Homecoming 2006:
Forging New Memories from Old Memories

Several lifetimes of memories flooded the hilltop for the three days of Homecoming 2006 in February. If you weren’t among the 250 alumni who made it back to campus, here’s a sample of some of the activities from the weekend:

• MBA Alumni Awards Luncheon
  More than 80 people gathered with MBA faculty members, alumni and School of Management and Business Dean Marsha Kelliher for a luncheon that recognized and honored Rick Timmins, MBA ’79, the 2006 Distinguished MBA Alumnus Award recipient. In the more than nine years Timmins has served as Cisco System’s vice president of worldwide sales and service finance, he has steadily created an e-culture within the company — while cutting $150 million from the budget. In 1996, it took Cisco two weeks to close its books. Today, thanks to Timmins, it takes four hours.

  In addition to his work at Cisco, Timmins has served in executive positions at Motorola. With his son-in-law, he co-founded and co-owns the six Seattle’s Best Coffee franchise stores in Austin. His volunteer activities include leading the United Way Motorola Program for three consecutive years and participating in the Austin ISD Mentoring program for three years. He has stayed involved with higher education, speaking to MBA classes at St. Edward’s and serving as a board member for three major universities in the southwest.

• Athletics Hall of Fame Induction
  Alumni athletes, past recipients, athletic coaches and current athletes gathered for the Hall of Fame induction ceremony honoring this year’s inductees: Karl Jauhiainen, ’86, men’s tennis; Kevin Karo, ’91, baseball; Aaron Farris Seafous, ’92, women’s basketball; Jimmy Wheeler, ’93, men’s basketball; and Julie Burleson Grant, ’96, volleyball. These new inductees join the other 82 members of the St. Edward’s University Athletics Hall of Fame.

• Tailgate Party & Basketball Doubleheader
  
  The Homecoming tent filled with 500 alumni, parents and students tailgating in support of the Hilltopper basketball teams. Revelers shared barbecue, conversation and pre-game entertainment by the Eggmen, a Beatles’ cover band. Later that night, both the women’s and men’s basketball teams squared off against Montana State–Billings. The women knocked off Montana State 73-72 in overtime, while the men narrowly lost 82-79.

• A Conversation with Brother Stephen Walsh, CSC, '62
  
  Brother Stephen Walsh, executive director of the Holy Cross Institute, led a discussion on how the university is preserving the Holy Cross mission through the Holy Cross Institute, designed as both a spiritual center for the university and a national anchor for training, research and worship. "The spirit of St. Edward’s hasn’t waned at all," he told the crowd. When Brother Stephen opened the floor to discussion, William Hudson, hs ’37, gave an impassioned testimony to the influence of St. Edward's on his life. "This is my first time to be here in 71 years," said Hudson, tapping his umbrella on the floor for emphasis. "I feel like I have come home."

  Brother Stephen smiled and told Hudson, “Welcome home.”