockport-
Fulton High School as team
captain and was named to the
Texas High School Baseball
Coaches Association 3A
All-State team, the first such
selection in school
history.
“This all means the
world to me and
my family,” Tim
Jr. said. “What’s
extremely special
is that the guys
did it themselves.
Jared really led the
charge. Just speaks
to the power of the
St. Thomas community.”
And all associated with STH
echo that the tribute was
measured less by the money
raised and much more about the
support and sentiment which
cannot carry a price.
“We just hope the Reddens
know that so many here at St.
Thomas haven’t forgotten them,
that they’re not going through
this by themselves. Perhaps all
this picked up their spirits just
a bit and will stay with them,”
Hoesel said.
Tammy Redden with her older son Tim Jr. ‘09
Tammy, Tim Jr. and Tucker Redden during the tribute
game at Fr. Wilson Field
“We always say there is more to our program
than just wins and losses.”