Rice High School - Edmundian Yearbook (New York, NY)

Page 11 text:

--tie PROF In the midst of a school's constant flux of new teachers and students, few things remain to provide a link with the past. Brother Long, a fifteen year faculty mem- ber, is one of the few permanent fix- tures. Professor Jose Lopez Velez is another. The life of the Prof, as he is affec- tionately called by all, reads like a mod- ern adventure novel. CThe Prof did, in fact, once turn down an offer from a well-known biographerj Born in West- ern Mexico, about the same time as our grandfathers, Jose Velez was the young- est of fifteen children. His father, a Spaniard, was governor of the province where the Prof was born. His mother, a lovely Irish lass named Murphy, was a woman whom the Prof venerates as a saint. Educated by the Jesuits, he afterwards enlisted in the service where he rose to the rank of Captain and aide-de-camp to General Huerta, the leader of the govern- ment forces. During the counter-revolu- tion, he was captured and sentenced to death, only to be freed one hour before the scheduled shooting through the in- tercession of the Red Cross ancl the U. S. charge d'affaires. After this, he accom- panied General Huerta to Spain, fought with Huerta for the preservation of the monarchy, and was decorated by King Alfonso. Life settled down to a more normal pace after the war. The Prof began teaching at LaSalle Military Academy, and later taught at Columbia University, Iona College and Blessed Sacrament High School before coming to Rice in l946. PROFESSOR JOSE LOPEZ VELEZ, Dean of Rice's lay teachers for thirteen years. AT THE 1958 PROM, the Prof renders When Irish Eyes are Smiling much to the enioyment of the Seniors. A talented singer and gifted speaker, the Prof could always be relied upon for a song or story. Rice has been fortunate in having such a dedicated, cultured, and in- tensely Christian man as a member of the faculty.

Page 10 text:

Dedication to 6 Dedlfated Mafl . . . IF RICEMEN WERE ASKED to choose the most unforgettable character they had ever met, many would unhesitatingly select the Prof, His iovial smile and soft heart made him a favorite of Rice students past and present. 4 f 19,6 'xxx jp, -Q ,, EH.: ' so , ,iii ' 7 x . . THE PROP pours over a stack of Spanish papers, above. For thirteen years, he has taught first, second and third year Spanish to literally thousands of Rice students. Years ago, when both the school and the Prof were younger, he organized many activities-especially dances to finance the track team's trip to the Penn Relays. FOUR SENIORS ASK for some help with a difficult Span- ish translation, below. They are Ed Abell, Joe Walsh, Ed Foldessy and Walter Kristlibas. The Prof's knowl- edge of Spanish and wealth of stories made him an interesting teacher.

Page 12 text:

fi it TYPING BEGINNER Ed Riordan l7ll has his efforts supervised by Br. Flaherty. At upper righl, Br. St. John delivers some English Lit notes. At middle right, Mr. O'Keefe talks to Mrs. O'Connor about son Thomos's l'l-44l report. At lower right, Br. Vranka uses blackboard to show what he means. On the next page, Br. Synan greets Mrs. Mraz, mother of Ed Mraz ll-431 and Joe Mraz l4-47l. Henry Adams once said: A teacher affects eternity, he can never tell where his influence stops. This is especially true of the dedicated men who admin- ister and teach at Rice, for the primary purpose of their efforts is to equip the students with a way of life that will lead to an eternity of happiness in heaven. To accomplish this task, the Brothers have dedicated their lives to God. To do the work successfully requires quan- tities of natural and supernatural virtue. They must possess patience, forbearance, stamina and wit. Regardless of age, they must be youthful in spirit. Besides pre- senting subject matter, they must learn the eccentricities, the likes and dislikes, and the character of each pupil. ln short, the Brother uses every resource-spiritual, mental and physical-to reach the soul and mind ot his pupils. At year's end, his work accomplished, he looks forward to beginning a new with another class. These men deserve our undying grati- tude, for they have truly affected our eternities and we shall never know where their influence stops.