Season 1 - Gonzaga Heroes and History

As the Gonzaga Spring Musical, Into The Woods, gives its final performances this weekend, S1E25 of the Echo Ever Proudly podcast is the second part of our Spring salute to the Gonzaga Theater.

Last week, we heard GDA Hall of Fame memories from cast members from the 1972 production of Damn Yankees. This week, the spotlight shifts to three women whose talents have helped the Gonzaga Dramatic Association reach new heights over the las...

The Gonzaga Dramatic Association Spring Musical, Into The Woods opens with shows this weekend and next. Before Saturday's performance (Mar12) the GDA Hall of Fame ceremony will take place with the induction of Howard Dent '65, and the casts and crews from the 1979 production of Guys and Dolls, and the 2002 production of 42nd Street.

In S1E24, we celebrate the Gonzaga theater and hear the memories of previous Hall of Famer...

As we celebrate the Heroes and History of Eye Street, episode 23 celebrates the legendary Coach Joe Kozik (1914-1995). When Kozik arrived at Gonzaga, in the early 1940s, he brought with him a passion for sports and physical education, and a strong moral conviction.

As we’ve chronicled in earlier episodes, while on Eye Street, the tough former Penn State running back, took key stands against discrimination. To get a better sen...

Among the many Jesuits who have left their mark on Gonzaga, a name that comes up a lot from students during the mid 1950s and 60s was Fr. Anthony McHale, SJ, (1920-2006).

From 1955-1967, Fr. McHale was the revered headmaster of Gonzaga. When he passed in the Fall of 2006, it was clear from the notes of appreciation sent to the alumni office how special he was, and we share a portion of the remembrance from Glen Slocum '59 in S1E22.

Over 200 years, Gonzaga has seen new course offerings, and clubs created to meet the needs and interests of students. As Black History Month continues, we celebrate this week, a little-known hero of Gonzaga, the African-American student who co-founded WZAG: Chuck Lewis ’77.

How did Chuck’s father’s advice after a setback, inspire him? And what local TV station helped Chuck in those early days? We’ll also hea...

In June 2021, as part of back-to-back commencement exercises, Gonzaga’s 36th President, Fr. Stephen Planning took the opportunity at his final graduation ceremony to award a special Doctorate for the first time during his tenure.

As many of you know, Gonzaga College High School’s historic charter allows for the awarding of honorary degrees.

The recipient: Gabe Smith '54, the first African-American to graduate from Gonza...

This week in Episode 19 of the Echo Ever Proudly podcast, we examine how Gonzaga came to have the iconic address for the last 150+ years at "19 Eye Street." 

The 1871 decision to move from F Street was widely viewed as a disaster. Enrollment plummeted. What had motivated the Jesuits to take such a risk, and what changes were eventually made to try to bring enrollment back up?

And who was the Father Dooley of his day who got th...

Former Gonzaga Headmaster, Dr. Joseph Ciancaglini famously said the arrival of three things factored into saving Gonzaga: Tom Sluby '80, Father Dooley, S.J., and the Metro.

And what a renaissance grew out of that confluence.

Joe explains his assessment of three factors as well as his personal connection (you may not have known) to the late Fr. Allen Novotny, S.J., and how important he was to keeping Fr. Dooley's momentum going.

Cia...

This week we continue celebrating the Heroes and History of Gonzaga Basketball in Episode 17 of the Echo Ever Proudly podcast. Part two of our visit with 5 Gonzaga Basketball Icons: Coaches Dick Myers and Bill Wilson, and legendary players from the class of 1980, John Williams, Marty Favret, and Tom Sluby.

On February 1, 1980, Gonzaga became only the third school to ever win a game against DeMatha on their home court on Madison Str...

As the top-ranked and undefeated Eagles soared over DeMatha 87-73 Tuesday night (01/11/22) those of us watching online couldn't help but appreciate the strong Basketball tradition on Eye Street. And how, what we were watching, would have been hard to imagine when this week's guests arrived at Gonzaga.

Legendary Coach Dick Myers, Coach Bill Wilson, along with John Williams, Marty Favret, and Tom Sluby, (all members of the Class of '...

We found out 12/17, that the January 4, 2022 Gonzaga Business Network Career Fair event at the Carmody Center, is being rescheduled due to a rise in Covid cases locally. (Earlier versions of this episode had a visit promoting the event, we removed.)

For Christmas, we've been saving a story from Fr. Thomas Buckley S.J. and his memories of a special Christmas night he spent helping the late Fr. Horace McKenna S.J. find a room for a d...

We all know the name Kohlmann. Kohlmann Hall, the Kohlmann Address at graduation, but who was Fr. Anthony Kohlmann, S.J., the man? Tim Nau'61 briefly wondered that question in 1957 on his way to JUG. But the thought passed. After attending his 50th reunion in 2011, Tim remembered the name Kohlmann, and again wondered who was Anthony Kohlmann? Soon Tim's personal search for answers was on. Nau ordered books, researched online, and ...

S1E13 starts highlighting Saturday's (12/4) "A Roaring Return" the 41st Annual Mothers’ Club Gala. After a virtual event in 2020, Jeannette Staton and Hazel Lychak from the Mothers Club briefly share the exciting details.

Bid pay auction links here. The Gala Gram link is here.

As the 2020-2021 school year ended, one of the longtime Pillars of Eye Street, English teacher Mrs. Helen Free, retired. When Helen arrived in 1983 at ...

On November 30, 1945, under the lights at College Park's muddy Byrd Stadium, Gonzaga’s Football team, famously portrayed in an Evening Star illustration as David, upset Goliath, the barnstorming national powerhouse, Boys Town.

Fr. Flanagan's Boys were 11-0, on their fundraising - east coast run. Until they ran into an injured Gonzaga team, that found a way to dig deep.

In Episode 12 of the Echo Ever Proudly podcast, our main ...

If you've seen the banners in the Carmody Center, you likely know Gonzaga had one of its more memorable football seasons in 1959 that culminated with a City Title.

But unless you were there, you probably don't know the crazy sequence of events from November 22, to November 27th. Three football games in six days! All at the legendary Griffith Stadium (where Howard University Hospital is today). Wait until you hear about the round ro...

As Gonzaga Hockey returns to the ice after losing a year to Covid, we examine the history of the program and the legacy of Dominik Pettey '15.

S1E10 begins w/ longtime Gonzaga teacher Mark Howell '73 reacting to S1E9 (Washington Monument turned Purple + White). Mark shared his memory of the night of November 11, 1969, and his role with his brothers Mike and Jack. Howell has likely seen more than half of the 100 St. John's games in ...

November 5-6th, 2021, saw both Gonzaga Classes of '70 and '71 gather for their 50th Jubilee Reunion Celebrations on Eye Street, (Covid delayed the '70 reunion). While the oldest Catholic School rivalry took place on Buchanan Field (#GGBSJ),  a rivalry between the Class of '70 and '71 was remembered, as well. It's not often when juniors outdo seniors, but on November 11, 1969, that’s just what happened.

And just like thei...

November 5, 2021, a football rivalry renews, Gonzaga will play St. John’s for the 100th time under the lights of the recently upgraded Buchanan Field.

“Go, Gonzaga, Beat St. Johns!”

For decades students exhibited their purple-pride and school spirit with banners scattered around the DC Area... hung from overpasses, bridges, and other strategic places, exhorting the Eagles to Fly High!

In 1957, a few intrepid stude...

Retreat programs have always been a part of Faith Formation in Jesuit education. As we celebrate the history and heroes of Gonzaga, the Kairos retreat is a massive part of today's Gonzaga student experience.

This very week, a new generation of Gonzaga Students are experiencing Kairos for the first time. They join 161 other retreat groups in a special fraternity of faith. How exactly did Kairos start at Gonzaga?

The Kairos program e...