On Friday, March 6, Brother Martin High School joined forces with the Ruth family and New Orleans Timing Corp. for the inaugural Patrick L. Ruth Memorial Relays at Tad Gormley Stadium in City Park. The inaugural meet, in memory of Crusader alumnus LT. Patrick L. Ruth '04, USN, welcomed track and field programs from across the Southeastern region of Louisiana to compete in various events, including six field events and ten track events.
"Track and field ought to be fun. It gives a lot more opportunities for student-athletes to participate than other sports. Our son Patrick enjoyed competition but always prioritized fun," said Mr. David Ruth.
The meet also welcomed a formal Presentation of Colors by the Brother Martin NJROTC Color Guard and the national anthem performed by members of the Brother Martin Alumni Chorus. Midshipmen, representing Tulane University Navy ROTC, were also in attendance.
In honor of the memorial, each winning team, for individual relay events, was awarded a golden "Talon 17" baton honoring LTJG Wallace "Hersey" Burch and LT Patrick "Tank" Ruth. Thank you to all participating schools and teams for making this event such a success.
Final Results:
Men - Team Rankings - 17 Events Scored
1) Curtis, John - 130
2) Archbishop Rummel - 103.333
3) Jesuit, New Orleans - 92.3333
4) St. Augustine - 76
5) Brother Martin - 50.3333
6) Holy Cross - 37
7) Lusher Charter - 31
8) Metairie Park Country Day - 4
Women - Team Rankings - 17 Events Scored
1) Curtis, John - 116
2) Sacred Heart, New Orleans - 102
3) Mt. Carmel - 76
4) Dominican - 61
5) Lusher Charter - 53
6) Archbishop Chapelle - 51
7) Cabrini - 37
8) Metairie Park Country Day - 12
9) Ursuline Academy - 8
About Lt. Patrick L. Ruth
Patrick L. Ruth, a Brother Martin High School alum, was a proven leader and successful sprinter as a high school athlete. He successfully defended his District 9-5A title as 110M
Hurdles Champion and also competed in the individual Sprints and Sprint Relays throughout his high school career. After high school, Lt. Ruth became a Navy Officer after 4 years in Navy ROTC at Tulane University, where he received a full academic scholarship. He later deployed with the VAW-126 SEAHAWKS aboard the USS Harry S. Truman in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon return, he became an Instructor Pilot, training future naval aviators at Naval Air Station Meridian, until he and student Lt. JG Wallace Burch were killed during a low level training mission in the Cherokee National Forest after their T-45 Goshawk jet crashed in 2017. Patrick was 31 years old.
