Feb. 8, 2006

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In the midst of a weekend of celebration and smiles, this university lost one of its own, as Charles R. Fazio (C'57) passed away while presiding over the Alumni Awards Banquet on Friday, February 3, 2006. Though the 48 hours that followed were tough ones for those close to the Fazio family, the life that Charlie led and his service to Georgetown prove that, despite leaving us before he had intended, his was among the smiles that could be felt surrounding one of the university's most special events.

The widest of those smiles were worn by four former Georgetown athletes and a former Hoya coach, whose feats earned them the honor of having medals draped around their necks as they were inducted into the Georgetown University Athletic Hall of Fame. Lynn Moore (C'89), Kelley Jones (C'88), Ray Humphrey (C'87), Penny Rickard (N'88) and Frank Gagliano were honored Saturday evening, February 4, 2006, and their names were permanently inscribed among the greatest student-athletes Georgetown has ever produced.

On the evening before the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, each team who boasted a 2006 inductee held a Hoyas Unlimited-organized event in honor of their prized athletes. Lynn and Penny, both former tennis stars, were joined by family, friends and the current team at Chadwicks of Georgetown for a private dinner put on by the Netters Club. Hall of Fame rowers Jo Ann Grainger (C'80) and John Devlin (C'71) hosted a Georgetown Rowing Association reception at their home in Arlington, Va. in honor of Kelley, a fellow crew inductee. The Spiked Shoe Club held their own reception at F. Scott's in Georgetown, celebrating long and triple jumper Ray and the legendary Coach Gags.

But all the catching up and joviality on Friday were only opening acts for the main event that came the following evening. Close to 300 seats were filled by well-dressed Georgetown lovers who came to celebrate GU athletics and the five selected to join the best from the annals of Hoya sports.

Chairman of the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee Rory Quirk (C'65, G'71, L'80) presided over the evening as Master of Ceremonies, keeping the event running in a smooth, timely manner. After introducing the attending dignitaries -- that included current and former athletic directors and past Hall of Fame inductees, among others -- a narrated slideshow that celebrated the achievements and development of each inductee was shown. After a few tears and few hearty chuckles, most courtesy of rarely seen Gagliano baby pictures, the attendees enjoyed their meal and the company of their Georgetown friends.

Then the laughter gave way to goose bumps.

Mr. Quirk introduced each inductee one by one, calling each up on stage to receive his or her medal and framed citation from University President Jack DeGioia (C'79, G'95), Director of Athletics Bernard Muir and President of the Alumni Association Mark Siskin (F'71).

Lynn strode with humility, thanking his family, Coach Bausch and others as he expressed how, as honored as he was, he wasn't sure if he was worthy of such a mark of distinction.

Kelley followed, ambling with grace as she recapped the lucky moments of her life that included being born into a sports-loving family, getting rejected from Stanford and finding rowing as a GU sophomore.

Ray looked like he was floating from the moment he arrived on campus, but never as much as when he stood in front of the microphone, admitting that his successes are ones who could not have achieved on his own. He thanked Gags for his guidance, and thanked Georgetown for giving him the opportunity to become the socially conscious man he is today.

Penny struggled across the stage, but her optimism and pride would not allow her to be slowed or embarrassed. Nearly ten years removed from an accident that very easily could have taken her life, Penny clearly spoke of the Latin inscriptions on the walls of the Hall and what she has had to do in her life to prove they truly words to live by.

Finally, with shouts from the rowdy north end of the ballroom accompanying him with every step, Coach Gags shuffled behind the podium. Thanking everyone that helped him build the most impressive Hoya Track coaching career of all time, Gags was able to hold back his emotions until he recognized the ones who made his Georgetown experience a legendary one: his athletes.

Five different people, five different contributions to Georgetown University. But as they sat on that stage, each of them beamed proudly, and those that witnessed the event know that, like the other names inscribed on those golden plates, theirs and their accomplishments will not soon be forgotten.