Meet the 2009 Alumni Awards Winners

Distinguished Alumnus Award
Brother Romard Barthel, CSC ’47

In 2005, Brother Romard Barthel, CSC, received the university’s Distinguished Teaching Award. Along with the award came a $1,000 prize — which he promptly returned. Instead, he asked that a scholarship be created with the funds. Thus began the Brother Romard Barthel, CSC ’47 Endowed Scholarship. To date, three students have received the award. And countless others have benefited from Brother Romard’s 58 years as a professor at St. Edward’s.

Valedictorian of his Evansville, Ind., high school class, he graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1947. Soon after, he professed his final vows and became a Holy Cross Brother. Later that year, he began teaching at St. Edward’s while also taking classes on campus. He went on to earn a PhD from UT–Austin in 1951. In addition to teaching at St. Edward’s, Brother Romard chaired the Physical and Biological Sciences Division and was religious superior at St. Joseph Hall. He also chaired the Board of Trustees. He retired in 2005 and was named professor emeritus in 2006.

Brother Romard celebrated 60 years of service to the Congregation of Holy Cross in 2004. He has been provincial of the South-West Province and first assistant general of the Congregation of Holy Cross in Rome. But he always remained “focused on teaching,” he says. His favorite part of the job? “The students. They’re the most fun. In fact, I’d almost pay to be able to teach if I didn’t have to grade papers and tests!”

Distinguished Alumnus Award
Anthony Scaperlanda ’59

Anthony Scaperlanda spent 34 years teaching college economics — and a lifetime educating
others about the social injustices economic disparity often creates.

Throughout his career, he has interpreted and discussed papal policy on economics and social justice for professional organizations and journals. He has also been president of the Association for Social Economics and the International Trade and Finance Association.

Valedictorian of his St. Edward’s class, he earned a bachelor’s in General Business in 1959. He then finished an MA and PhD at UT–Austin and joined the faculty at Northern Illinois University. By 1972, he was a full professor. Before he retired in 1998, he had chaired the Economics Department, directed Graduate Studies, and been associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He also directed the Office of Economic Education, a regional office of the Illinois Council of Economic Education.

Now living in Charlottesville, Va., Scaperlanda is active in his parish and local organizations like the Blue Ridge Area Food Network. At St. Edward’s, he has established the Scaperlanda Family Endowment Scholarship for nontraditional-aged juniors or seniors majoring in humanities, economics or social sciences. Says daughter Tonia Scaperlanda MAHS ’02, “My dad has made continuous contributions to St. Edward’s in part due to the university’s dedication to help and establish programs for women and minorities.”

Distinguished Alumnus Award
Chaplain (Col.) monsignor Sidney Marceaux JCL ’62 (deceased)

Col. Sidney J. Marceaux Jr. joined the Texas National Guard in 1956. More than half a century later, he was the oldest U.S. soldier stationed in Kuwait, even completing a one-month assignment in Iraq. But Marceaux spent just as much time helping Americans stateside.

The oldest son of French-speaking parents, Marceaux didn’t learn English until first grade. Because money was tight, he took a job delivering newspapers when he was 10. He graduated from high school in 1957 and completed his bachelor’s in Business and History at St. Edward’s in 1962. Two years later, he earned a master’s in Education from Stephen F. Austin University. Fresh out of college, he taught social studies before answering his calling to the priesthood. Ordained in 1970, he earned a master’s degree in Theology from St. Thomas University, was a chaplain at Baptist Hospital and served as superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Beaumont.

In 1975, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve Chaplain Corps and was assigned to Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. While there, he earned a master’s in Church Administration and a license in Canon Law from Catholic University of America. Marceaux, who passed away in September, made it his duty to serve soldiers of all faiths: “[My] greatest challenge is to help soldiers turn off the horrors of the fight,” he said, “so that they will be able to rest their bodies [and] clear their minds.”

Alumni Achievement Award
Margaret Juarez Gómez ’91, MLA ’04

Margaret Juarez Gómez decided to run for office in 1980 — while working toward her bachelor’s degree and raising her daughter. And she won. In fact, she defeated a 14-year incumbent to become the first Mexican-American woman elected constable in Travis County. She held that position for 14 years — and continued to chip away at the requirements for her degree during 10 of those years.

Four years after graduating with a degree in Sociology, Gómez resigned as constable to run for county commissioner of Precinct 4. She defeated another incumbent, becoming the first Mexican-American woman to hold this Travis County post as well. She was re-elected to her fourth term in 2006. Along the way, she also earned a Master of Liberal Arts from St. Edward’s.

Throughout her tenure in county government, Gómez has championed education awareness efforts in the community. She chairs the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board. She mentors women in her office and precinct, and she shares her experiences in New College with constituents who are apprehensive about pursuing their degrees. Gómez also speaks frequently to children at local elementary and middle schools.

“Helping others through public service,” Gómez says, “provides meaning to
my life.”

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