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EAGLES’ PRIDE
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2015-2016
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earn my Geology degree. As it
turned out, I got hurt and had
something valuable to fall back
on. And I met my wife of 53
years (Katy), which never would
have happened had I left for
the minor leagues. What great
advice.”
Gary Martin ’69 routinely talks
with close friend and fellow
STH Hall of Famer Robert
Paine ’68, who shared the night’s
introductions with Athletic
Director Mike Netzel. But the
conversation which delivered
Martin’s Hall of Fame notice
carried particular weight.
“Robert called me. And I couldn’t
talk. I said let me get back with
you after I’ve had some time to
think about this. I needed to let it
all sink in,” Martin said.
Brad Smith ’88 was “humbled to
be included in this tradition, the
legacy of student-athletes at St.
Thomas, cultivating success year
after year.” His twin sons were in
tow, Carson and Connor, 12-year-
olds heading into the seventh
grade who are likely to follow in
their father’s Eagle footsteps, and
who no doubt will hear long into
their own athletic futures a story
which Smith vividly recounted
from his senior season.
“Coach (Bill) O’Neil was the
offensive and defensive line
coach, an intense guy. First
game against Sweeny, first play,
a run play behind me at right
tackle. I jump the snap count,
never slowed down and took a
6-7 270-pound lineman 10 yards
down field and pancaked him
to the ground,” Smith proudly
recalled. “Coach O’Neil ran onto
the the field, knocked me down,
picked me up and said, ‘You kick
his butt all night long just like
that!’ I cost us five yards but it
may have been the play of the
game.”
Among the honorees who have
piloted successful executive
careers in sales and marketing,
banking and engineering, media
and the military, were professional
bowling Hall of Famer Billy
Welu ’50 and former Texas A&M
basketball standout George
Mehaffey ’53, both inducted
posthumously.
And aside from their
championships won and lost,
athletic records and standards
since eclipsed, more meaningful
than the mere memories, were
the heart-felt relationships from
their STH experience which
remain deeply relevant within the
HOF Class of 2015, along with
their continued commitment of
living to the standard instilled by
the Basilian Fathers, fueled by an
Eagle spirit which, apparently,
never dies.
“There’s something unique that
happens for a young man at St.
Thomas ... your Eagle brothers
will have your back the rest of
your life and you have their back,”
said President Fr. Kevin Storey,
CSB, saluting the inductees. “And
that element of goodness,
discipline and knowledge is the
most important understanding
I have as president. We can
add state-of-the-art technology
and upgrade facilities and
curriculum, increase the physical
footprint. But none of that
matters unless our alumni feel
comfortable when they come
back to campus, that they have the
sense that what they experienced
10, 20 and 50 years ago, is very
much the same as what our young
men encounter today. We stand
on your shoulders, gentlemen,
and my job is ensure that what we
have here tonight continues for
the next 115 years.”
Alphabetically, the 2015 inductees are:
Bernard (Nardy) DeGeorge, Jr. ’63
A significant two-way performer at quarterback and defensive back and
two-sport star who led the Eagles to the 1963 TCIL state basketball
championship. DeGeorge scored eight points in the 57-44 championship final
over El Paso Cathedral in what proved to be the Eagles only basketball state
title for the next 27 years.
DeGeorge followed his father’s path to the United States Naval Academy
where he was a starting safety in 1965-66 and also ran for the Midshipmen
track team. DeGeorge played with two of the most distinguished quarterbacks
in Academy history ... 1963 Heisman Trophy winner and future Pro Football
Hall of Famer/Super Bowl winner Roger Staubach, and record-setter John
Cartwright. DeGeorge was also the boxing champion of his plebe class,
defeating Oliver North in the championship bout.
DeGeorge retired from the Navy with the rank of lieutenant commander after
more than 20 years of service, including extended time as a pilot and Topgun
instructor, and experienced combat duty aboard the USS Roosevelt in the
Mediterranean.
DeGeorge is now president of DeGeorge Enterprises, Inc., a commercial
construction business in Florida.
Gary Martin ’69
One of the most decorated lineman in STH history. Martin was named TCIL
all-state from 1966-68, and as a senior was recognized as Catholic High School
All-American and Outstanding Catholic Lineman of the Year. He was later
named to the St. Thomas McDonald/Davis all-time team by STH Sports Hall
of Fame coaches Joe McDonald and Burr Davis.
Martin served as team captain his senior season and received more than 45
Division I scholarship offers before deciding on Texas A&M. He was named
to the All-Southwest Conference freshmen team in 1969 and then showed his
versatility the following season starting at three different positions for Gene
Stallings’ Aggies.
Martin started the commercial division of family-owned Westmoreland Farms
Dairy and remained a highly successful sales manager after a competitor
purchased the commercial division of the company. Martin eventually
transitioned into the ready mix concrete industry. He now resides in
Horseshoe Bay, Texas.