Full transcript
0:21That was fun.
0:41It's like royalty.
0:57Okay.
1:23>> Oh, right.
1:35because
2:01Right
2:19in here.
2:40You are wonderful.
3:06I didn't see you right next to you.
3:21>> How about you guys?
3:30How are you all?
3:41Yeah.
4:05Heat.
4:35Well, I think it is Almost.
4:47It almost
5:11Christmas.
5:56Who cares about him?
6:09Yeah.
6:13Heat.
6:34Good morning everyone.
6:37>> Good morning and and thank you for for
6:39being here for such a special day here.
6:42Um before we get started, I would like
6:44to open us up with prayer. So if we
6:46could bow our heads. Dear Lord, we come
6:50to you today to celebrate Christ Church
6:52School, our alumni, and especially our
6:55Hall of Fame inductees, their families,
6:57and friends. We ask that you protect
7:00them and let your light shine down on
7:03them. Remind us all that every blessing
7:05comes from you. We pray that we glorify
7:08you in all we do. Keep Christ Church
7:11School and our community in your favor.
7:15As we head into our second century, keep
7:17our community strong and safe. Let them
7:20forever feel and know the power of your
7:23glory. Thank you for your presence here
7:25today as we celebrate our Hall of Fame
7:28inductees. We ask this in the glorious
7:30name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
7:33Amen. What an incredible weekend. The
7:36weather's beautiful. Thank you all for
7:38coming out for this special day. Um I'm
7:41not going to talk long. We got a couple
7:43of or three very uh special inductees
7:46today. For some of you that haven't
7:48heard what's going on at Christ Church
7:50School, I'm going to give you the quick
7:52version. The reason why we have all
7:54these chairs in chapel,
7:57Christ Church School has 253
8:00students enrolled this year. It is the
8:02highest enrollment this school has ever
8:04seen. We have the cloud.
8:11We have for the first time 100 female
8:14students at Christ Church School. We've
8:16got 86 international students here
8:18representing 30 different countries. The
8:21the the momentum has been incredible and
8:24it feels good. Our local students, we've
8:26got 97 local students attending Cherry
8:29School this year. And the momentum isn't
8:31just in the in the enrollment. Our
8:33momentum is in fundraising. For the last
8:35couple years, we've raised over a
8:36million dollars in our annual fund
8:38thanks to support from from everybody in
8:40this room. So, I want you to know why we
8:43have all these chairs. Chapel during the
8:46week is packed. We have kids up here on
8:48the altar. We have kids in the balcony.
8:50The dining hall is packed. The truth is
8:53we're we're probably busting at the
8:55seams. Maybe we're a little bigger than
8:56we should be, but my goodness, what a
8:58great place to be when the school is
9:00this full as we continue to grow the
9:02school. So, just wanted to give you guys
9:04a little bit of that flavor. It is a
9:06really, really exciting time to be part
9:08of Christ, part of Christ Church School
9:10as we head forward into our second
9:12century. So, thank you all for being
9:14here. It is a it is a special day,
9:17special occasion for these inductees.
9:18And I'm going to hand this over to our
9:21uh 41st year of serving Christ Church
9:26School, Mr. Hunting Gallery.
9:33Thank you. Good morning.
9:36In 2002, the Christ Church School
9:38Athletic Hall of Fame committee was
9:41founded by the current athletic
9:43director, Ed Homer, who spent one year
9:46in research and joined the first Hall of
9:48Fame committee and inducted his first
9:50induction class in the fall of 20 of
9:532003.
9:55Eight years later, after the first
9:58athletic inductions in 2011, the
10:01athletic hall of fame committee decided
10:03two years of discussion that many should
10:06be recognized for their lifetime
10:08accomplishments and achievements
10:10throughout their life and career.
10:12Inducted, the first class of lifetime of
10:15achievement was in 2011. The Hall of
10:18Fame committee now has running
10:20nominations of well over 30 individuals
10:23that have been nominated and continue to
10:25be discussed and researched. Since the
10:28Hall of Fame inception, we have inducted
10:3145 induction uh individuals
10:35and two athletic teams
10:38and athletic achievement category. Plus,
10:41today we will add one more to that. In
10:442011, we have inducted since 2011, we
10:47have inducted 27 lifetime achievement
10:50and special recognition. And today, we
10:52will add two individuals to this
10:55lifetime special recognition.
10:58It's my pleasure to introduce to you
10:59Eric Robinson Gray, who is our chairman
11:03of the Hall of Fame committee. As you
11:05see in the back of your program, the
11:07members who selected the this uh three
11:11today. Uh they work diligently. They
11:13miss uh they meet three or four times a
11:15year by Zoom and in person and then they
11:18vote and then they also do a strategic
11:21way in which it's not a a good old boy
11:25network but they really do try to raise
11:27the bar to the highest level but Erica
11:29Robinson.
11:31Great.
11:38Thank you Huntley and good morning
11:40everyone. Thank you all for being here
11:42on this beautiful morning on campus. As
11:45hubby previously said, my name is Eric
11:48Gray. For those of you who do not know
11:50me,
11:54Christ Church Hall of Fame goal is to
11:56celebrate our history and
11:58accomplishments. The school has a rich
12:00history of competitive athletics and
12:03high achievements of our graduates. We
12:06will endeavor to recognize those men and
12:08women who have truly given of themselves
12:11while as a student and who have
12:13continued after Christ Church by
12:15achieving and accomplishing life
12:16challenges as well as making a mark on
12:19society and the people around them.
12:23I would also like to take a moment to
12:25explain the process and how we got to be
12:27here today.
12:28The Hall of Fame committee is comprised
12:30of 10 alumni members, two staff members,
12:33and a chairwoman or man. Every fall,
12:37committee members gather on campus and
12:39virtually compile a list of potential
12:41nominees to be considered for induction.
12:44Those considered nominees come from
12:46alumni, faculty, and staff, parents,
12:48friends, and school of in school
12:51recommendations.
12:53After this meeting, committee members,
12:55committee members research candidates by
12:58talking to candidates, their coaches,
13:00their friends, even old teachers, anyone
13:03who can provide supporting detail
13:08detail of which why each potential
13:10candidate is worthy of being inducted
13:12into the Hall of Fame. To be considered
13:15for any of the awards that will be given
13:17today, which are a athletic achievement,
13:20special recognition, and lifetime
13:22achievement, there has to be a write up
13:24completed.
13:27Excuse me. Once all supported
13:30documentation is compiled, committed,
13:32and reconvenes in the new year to
13:35discuss candidates and vote, to date, we
13:37have over 30 names that have been
13:39nominated. That is why writeups are so
13:42important for the committee to induct.
13:44Since I was a committee member and now
13:46chair, we have evolved our voting
13:48process to ensure we are maintaining a
13:50high and fair standard of who is
13:53inducted, which in my opinion has made
13:56today's days like today even more
13:58special. Thoughtful, intentional
14:01consideration is the goal. I'm so proud
14:04of the work that has been done to get us
14:06here today to make this day happen.
14:08There's lots to do in the second century
14:10of the school and everyone's help and
14:12input, most important writeups will be a
14:15big part of continuing to make the hall
14:17of fame a huge success. If for one
14:20moment I could take a moment to ask all
14:22members that are here today then please
14:24stand and join in applause as I say
14:26thank you for their efforts.
14:39Thank you. Now, with that being said, I
14:41would like to turn it over to the first
14:43presenter, George Morris, class of 1982.
14:55Thank you, Erica,
14:57and to Mr. Cole, our head of schools, to
15:01our distinguished alum, alumni,
15:04families, and friends,
15:07fellow inductees into the Christ Church
15:10Hall of Fame. It is a pleasure to be
15:12with you on behalf of the Mars family.
15:17I have the pleasure of presenting dear
15:20friend Colonel Mark Vos from the class
15:23of 1982.
15:25Affectionately known to some of us as
15:28the mojo man
15:31like a magician.
15:34There's a there's a verse of scripture
15:35that reminds me of you in the service
15:38you be strong and courageous.
15:43Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged.
15:47The Lord your God is with you wherever
15:50you go.
15:53We live in an age of uncertainty in the
15:56world. It's estimated that there are
15:59between 50 and 120 ongoing armed
16:01conflicts happening around the world
16:03right now. Liberty and peace are
16:06therefore
16:08are best maintained
16:11by preparedness.
16:13We sleep soundly in our beds because
16:16rough men stand ready
16:19in the night to visit violence of those
16:21who will do us harm. Reman,
16:24a career in military service isn't for
16:27everyone. For the gallant few who answer
16:31the call to serve, they do so with a
16:33firm understanding
16:36of the many sacrifices they will have to
16:38endure to include even their very lives
16:41while defending this country.
16:43a fine example of selfless service for
16:47the most noble in our society.
16:50As if risking your life every day in
16:52defense of others wasn't enough stress,
16:56imagine being commissioned as an
16:58intelligence officer, bestowed with one
17:00of our nation's highest clearance levels
17:03and entrusted with the nation's most
17:06sensitive secrets.
17:08a job that prohibits you from sharing
17:10any information concerning your duties
17:13with anyone to include your spouse or
17:15family, your friends.
17:18How would you answer the question at the
17:20end of the day when your spouse asks,
17:21"So, what'd you do today, honey?"
17:27As you're called upon to perform your
17:29duties, at times with little or no
17:32forewarning, you can't tell your spouse
17:35why you're leaving home in the middle of
17:36the night, where you're going, when
17:38you're coming back. You don't know if
17:41you're going to be able to communicate
17:43with your family while you're away or
17:44not. And when you finally do return
17:48weeks, months, a year later,
17:53you can't share any of the details of
17:55your activities with anyone.
17:58Now imagine
18:01serving under those conditions for more
18:03than three and a half decades.
18:06To be successful, the service member
18:09must possess unwavering physical and
18:11mental discipline, command of emotions,
18:14dogmatic devotion to duty, infallible
18:16integrity, and the endurance to carry
18:18the weight of the world's shoulders
18:20every day.
18:23These are the silent heroes who humbly
18:26walk amongst us. And today, it is a
18:29great honor for me to reveal to you a
18:32fellow Seahorse alum that has lived such
18:35a life.
18:36and accomplished countless achievements
18:39in the performance of his duties while
18:41serving admirase
18:44stressful conditions.
18:47So committee members, head of schools,
18:50faculty, alums, distinguished guests,
18:56before I drag Mark Vos up here,
19:00I want to just give you a little bit
19:02more. He started his military service in
19:051989.
19:07And by the time he had finished,
19:11he had been decorated
19:14as a combat veteran who'd served and
19:17been awarded more than 53 medals for
19:20commendations, achievement, service, and
19:22performance. That includes the Legion of
19:25Merit, three grand stars,
19:29Defense Metorial Service, four Army
19:32Merritorial Service Medals, two Joint
19:36Service Commendations, six Army
19:39Commenations,
19:41the Nolton Award Medal for Distinguished
19:43Intelligence Professionals, and numerous
19:45other achievements and campaign medals.
19:48And if that wasn't enough, he also got
19:49the C the combat action badge, airborne
19:52jump wings, and the Coington Army staff
19:56ID badge.
20:00Mark graduated
20:04gosh with 20 of 20 different training
20:07certifications, two master's degrees,
20:10and a degree in computer science.
20:13among his credentials and there are too
20:15many to name them all but I would
20:17highlight cyber and intelligence support
20:20to cyber operations planning training
20:23and execution
20:24strategic level intelligence operations
20:26to include serving directly under
20:30the secretary of defense for
20:31intelligence and security.
20:34He was a director of army open-source
20:37intelligence program,
20:40director of intelligence, chief of army
20:41reserve G2
20:44and joint intelligence program manager
20:46NATO.
20:48He served in campaigns in Panama, Iraq,
20:52Kosovo, Afghanistan.
20:56Mark is a subject matter expert in all
21:00sorts of intelligence
21:02and a specialist in operational art,
21:04strategic and operational plans, command
21:07policy formation, joint concept
21:09development and experimentation,
21:11strategic intelligence, and the list
21:13could go on.
21:14Following his service, he continued to
21:17work as a defense contractor
21:21and he is a certified
21:23program manager and business
21:25administrator IT professional in concert
21:28with his lovely wife Betsy.
21:30They own and operate their businesses
21:33and Mark is aggressively engaged in real
21:35estate development which he's quite
21:37passionate about.
21:41He's an accomplished leader.
21:44He's been where the action is.
21:47And I've I prayed for him many, many
21:50times, not knowing where he was.
21:53For example, when the Berlin Wall was
21:55coming down, I had no idea he was right
21:58there.
22:01Well, as you heard, there numerous
22:04worthy accomplishments. as a Christ
22:06Church student. He was an athlete and a
22:08leader and a scholar and a whole lot of
22:11fun to be around.
22:14And I'll leave you the way I began. Be
22:17strong and courageous. Do not be afraid.
22:22Do not be discouraged. For the Lord your
22:24God will be with you wherever you go.
22:28>> Amen.
22:30>> Colonel Vos front and center.
22:53For industrial year 2025, Christ Church
22:56recognizes Colonel Mark E. Beos, class
22:58of 82. Since his graduation in 1982,
23:02Mark has been a constant and stellar
23:04cheerleader for Christ Church School in
23:05the class of 1982. Mark has achieved
23:08military excellence throughout his 25-
23:11year career in the United States Army.
23:13He served multiple tours of duty in
23:16combat as an army intelligence officer.
23:19He was on the ground in the Middle East
23:21as he served the highest levels of
23:22military intelligence. He has been
23:24recognized with numerous medals and
23:26honors for bravery and leadership. He is
23:28a shining example of what Christ Church
23:30alumnist can contribute to our country.
23:32Christ Church School is honored to
23:34induct Mark into the Hall of Fame. And
23:36on behalf of Patrick St. Clair, who was
23:38a part of the the the initial nomination
23:41and I joined him, we present this to
23:44you.
24:12George is tall.
24:16So, committee members, uh, faculty and
24:20staff, headmaster, distinguished
24:22visitors, uh, and of course the alumini
24:25that I have misbehaved with for many
24:27years. Um,
24:30please tell me that you don't actually
24:32believe any of that stuff.
24:35I mean, can you imagine me being in the
24:38military?
24:41So the spring of 1982,
24:46those were the exact words that I said
24:48to Dan Noah as we were you had me in one
24:51of those sessions
24:53uh that you know kind of like a come to
24:55Jesus talk about you know you got to
24:57plan for your future and it was not just
25:00me or or Dan but all of us had to go
25:03through this thing because they the
25:04intent was you don't want to be that
25:06without a rudder and let nature you
25:09know decide your
25:10planning. If you have some great
25:14expectation that you want to achieve it,
25:15then do it. But it it's done planned,
25:18right? So Dan was and many rest in
25:23peace. Dan was a magnificent person. He
25:27um in every way and he was
25:30right there beside and atypical with all
25:34the faculty here at Christ Church. There
25:37was no 40hour week. They were here. They
25:40were here all day, every day, 247, 365.
25:45And they would go way beyond, you know,
25:48what they were expected to to do and
25:50their duties to make sure that every
25:53single student was capable and and
25:58headed in the right direction to be, I
26:01use an R&D expression, all they can be.
26:03Um, but that was the truth. I remember
26:07being here two months and Pope and I
26:11miss Pope. In fact, as I walked in here,
26:13I'm like, "Where's Pope?" Um, and for
26:15those of you who know Pope was, he was
26:17the chaplain here before, but um Pope
26:20was unique and he would take us places
26:23and let us misbehave a little bit. Um,
26:26but he was that person who could get
26:29through to the hardest of the students.
26:32You know, every once in a while you got
26:34that small percentage of folks that
26:35maybe they got some issues or whatever
26:37and it's hard to reach them and really
26:39communicate with them. He was that guy
26:41that could breach that those barriers.
26:43So there was nothing that could stop
26:47anyone who attended Christ Church from
26:49achieving their greatness. Um and I got
26:53to say I've never been anywhere where
26:55the people the faculty and staff were
26:58were so dedicated. It was amazing. Um
27:01I've been very fortunate. Um as I got
27:03into college I had some great mentors
27:05and as I foolishly milary because Dan
27:08was right because he well see Dan was
27:11the one who recommended that you know
27:13he's more I think you'd be considerate
27:16put on the list because we were trying
27:17to get to that short list right and um I
27:22don't know sharing with you so at this
27:24point I had not been taken very
27:26seriously and so the end was you know
27:29kind of kind of firm and so he says uh
27:33you know you know come on now and I said
27:36that's what I said, "Yeah, can you
27:38imagine being out of the military?" Now,
27:40in classic Dan Milan style, he says to
27:43me, "Mark," and he had this piercing
27:45blue eyes. Mark, you know, this
27:48drawstick is categorized as a
27:51multi-function sporting equipment. Now,
27:54for those of you who don't speak Daniel,
27:56let me translate. That means you're
27:58going to need a shoe horn and probably
28:00some pliers and a few other, you know,
28:02tools for your your toolbox to get his
28:05lacrosse stick out of your rear end. So,
28:09um, and it's funny because every time I
28:12think of Dan, he had that lacrosse stick
28:15and it was used mostly to smack you up
28:17the head sometimes, but he always had
28:19some piece of sport equipment and he was
28:22always motivating everyone. um as was
28:25the rest of the st of the the faculty
28:26and staff. It was I'd never seen
28:29anything like it, but um it was due to
28:31their efforts with me that really
28:34allowed me, enabled me, made me see the
28:37future, gave me the the confidence to do
28:40it. Um and again, as I went through
28:43college and everything into the
28:45military, I I was again fortunate with
28:48with great mentors. Um, so
28:52well maybe there are some truths to uh
28:54some of the stuff George said. Um, and
28:58let me just say this as an intelligence
29:00person I would I was very curious um as
29:04I went in and this is the first time in
29:07my entire life I have ever truly
29:10admitted what I did for the government
29:12in an open forum because you didn't do
29:17that right. It was u I mean it depending
29:21on the situation that could be treason,
29:22right? So you never admitted that you
29:25worked as an intelligence operative for
29:27the government and you know you have the
29:31DNI which you hear about on duty has a
29:33CIA and you have the under secretary for
29:36intelligence who has all the others
29:39innocent. Right? So one has to support
29:43the other and neither one of them can
29:46really get everything that they need
29:47done. about each other. So they co-share
29:50that intelligence uh aspect the whole
29:53the whole gaboo. I'm just trying to
29:55summarize here and then they answer to
29:57Congress stand intelligence committees
30:00and those kinds of things. Um so working
30:03at that level I considered a great honor
30:05because I made it all the way at the
30:06very top tip of the spear and um I
30:09really enjoyed it and maybe I'll go
30:12back. Um but uh as I was departing u I
30:17made he made me promise that I would uh
30:20do some things down that way because I
30:22live in Cook Beach though Maridon which
30:25is the middle island of Cook Beach. Um
30:27and right there is NASA right and a
30:30couple of the other space agencies and
30:32my wife and I enjoy watching rockets go
30:34up and whatnot but um but there's a lot
30:37of opportunity there. I'm not entirely
30:40sure what he had in mind for me there
30:43but said he's got plenty of work for me.
30:45So, advise calls.
30:48So, anyway, I I don't know that and this
30:53is going to sound a little funny, but
30:55you know, I just did my job really. I
30:58don't know that I deserve this because
31:00when you think of it in that way, u
31:05mix makes mixed emotions. Let me just
31:07say it that way.
31:09But thank you.
31:11>> Thank you.
31:24Thank you.
31:26The next presenter will be Steven Flur,
31:28former faculty and coach and father of
31:31Matt Flur, class of 2008.
31:48Good morning.
31:51My name is Steve and I'm st
31:56first of all I'd like to express my
31:57gratitude school coyle director of
32:01development Ger Micah Erica and Libby
32:06and the entire
32:10This is a special place,
32:14a truly special place. Not just the
32:16chapel,
32:18but the campus
32:21river town
32:25for Bannon Creek and the people.
32:28The reason we're here today is to
32:30recognize and honor three people. To
32:33induct Mark, Don, and Matt to the Christ
32:35School Hall of Fame.
32:38However, before I get to the primary
32:39reason I stand here to lect her, I'd
32:41like to take a moment to recognize,
32:43remember, and honor some other people
32:48faculty members and administrators
32:50Molly, Will, Jennifer, Ed, Kim, Donnie,
32:54Jill, Lori, Sarah, Robbie, Matt, Scott,
33:00and Jeff.
33:02teammates Kyle, Megan, Martin, Jamie,
33:06Walker, and Ryan,
33:09as well as dear friends,
33:18Banks,
33:20Joe, Corgi,
33:22and Julia, every single person
33:25mentioned, and countless others had
33:28positive and meaningful impact on Mass.
33:31each invested their time, shared their
33:34wisdom, provided guidance, and helped
33:36prepare him for the challenges he
33:38undertook in the places he went after
33:39graduation.
33:42It truly takes a village. I see a number
33:44of you here today. Thank you for
33:46attending.
33:48Matt grew up with Rome. The boat house
33:51was his second home. The athletes were
33:53his older siblings and cousins. His
33:56childhood included riding the coaching
33:58launches, riding the shotgun in the
34:00truck, towing the trailer,
34:03towing the shell, and attending races up
34:05and down the east coast out west of the
34:08San Diego Crew Classic across the
34:10Atlantic to the Henley World. As a
34:14result of all of this, he learned some
34:16great life lessons.
34:19I felt it would only be natural for Matt
34:21to join the Christ Church team and learn
34:23even more.
34:25Fortunately, he saw the light and made
34:27his way to the boat house of Rose.
34:31As a rowing coach, I've always felt that
34:33the best part of the day was the
34:35privilege of spending two or three hours
34:37each afternoon on the water with the
34:39athletes in the shelves. At Christ
34:42Church, it got exponentially better when
34:45one of the athletes were
34:48Matt learned how to row as a sophomore.
34:50He sat in the middle of the boat and
34:52learned some great lessons.
34:54while following his more experience and
34:56humans. In the sport of rowing, all the
35:00athletes are equal. They are in the same
35:02boat.
35:04However, there are different qualities
35:06and skills that are required of athletes
35:08to sit in certain seats within the boat.
35:11The stroke seat is one such position. A
35:14quality stroke must be incredibly fit
35:17and very consistent.
35:19the human metronome.
35:21The stroke must establish an easy rhythm
35:23for the crew to follow. This is
35:26incredibly hard to do well. It's about
35:29sacrificing for the veteran of the crew.
35:32The best strokes always give credit to
35:34the crew when things go well and take on
35:37the responsibility from the crew when
35:39things don't work out.
35:42There are three words that come to mind
35:44when describing the perfect stroke.
35:47Sacrifice.
35:48service and humility.
35:51As a junior, Matt moved into the stroke
35:53seat. The first boat had a fair amount
35:56of success during his final three years.
35:59Twice met on this Virginia State
36:01Championship and competed in the finals
36:03of the Scholastic National Championship.
36:06During this period, he was named the
36:08team MVP every season and named and
36:13honored as the male athlete of the year
36:16as a senior in the class. Matt
36:18consistently
36:20was consistently on the deans and
36:22headmasters lists and was a member of
36:24the National Honor Society.
36:26After graduation,
36:28there were plenty of stops. In the
36:31summer of 2007,
36:33Matt stroke the US crew at the 119 World
36:36Championships in Beijing, China.
36:39He attended the Ken School for a PG year
36:41and again sat stroke seat and became the
36:45MVP.
36:47He spent the next four years at the
36:48Naval Academy.
36:50Like all first year rows there, he spent
36:52a year in the freshman A. During his
36:55final three years, he was a mainstay in
36:58the first varsity. For four years, he
37:02was in the stroke seat for every single
37:04race. The team was ranked as high as
37:06fifth nationally and he was twice
37:09honored as the team MVP. only the first
37:12only the fourth person to ever be
37:14recognized by RN twice.
37:18His chosen path after graduation and
37:20commissioning was to become a surface
37:22warfare officer. He served for seven
37:24years. His first stop was on the USS
37:28Ingrahammer.
37:30He completed his SW qualifications and
37:32served as division officer in four
37:34different areas during his two and a
37:36half year scholarship which included the
37:39lengthy deployment in the Pacific.
37:41Next up he was with the coiper while in
37:45the UAE they provided escorts for all US
37:49and partnerships passing through the
37:50Gulf of Oman and the straight of
37:54additionally they oversaw security for
37:56the port.
37:58Finally, for a short tour at the naval
38:01academy, he taught seammanship and
38:04navigation and was the OE, the officer
38:07rep for the heavyweight crew.
38:10After separating from the Navy, Matt
38:12worked in Washington DC for a little bit
38:15and then he saw the light,
38:18became a rowing coach. He was assistant
38:21coach at Navy for three years and then
38:24spent two years at Yale and a similar
38:26role. He returned to the academy in 2024
38:30as the associate head coach and four
38:32months ago he was named the head coach
38:34of Henry Ron at the United States
38:36Academy.
38:38The aforementioned traits of a great
38:40stroke sacrifice, service and humility
38:43are also traits necessary to be a great
38:46leader officer.
38:48These are the traits that will make him
38:50a phenomenal coach and the absolute best
38:52person to lead the heavyweight learning
38:54program.
38:57While I was here, I had a few names, dad
39:00and coach. The audience, the setting, or
39:04the topic determine the title.
39:07And now it's dad, Steve, or coach also
39:11driven by the audience and the topic.
39:15a complete role reversal. He now has two
39:17names, Matt and Coach. Again, driven by
39:22the setup.
39:23The saying goes, your father is the only
39:25man who has ever wanted you to do better
39:28than him.
39:41Standing here.
39:48I can without a doubt tell you that Matt
39:50has eclipsed me in every facet and I
39:54could be not h not happier. I could not
39:56be happier to end this or more proud of
40:00the man he is today.
40:03It is my honor to introduce my son M.
40:35Christ Church School Hall of Fame
40:37athletics
40:39induction year 2025 Christ Church School
40:42recognizes Matthew J. A floor class of
40:4607. Matt was a three-year student
40:48leader, member of the National Honor
40:49Society, and head masters student. He
40:52competed each season in Rome. He was a
40:56six time,
40:57won several state national
41:00championships. As a senior, he was voted
41:03male athlete of the year. Matt went on
41:05to the collegiate level and won the MVP
41:09both as a junior and a senior at the
41:11United States Naval Academy for US
41:13Academy. Matt's achievements in the
41:16sport of rowing as both an athlete and
41:19coach at the United States Naval Academy
41:21exemplify a career defined by excellence
41:24and leadership. Christ Church School is
41:26honored to have done that and
41:48Uh,
41:50I do not enjoy this moment. Um, but it
41:55was kind of fun to sit there and the
41:57last time I stood here was my senior
41:58speech
42:00and uh I could not have tried to give
42:02you that quicker.
42:08It's it's pretty special to be back. I
42:10haven't had an opportunity to be back
42:12much. Um,
42:15and it's funny to kind of like hear him
42:17talk about being deemed listeners list
42:20and uh a lot of people think the on
42:23those lists. Um,
42:26and uh, it's fun. I just Molly, I see
42:30right there. It's been so long, but
42:32there people like you, that's the reason
42:34I really made it through here. Um, and
42:37was able to go on and do what I did. Um,
42:42but when I really reflect back on my
42:44time at Christ Church,
42:47it was just the perfect place for what I
42:51needed. at time and you know we moved
42:55here because of you know a lot of
42:57different reasons and uh this place gave
42:59me a
43:04just gave me a community and
43:07I remember the first time showing up um
43:11Mrs. Schroeder picking me up from the
43:13airport because you had kidney stones
43:15and
43:18but I felt like I immediately knew her
43:19and it was only one minute of meeting
43:22her and you know the homers and and the
43:25buyers and and everyone it just it just
43:27immediately was family and that was
43:30something that was very much needed at
43:32the time. And
43:35the real uh the real lesson that I take
43:38away from Christ Church my time here was
43:42that hard work
43:44can get you most places. Um and that's
43:49how I fell in love with rowing. And then
43:50uh there was a quote that my dad loves
43:53quotes and he put them around the barn
43:55down there in Roseill and one of them
43:56was uh
43:59in rowing it's not the talented person
44:02that perseveres is the hardest working
44:04person that perseveres. And for some
44:07reason that just struck a real cord with
44:09me. And that's I think when I fell in
44:11love and I could I could do that. I
44:13couldn't uh I was never going to be on
44:15the football team or on the basketball
44:16team here. I lacked that hand eye
44:19coordination uh that is quite necessary.
44:22Um
44:23but I think I could I could go for a
44:26long time and rowing rewards that. So
44:30that's what I've taken from here most is
44:32is hard work. I came in here with not
44:35really knowing what I was going to do
44:36with my life and working hard here in
44:38this environment with the family opened
44:41up so many doors and um it's exciting to
44:44hear that you know over 200 people in
44:47the class and and knowing that they're
44:49going to they're getting that same
44:51opportunity hopefully um and can really
44:54make something of themselves. Um
44:57but I would not be here if it weren't
45:01for the Christ Church community and a
45:04lot of people in this room. Um,
45:08and just, you know, putting up with me
45:11being a faculty kid, skateboarding
45:12around,
45:15climbing on roofs and
45:18doing stuff we shouldn't be doing, but
45:20realizing that we needed that space to
45:23to learn and grow.
45:25So, I appreciate this and I'll honor
45:27this and uh I need to make my way back
45:29now, that's for sure. So, I'll do my
45:32best. Um, but thank you so much.
45:46Congratulations again. Next presenter is
45:49Ed Homer, teacher, coach at church.
45:59Good morning.
46:01>> This is Christ Church.
46:04Um I I wasn't ready for all these faces
46:08that would come, but I was especially
46:10struck with mention of Pope Gregory.
46:13He was on his way to retirement and was
46:16in fact, I guess, just retired when I
46:19arrived. And um and I thought it was
46:22really I was a damn Yankee and that he
46:25wasn't prepared to tell me that and he
46:27said because I'm a damn Yankee too. Um
46:30but the but the generations of Christ
46:32Church families and people and leaders
46:35that um through their relationships and
46:38their relatives are here and um just
46:42that that the idea that there was a hall
46:44of fame comes from um originally from a
46:48a sit on the back porch at at Cliff's
46:51house. Cliff and Muffin did were down on
46:53the water. Um, another Christ Church
46:56family lives there now. But at the end
46:58of every reunion, as you go back in the
47:00old days, that Cliff put on a put on a
47:03show and and so it was a lot of work and
47:05and as a young faculty member, my wife
47:08and I were um this we're all in. This is
47:12uh this is what you do. You're all in.
47:14So, um, every day at school and on duty
47:17and coaching on three seasons at that
47:19time and and all the students you had
47:21and living on the dormatory, that's kind
47:24of what you signed up for. And um, Cliff
47:27said, you know, one day we're going to
47:28do this thing where we're going to have
47:30a Hall of Fame and and someday we're
47:32going to get there. We're going to do
47:34this. And uh so I I got the opportunity
47:38when when my clip passed. Uh
47:42let's do it. Anyhow, all right. So um
47:46this is for Dom. I'm honored to be here.
47:48I have some remarks. Um but I'm going to
47:50start with the um the plaque. Dom has
47:53been a basketball coach at Christ Church
47:55School for more than 36 years with
47:57decades of winning teams, numerous
48:00championships. He's a legendary local
48:02sports icon and Middle Sex County friend
48:04and neighbor. Don coached and officiated
48:07basketball and baseball for the youth in
48:09our community, including Christ Church
48:11faculty and staff children. Don has
48:14pursued an admirable path of assisting
48:17others both personally and
48:19professionally. He extends a helping
48:21hand to those who need it. His success
48:24reflect proudly his successes reflect
48:27proudly on Christ Church School and we
48:30are honored to induct Don into the Hall
48:33of Fame. Um so uh I usually write it
48:37down because because I could tend to
48:39ramble. Um so um good morning everybody.
48:43My name's Ed Homer. Um, I've been here
48:45for a little while coaching and teaching
48:47and living on the dorm with my wife and
48:49we raised our son here and it was a
48:51great place to raise a kid. Um, I'm
48:54honored to be with you this morning to
48:56celebrate the contributions of my friend
48:58and my colleague Don Harris and to
49:01introduce him as a member of the Christ
49:03Church School Hall of Fame. I am really
49:06excited to see the old friends and the
49:08legendary Christ Church coaches. Um, I
49:11didn't know Butch was here and Butch is
49:13here. It's just tremendous. Um, Steve
49:16Lord, Ben Thompson, all of you who are
49:18out there who have coached on the
49:20sidelines and on the benches of Christ
49:22Church School, on the water, all that
49:25you've done for all the kids, thank you
49:26so much and thanks for being here. Um,
49:29Cliff would be honored.
49:31I know Steve's pride. Crazy. Crazy.
49:37That's a great thing.
49:41So, in preparing to ask Don to step
49:43forward, I'm going to speak briefly
49:45about two lessons that I learned here at
49:47Christ Church School that Dawn helped me
49:49learn at Christ Church School. So, today
49:52is my 12,073rd
49:54day living and working at Christ Church.
49:58It's been a wonderful ride. Don Harris
50:02has served the students of CCS five
50:04years. He served five years before I
50:06ever got here. So, imagine the number of
50:09days he had stamina out there on the
50:13pews. Um, I wish that I had made more. I
50:15didn't know there there would be this
50:17kind of a pr crowd, but there are cards.
50:20Um, some of you have cards. I I put them
50:23all on the benches. Um, but I took this
50:27two-sided card as the basketball
50:31um, banners in the gym and when I was
50:37part of the nomination process for Dawn,
50:39it's way beyond time. It should have
50:41happened before, but anyway, I said,
50:43"Well, I have to get stats together and
50:45I have to get people that will, you
50:47know, write the letter of recommendation
50:48to the selection committee." That wasn't
50:50hard. None of it was. It was easy. But
50:53when it came to the stats, that's
50:55something that the Hall of Fame has
50:57really kind of emerged with that because
50:59at the beginning they didn't have stats
51:02because it was, you know, 40 years
51:04before or more. And so they there's not
51:08a collection of statistics. Well, this
51:10is easy. If you look at the banners in
51:12that gymnasium, it's crazy. So what I
51:15did is I in talking to Don, we figured
51:18that it was about 87 when uh when Butch
51:22Keller Hall of Famer Butch Keller said,
51:25you know, come on and join us. And so I
51:28went to the to the to the banners and
51:31you can see it. It's crazy. Um these are
51:36not very large. They're not fancy and
51:38they're homemade. They're also durable,
51:40informative, and important. They are
51:43resistant to smears and they won't
51:45shrivel up in a storm.
51:47Wait a minute. That's Don Harris.
51:51So, here are these two lessons.
51:57Nice work.
51:59Lesson one, to serve is to lead. Lesson
52:03two, what you do speaks so loudly I
52:06can't hear what you say. Serve to lead.
52:09When you go to work and you get paid,
52:11you've done your job. when you give all
52:13your free time, your whole body and your
52:15soul to your community you serve. I was
52:18fortunate and honored during my career
52:20to gain some recognition as a coach. I
52:23learned volumes from strong women and
52:26generous men. Like any coach, I stole
52:28most everything I know about coaching
52:30from other coaches. About 20 years ago,
52:33George Moore, class of 82, handed me his
52:36business card. It read servant leader.
52:40It was then I found the label that I
52:43needed to identify the people that I
52:45looked up to. So looking back at 35
52:49years as a head coach, I can say with
52:50unwavering confidence, if you don't
52:53serve, you can't really lead. Sadly, too
52:56many times this is missed nowadays. Don
53:00Harris and I have never discussed this.
53:02I did not tell him I would say this.
53:06He is the model of servant.
53:09So, I don't know much, but I do know
53:12about coaching high school kids, and I
53:14know how Christ Church School works. For
53:16more than 38 years, Don Harris has been
53:18in Yaro Gym serving and leading at
53:20Christ Church. Back to those cards. Just
53:24look, it's two-sided. Coach Harris has
53:27been part of so many incredible teams.
53:29For his supporting testimony, I could go
53:32to anyone over the entire time I've been
53:34here and beyond. Besides coaching
53:37legends like Butch Keller and Glenn
53:39Taylor, Ben Thompson, I rarely I I I I
53:43mentioned um that they did these things.
53:48All these guys did these things, but
53:50Don's always been there. Some head
53:53coaches come and some head coaches go
53:55and he's been here. So I I got in touch
53:58with Martz. Martz Washington was a
54:00football basketball captain and a
54:02tremendous leader here. and I got in
54:04touch with Karan Williams. He's um
54:06current member of the United States
54:08Secret Service, former major college
54:10star, played professionally. Um they
54:13could not say enough about coaches
54:15Harris's support and his knowledge of
54:17the game. There are basketball records
54:20and milestones going back to the 80s.
54:22And so this card, I just cut it off.
54:24There were several before 1988, but look
54:28at what happened since 1988.
54:31Almost every accomplishment you see on
54:33the banners in York Gymnasium involve
54:35Don. I dare say a few of them would have
54:38been there without him. As much as my
54:41time coaching here seems like a
54:43lifetime, Don has to be beat by a mile.
54:46Don's service to our school and our kids
54:48is amazing. Here's the kicker. He does
54:52not work here, so he does not receive a
54:54paycheck. I have never ever heard him
54:57ever complain once ever or let anyone
55:00down. Don is among the best servant
55:04leaders I've met. Second lesson. What
55:07you do speak so loud I can't hear what
55:09you say. I used that a lot in football.
55:12A lot. Almost 20 years ago, William and
55:15Mary head football coach Mike London. At
55:17the time he was at UVA. He's a defensive
55:19coordinator. He handed me this gym. that
55:22was up on the wall when I had one of my
55:23kids visiting in a recruiting trip. And
55:26um as a defensive coordinator, he was
55:29also hyped and and if you know Coach
55:31London, he's very good at at touching
55:34your emotion and getting you excited. Um
55:38I thought this summed up what kids need
55:40to know when you're trying to reach your
55:42hard goals. When you really want to do
55:44it, you just got to do it. You can't
55:45talk about it. and what Don has done uh
55:49since he joined Hall of Famer Butch
55:51Keller at the bench in Yarro in 1988.
55:55Speak so loudly there's nothing I can
55:57say that could touch it. I laminated
56:00this so you could see it for yourself.
56:02Don Harris is a local service legend
56:05besides being a Christ Church legend. He
56:08y He is a member of the board of
56:10supervisors, but who knows how long he
56:12has officiated youth and scholastic
56:14basketball and baseball. Can you imagine
56:17the sheer number of games that he's been
56:19a part of? I I can't I couldn't I
56:21couldn't figure out how to figure it
56:23out. So, I did. Whether as a member of
56:25the board of supervisors, umpiring
56:27baseball at CCS throughout the region,
56:29officiating youth youth basketball, as a
56:32husband and a father and a CCS parent
56:36and a Hall of Fame basketball coach,
56:38he's he's a role model. So, uh, for
56:43Catherine and for RP and for Ann and for
56:46your entire family, what Don speaks so
56:49loud, he what Donna does speak so
56:51loudly, I could humbly say only this.
56:54Let us welcome him to the Christ Church
56:56School Hall of Fame. Thank you.
57:47Welcome everybody. Um, thank you for
57:50being here. Uh, especially thanks to my
57:53family, friends. I have uh some players
57:58in the in the gallery, some coaches, and
58:01it's wonderful to see everybody for
58:03sure.
58:05Bear with me a minute.
58:13All right. Thank you, Mr. Homo, for that
58:18uh nice delivery. I appreciate that. I'm
58:20not sure I need to say anything.
58:26And I've been friends and Jennifer for
58:28many, many, many years. And for a while
58:32here, you had to play multi-ports when
58:35you came here. So, at the time that I
58:39came to this uh school to Christ Church,
58:43um soccer and football were the main two
58:47sports here. So Ed and I spent a lot of
58:50time at times talking about who we get
58:52next years
58:54because most of the time it was the uh
58:58the players that came to play basketball
59:02also played football and were very good
59:04at that. So uh him and I have had have
59:07been together. So when I was asked by
59:09Huntley, well who do you want to
59:11nominate or do your presentation?
59:15And I had several people in mind, but I
59:17said really hands down, it's Ed Homer
59:19because him and I have probably been
59:22here the longest of any coaches ever uh
59:25at the school and um I would like him to
59:28do the presenting. So, thank you again
59:30very much for that. Um
59:35in my family, there's a side joke. Of
59:38course, my wife's going to like it.
59:42and that is
59:44the mar our marriage is um temporarily
59:48on hold during the current basketball
59:51season
59:54and trust me I would not have been here
59:57uh as long as I had been here if it
59:59hadn't been for my family I had two kids
1:00:03that graduated here Michael and
1:00:05Catherine but Am's a big basketball fan
1:00:08she loves basketball o over and above
1:00:11all other sports and she's been here for
1:00:14a lot of the things that have that have
1:00:16taken place here at Christ Church. So,
1:00:19thank you Ann for putting up with that
1:00:21for all these years.
1:00:24I'd like to thank the um Hall of Fame
1:00:27committee uh for this induction. It's uh
1:00:31very nice and I appreciate it greatly.
1:00:35I'd like to thank Billy Cole for his u
1:00:38continued vision and support for the
1:00:41school. In fact, we talked before we
1:00:43came and I really show my age uh of how
1:00:47long I've been here because um
1:00:50when I started here, it was strictly a
1:00:53boarding school. uh there was no women
1:00:57or girls here and there was uh very
1:01:00little if any of foreign exchange
1:01:03students. So the vision of Christ Church
1:01:06and what has happened over the years uh
1:01:09has been really um great to see and the
1:01:14accomplishment of everybody involved
1:01:17with that. Um
1:01:21I'd also like to thank Mr. Gallagher.
1:01:23I've known him for many years as well.
1:01:26Uh he made this whole process very
1:01:29seamless and painless.
1:01:31Um and in fact, I told him the other
1:01:34day, I I like to be around people that
1:01:39have their act together and do what
1:01:40they're supposed to do. And Huntley has
1:01:43done that all these years. And it's been
1:01:46a pleasure to work with you here as
1:01:47well. Thank you very much.
1:01:50I thought it might be interesting just
1:01:52to talk a little bit about when I first
1:01:54came here.
1:01:56Um,
1:01:59when I was in college at business school
1:02:01at VCU, I spent a lot of time in the
1:02:04education department.
1:02:06And the reason for that was I was pretty
1:02:09clear with both sides, the education
1:02:12department and the business school. I
1:02:13wanted to be in business, but I wanted
1:02:17to coach. And how do I do that?
1:02:20And all of them said the same thing. You
1:02:24what you want to do is not unheard of.
1:02:27It might be difficult, but you have to
1:02:29find the right fit of what that is. And
1:02:34I certainly found the right fit. I had
1:02:37to have a to be able to coach, I had to
1:02:39be able to
1:02:42work a full-time business job and then
1:02:44find a way to work in being able to
1:02:46coach. And Mr. Butch Keller
1:02:50made that possible for him for me and
1:02:52thank you very much for being here
1:02:54today. Butch and I played on um a
1:02:58recreational softball league and at the
1:03:01time um there was a men's group that
1:03:04came and played basketball. So him and I
1:03:06had an opportunity to do both of those
1:03:09together. and somewhere in that
1:03:11exchange,
1:03:12uh, he said, "Hey, I'm looking for an
1:03:14assistant coach and I think you fit the
1:03:17bill and would you be interested?" And
1:03:19that's how I got started with Christ
1:03:21Church. You have to understand though
1:03:24with him asking me that, that was way
1:03:27outside the realms of how things were
1:03:29done. if you didn't work at a school and
1:03:32coach at a school or was teaching
1:03:36something, uh, chances are you weren't
1:03:38going to be in the athletic program
1:03:41coaching. It's just the way it was. Um,
1:03:45and it's funny, 35, 36, 37 odd years
1:03:48from now, there's no county at that
1:03:51time, there was no county that had extra
1:03:54people that came in and worked with the
1:03:55program. you either had to be a teacher
1:03:58in there uh to be able to coach. And um
1:04:02nowadays
1:04:04uh if you stay around long enough that
1:04:06pendulum kind of goes around and
1:04:08changes. Nowadays
1:04:10uh there's no county in the seven
1:04:12counties that we're close to here um
1:04:16that don't have extra people that come
1:04:18in and help with their athletic
1:04:20programs. So that's been a big change
1:04:22from when I don't know what strings bull
1:04:25Butch pulled at the time. Um we did have
1:04:30uh Mr. Fipps here and he was um
1:04:34interested in development of sports and
1:04:37whatever that pertain to. Um and um so
1:04:43Bush had found a way to make it happen
1:04:45and consequently um we coached together
1:04:50and had a very successful run. Matter of
1:04:53fact um the um
1:04:57and and our goal was at the time Christ
1:05:00Church had had some legendary people
1:05:03that had played for him. Uh but um our
1:05:07goal was to put the Christ Church name
1:05:12um particularly in the Tidewater region
1:05:16um in the Richmond region, DC and
1:05:20Maryland. We wanted the name to be out
1:05:23there that Christ Church also had a
1:05:27pretty damn good basketball program.
1:05:30And that's what we uh decided to do. and
1:05:34we ran at that pretty hard. Um,
1:05:38it was not unheard of or at the time
1:05:43there was going to be no surprise
1:05:45because both Butcher and I are both
1:05:48highly highly highly competitive
1:05:53and we don't like to lose. Which, by the
1:05:56way, that's that's one of my sayings to
1:05:58teams all the time, which is wanting to
1:06:01win is one thing. Hating to lose is a
1:06:05whole different animal. And if you've
1:06:08got some guys on your team that
1:06:10absolutely hate to lose, um you can be
1:06:14very successful. And we proved that. I'd
1:06:18like to just say a
1:06:21a yell out to uh the the Puerto Rican
1:06:26nightmare, which is here today. We ran
1:06:28that for quite a few years as well. Uh
1:06:32he's probably the longest person at
1:06:34least for my group that has come here.
1:06:36Uh thank you very much Eric and your
1:06:38daughter for being here today. Um but
1:06:42anyway, it it's been a great run. I've
1:06:45enjoyed every minute of it. It's just
1:06:48all about timing and my timing and with
1:06:51Kyla really uh turned out well and u we
1:06:55ran at it pretty hard and accomplished
1:06:58some great things.
1:07:01Also, um I just be fair to mention I was
1:07:04joking with a um
1:07:08Middle Sex High School former player.
1:07:11He's about the same age as me. Played
1:07:14for played for Middle Sex High School.
1:07:16And I know all of the top players uh
1:07:20over probably six or seven counties that
1:07:23were impact players
1:07:25um in the in the counties uh close to
1:07:29us.
1:07:30And I asked him a question. I said, and
1:07:34I already knew the answer, but I wanted
1:07:35to see what he has as a for former
1:07:37player and is very active with uh the
1:07:40Middle Sex High School program. I said,
1:07:43who is the best players that ever came
1:07:46out of Middle Sex? And I already knew
1:07:48the answer, but I wanted to hear his
1:07:50vantage point. And he named I think
1:07:52three out of the We both had the same
1:07:55three. He had one different than me on
1:07:58the fourth pick.
1:08:00Um but it was a very small number as it
1:08:04is with all of the schools here um or
1:08:09that are surrounded in seven counties
1:08:12u very limited on the number of players
1:08:15that were really big- time impact
1:08:18players
1:08:19and um he then said to me
1:08:23who's the best player to ever play at
1:08:27Christ Church and I kind of laughing a
1:08:30little bit and I said, "Well," I said,
1:08:33"You'll have to narrow down more for me
1:08:36to be able to give you that name." and
1:08:40he had a puzzle look on his face and I
1:08:42said, "If you tell me point guard, wing
1:08:45guard, shooting guard, power forward or
1:08:48center, I can narrow it down with those
1:08:51groups because I have seen a tremendous
1:08:56amount of and I don't think I would have
1:08:58been able to have that anywhere else,
1:09:01but Christ Church has put out some of
1:09:05the best players
1:09:07um in this in this area. Uh, and um,
1:09:12it's a much bigger number than most all
1:09:14the other counties that would have
1:09:17quality athletes. And I've seen a lot of
1:09:20quality athletes and like I said, from
1:09:22picking the best player that's ever
1:09:24played here, that would be a little bit
1:09:26difficult. I couldn't pick one. I could
1:09:28pick a defend particular uh point guard,
1:09:32wing guard, shooting guard,
1:09:35power forward or center, but that's how
1:09:38many that I've been able to see uh in my
1:09:42time here. Numerous numerous players. Uh
1:09:46I've had the opportunity to coach um
1:09:50division one, two, and three players
1:09:52here.
1:09:54seven counties here might have hit one
1:09:57out of all of those uh that played um
1:10:02significant basketball at the next
1:10:03level. Um I have had the opportunity
1:10:08Christ Church has given me the
1:10:09opportunity to have so many friends and
1:10:13people out there including um former
1:10:17players that I've coached. It really
1:10:20really has been um a joy for me and an
1:10:24honor. Uh and I've been able to see and
1:10:28coach and build relationships with
1:10:30people that uh otherwise any other place
1:10:34the chances of that happening would have
1:10:36been very limited for sure. Um anyway,
1:10:39back to coach Keller just for a minute.
1:10:42We had a vision on how basketball should
1:10:44be played. I've had several time after
1:10:47he left. I've had several people,
1:10:50including um Ed Homer at his stint as
1:10:54athletic director, um say, "Hey, we want
1:10:58you to stay on with the program or we
1:11:00want you to do this uh with new head
1:11:04coach." And my comments always been,
1:11:06"Let me meet him first and then I'll
1:11:08tell you if I'm just going to stay." So
1:11:11that kind of sends a message too that
1:11:13I've been here so long that their vision
1:11:16of basketball, the school's vision of
1:11:19basketball has been spot on. At the time
1:11:22when Butch came in, we wanted to ramp up
1:11:25the fact that we wanted a uptempo game.
1:11:30So that being said, uh, Coach Kelly and
1:11:33myself both like Carolina basketball,
1:11:36uptempo and play defense. and if we
1:11:40can't get the ball fast enough, we'll
1:11:41press you to get the ball back. And that
1:11:44was that was kind of the message that we
1:11:46wanted to send out there that you better
1:11:49have 10 players if you come and play us
1:11:51cuz we're going to play 10. And we're
1:11:54going to we're going to crank up the
1:11:56temperature in the gym to about 150°.
1:12:00That's old Duke trick, by the way. Uh,
1:12:04and we're going to make it as hot as you
1:12:06can because in the fourth quarter, if
1:12:08you're not used to playing 10 guys and
1:12:10if you're not used to running, you're
1:12:12going to hit the wall. And that happened
1:12:14a lot of times with our program for
1:12:16sure. And we've continued to have a
1:12:19uptempo type of basketball team and
1:12:21believe in uh defense here. And so it's
1:12:26been very easy for me to uh stay around
1:12:29as long as I have because of the way
1:12:32that the game is played here. Um
1:12:37what we want to do and what we want to
1:12:39develop on kids on what's acceptable,
1:12:42what's not acceptable. And every coach
1:12:46that has come here from college that has
1:12:49looked at particular players over time,
1:12:52one of the things they do not ask is,
1:12:55and they ask it, believe me, uh, but
1:12:59they don't typically ask is one of their
1:13:02big questions. Can he do the work here?
1:13:05They already know coming from Christ
1:13:07Church that they can do the academic
1:13:09level of what's going on. And of course,
1:13:12you know, kids get caught up on
1:13:14statistics and how many points you score
1:13:16and all of this. Um, but the next two
1:13:20questions they ask is, is the kid
1:13:23coachable?
1:13:25And how does he get along with the rest
1:13:27of his team?
1:13:31and they most of the college players
1:13:33that have gone and played um they have
1:13:37proved that as to coming from Christ
1:13:40Church and what they've been involved
1:13:42here academically and how they were
1:13:44coached. I had a co a kid that called me
1:13:48a couple years ago and he said coach I
1:13:50called you just to thank you. I said
1:13:52okay I don't get many calls for thank
1:13:54yous but thank you. What you got to say
1:13:56to me? He said, and the kids said, "We
1:14:00we were coached hard.
1:14:03You and the coaches that they were
1:14:06involved with," he said, "you guys
1:14:08coached us hard about a lot of things."
1:14:11Uh, not only basketball, but your
1:14:14temperament and how you act, etc., etc.
1:14:17and he said, "We had six freshmen that
1:14:20came out for the for the college team
1:14:23and only two of us made it. The other
1:14:27four or five said, "I'm not
1:14:32I can't do this anymore." And they quit.
1:14:34And the reason they quit was they hadn't
1:14:36been coached hard. If you play
1:14:39basketball at Christ Church, you get
1:14:41coached hard.
1:14:44We're fair about how we coach you, but
1:14:45there are things that we expect and if
1:14:48you don't fall into place on that, then
1:14:51um we let you learn that um the hard
1:14:55way.
1:14:57But anyway, it's it's been a pleasure to
1:15:00be here today. Thank you very much for
1:15:01the honor and um I'll see you on the
1:15:05floor somewhere.
1:15:09Congratulations.
1:15:24I certainly enjoyed hearing all of those
1:15:26amazing speeches. And once again,
1:15:28congratulations to all of the new
1:15:30inducted members of Christ Church Hall
1:15:32of Fame. You are truly so deserving of
1:15:35these honors. Now, I'm going to turn it
1:15:37back over to
1:15:43Thank you. That was incredible. If if
1:15:46you haven't attended Christ Church
1:15:48School or you didn't graduate from here,
1:15:49this your first day here, you can't help
1:15:52but being with Seahorse Pride today
1:15:53listening to those three inductees. That
1:15:55was incredible. And thank you for the
1:15:57for those giving those speeches. That
1:15:59was incredible for uh for Mark, for
1:16:00Matt, and for Don. Uh, and a thank you
1:16:03to Erica, to the Hall of Fame committee,
1:16:07and to our newest members of the Hall of
1:16:09Fame. But one last acknowledgement I
1:16:11want to give. You heard when we started
1:16:12this, I told you Humpty Gallier is in
1:16:14his 41st year at Christ Church School.
1:16:17This doesn't happen without Humpty
1:16:19Gallier. And it's a little uh emotional
1:16:22to say this is Humphy's last year. He is
1:16:24going to retire at the end of the year
1:16:26this year. It's going to be hard to pull
1:16:27this off without him, but a huge
1:16:29acknowledgement. Everything
1:16:53Mark a funny comment. We'll take a poll.
1:16:55How How long do you think Helen can stay
1:16:57away? So what Mark doesn't know is I'm
1:17:00not letting him get away. He's going to
1:17:02stay close for sure. So thank you all.
1:17:05Homecoming is a time to come home.
1:17:08Please take time today to walk around
1:17:10the campus, visit our buildings,
1:17:12reminisce about Christ Church cuz this
1:17:14is your home. And we look forward to
1:17:16seeing you all on the football field
1:17:18later on shortly. We'll have a special
1:17:20recognition at halftime for our
1:17:22inductees. And let's go church. Thank
1:17:25you all.
1:17:54I
1:17:58My son.
1:18:21Yes.
1:18:44Can I get one?
1:18:51Is that okay?
1:19:03Congratulations.