Brother Martin High School held its 8th annual President’s Dinner at Galatoire’s Restaurant. Cocktails preceded a five course meal of turtle soup, salad, trout meuniere, filet, and shared deserts. Music was provided by The Third Line Brass Band with a special rendition of the Brother Martin Fight Song by Dr. Kraig de Lanzac ’86. Our guests were welcomed by John Devlin, President of Brother Martin. He thanked the Gootee Family, Pat Gootee’65 SA and Ken Gootee ’70 of Gootee Construction, represented by Kathy and Ken Gootee and Ashley and Ben Gootee ’2001, for sponsoring the President’s Dinner. He also thanked Chairman P. Lindsey Williams ’83 (wife Jodi) for initiating the discussion which resulted in this annual event. He and his wife Jodi continue to serve on the President’s Dinner committee. John’s brief comments took us back to 1994 when Brother Martin began its Capital Campaign. Since 1994, the school has completed two phases of the campaign which resulted in the $6.2 million Thomas F. and Elaine P. Ridgley Fine Arts and Athletic Center (1999), the $7.5 million Roland and Macy Paton Meyer Science and Mathematics Building (2007), and the $3.2 million James B. Branton Chapel (2011), as well as the establishment of eight named endowments and several new scholarships. He indicated that it is now time to re-visit the Master Plan and plan Phase III of the Capital Campaign. A portion of the proceeds from this year’s dinner are dedicated to the Brother Neal Golden, S.C. Technology Endowment.
A special thanks to President’s Dinner committee members Erin and Joe Caruso ’79 (for the lovely red and yellow rose centerpieces), Christine and Milton Dureau, Jr. ’69 CJ (for providing Godiva chocolates for each guest), Karen and Chuck Stall ’76, Kenny Spellman ’84, Alumni Director, and Tommy Mitchell ’79, Development Director.
