Pius X to honor Alumni and Distinguished Stewards at the 2014 Friends of Pius X and Inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame Receptions
The weekend of August 1st-3rd is set to be jam-packed with events, reunions and honors to be given at Pius X High School. Four major events will be taking place: the school’s 4th Annual ThunderBOLT Fun Run, the Pius X All Honor Year Reunion, the annual Friends of Pius X Reception, and the school’s inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
ThunderBOLT Fun Run
Kicking off the weekend is the ThunderBOLT Fun Run, a family-friendly event including a 1-mile run/walk and a competitive 5K, with cash prizes awarded to the top finishers. This year’s Fun Run will take place on the morning of Sat., Aug. 2, 2014 at Holmes Lake Park. Scheduled to participate in this year’s run is the Most Reverend James D. Conley, Bishop of Lincoln. For more information or to register for this event, please visit: http://alumni.piusx.net/fun_run.htm. Early bird registration discount ends Fri., July 18th.
Pius X All Honor Year Reunion
On the afternoon of Sat., Aug. 2, alumni from near and far will be gathering to celebrate and reminisce at their individual class reunions as well as the Pius X All Honor Year Reunion. All honor year classes, Pius X graduates having already celebrated their 50th class reunion, and all Cathedral High School alumni are invited and encouraged to attend. Hosted by the Pius X Alumni Department and the Pius X Foundation, the event will feature school tours beginning at 3 p.m., Mass at 4 p.m., and a reception from 5-7 p.m. featuring light appetizers, a cash bar, and a short program. All Cathedral and Pius X Alumni who already have celebrated their 50th Class Reunion will be honored as members of the Golden Thunderbolt Club. To register for the All Honor Year Reunion, please visit: http://alumni.piusx.net/.
Friends of Pius X Appreciation Reception
Sunday, August 3rd, will feature the annual Friends of Pius X Appreciation Reception. This annual event honors all Pius X benefactors who support Pius with their time, talent and treasure. Additionally, the Distinguished Stewardship and Outstanding Alumni awards will be presented. This year, Tom and Rhonda Peed will be honored as Distinguished Stewards, with John Hanigan '64 (deceased) and Dr. William Mobley '66 each receiving the Outstanding Alumni award.
Distinguished Stewardship Award:
The 2014 Distinguished Stewardship Award will be presented to Tom and Rhonda Peed of Lincoln, who have been tireless ambassadors for Pius X High School and Catholic schools throughout the Diocese of Lincoln. “Without schools, you don’t have a church.” That philosophy serves as the foundation for the work Tom and Rhonda Peed have contributed toward keeping Catholic schools affordable to all. It’s a philosophy that was instilled in the Peeds by the late Bishop Glennon Flavin, who helped them understand how vibrant, affordable Catholic Schools are essential not only for the good of families and parishes, but also for the formation of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life.
Born and raised in the Fort Dodge, Iowa, area, Tom and Rhonda were married in 1977 and in 1978 founded Sandhills Publishing Company in an old blacksmith shop in Webster City, Iowa. The company’s rapid growth led them to relocate to Lincoln in 1985. As members of St. Joseph’s Parish in Lincoln, Tom and Rhonda have been active in their local parish and school since moving to the city. They have three sons, Pius X alumni Shawn ‘00, Shane ‘03, and Zachary ’10.
Tom and Rhonda have been long-time supporters of Pius X and Catholic schools throughout the diocese, contributing time, talent, and treasure through building construction, matching grant programs, teacher pay enhancements, and other funding. Their aim has been to help ensure Catholic schools don’t simply become private schools that only the wealthy can afford. The Diocesan Education Technology Initiative, which the Peeds began in 1996, provides standardized, current technology to diocesan schools and institutions along with ongoing support and training for teachers and staff.
The Peeds have supported Pius X in other ways, including an annual sponsorship of BOLT, hosting the annual Fund For Pius X phone-a-thon, sponsoring Post Prom, and, indirectly, by employing many Pius X graduates and parents of Pius X students. Their most recent gift helped establish the Nebraska Wesleyan University/Pius X Endowed Scholarship and the Tom & Rhonda Peed Work Ethic Fund. The fund rewards hard work by providing self-help grants of up to $3,000 to match the summer employment earnings of any Pius X High School graduate attending Nebraska Wesleyan University.
Outstanding Alumni Award
The Outstanding Alumni award is presented each year to a Pius X graduate who has been an outstanding representative of Pius X High School and serves as an example of leadership and service to family, friends, community and country. This year’s 2014 Outstanding Alumni Award will be presented to Class of 1966 alumnus William C. Mobley, MD, PhD. Dr. Mobley currently serves as a Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurosciences at University of California – San Diego (UCSD). He also serves as Executive Director of UCSD's Down Syndrome Center for Research and Treatment and is the Florence Riford Chair of Alzheimer Disease Research.
Considered one of the most prominent academic neurologists in the U.S., Dr. Mobley has an international reputation for his research on degenerative disease of the central nervous system as well as being a leader in translational medicine, bridging clinical and basic science. His emphasis on the neurobiology of Down syndrome has brought new insights into the disease, including possible treatments. He has also done pioneering work on the neurobiology of Alzheimer's disease.
Having received many awards and distinctions, Dr. Mobley is a member of the Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences. He collaborated with the Dalai Lama to create the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University. He also serves as the expert advisor to the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus (for which he won the Christian Pueschel Memorial Award in 2007). In 2011, Dr. Mobley was honored with the International Sisley-Jérôme Lejeune Prize in Paris by the Jérôme Lejeune Foundation for his contributions to the field of Down syndrome and genetic intellectual disabilities. This led to his recognition by U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions on the floor of the House of Representatives. Dr. Mobley and his wife, Gretchen, reside in La Jolla, Calif.
Pius X’s second 2014 Outstanding Alumni Award will be presented in memory of John J. Hanigan II. John learned the importance of Catholic education from an early age, attending grade school at St. Teresa Catholic School. Along with his wife of 45 years, John and Sharon (Houser) Hanigan both graduated from Pius X High School in 1964. After graduation, John then served two years in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968. After attending the University of Nebraska earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business, John became a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Financial Planner. He began his career working for four years in St. Louis, Mo.
Returning to Lincoln, John worked for Gruntorad and Company, which then became Hanigan, Bjjorkman and Ecklund and today is HBE, Becker, Meyer, Love. John led the firm and his associates as Managing Partner from 1988 through 2001. He served as Member and Chief Compliance Officer of HBE Investment Advisors, LLC. Importantly, John was a mentor, trusted advisor and valued councilor to HBE’s entire team of professionals.
John had a strong commitment to Catholic education and served the Diocese of Lincoln with that commitment in mind. He knew and appreciated the importance of Catholic education which he instilled in his family. His legacy will continue with the establishment of the John Hanigan Endowment to supplement Pius X teacher salaries.
John devoted time and leadership to many local, regional, and charitable organizations, including the Alzheimer’s Association, Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, Family Service Lincoln, Our Lady of Good Council Retreat House and the Serra Club. He also served on both the St. Peter Parish and the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln Finance Committees.
John and Sharon have three children, all Pius X alumni - Jennifer ’87, Darin ’92 (wife Bobbi) and Ryan ’96 (wife Kellee) also have five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. John passed away on March 8, 2014.
Pius X Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Capping off the festive weekend will be the inaugural Pius X athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony, to be held following the appreciation reception on August 3rd. Pius X High School is excited to announce the inaugural class of inductees which includes seven athletes, one coach, one benefactor and one team award. Those being honored are Don Houser '58 (deceased), Mick Ziegler '64, Mike Bohaty '64, Micah Heibel '83, Jill (Noel) Korta '83, Tom Burt '91, Bill Ryan '91, Coach Vince Aldrich (deceased), Msgr. Ivan Vap, and the 1973-74 Football team.
The schedule of events for the afternoon receptions include: 2 p.m. - Social with appetizers and hosted bar; 2:30 p.m. - Presentation of the Distinguished Stewardship and Outstanding Alumni awards; 4 p.m. - Social with appetizers and cash bar; and 5 p.m. - Hall of Fame induction ceremony. To register for one or both of these receptions, please visit: http://foundation.piusx.net/.
