At 2014 Commencement Luncheon, Seniors Welcomed Into the Fold

Posted May 14, 2014 / Last updated May 14, 2014

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Gordy Rush (front and center) with some of his 1986 classmates, from left: Steve Perrien, Jimmy Huck, Dan Shea, Jim McCormick, Brad Murret, Brian Grenrood, Johnny Fitzpatrick, and Tommy Moran.

Gordy Rush (front and center) with some of his 1986 classmates, from left: Steve Perrien, Jimmy Huck, Dan Shea, Jim McCormick, Brad Murret, Brian Grenrood, Johnny Fitzpatrick, and Tommy Moran.

In His Inimitable Style, Gordy Rush ’86 Addresses Newest Jesuit Alumni

View the Photo Gallery of the 2014 Commencement Luncheon

Blue Jay Spirit abounded at the 13th annual Commencement Luncheon held on May 2 in the Bienville Club Room of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. A record-setting number of alumni, 255, joined the 260 graduating seniors to enjoy a midday gathering that included inspirational addresses, a delicious meal, and the passionate interaction of Blue Jays from classes ranging from 1939 to 2014.

Glenn Gillen ’85, who serves as president of Jesuit’s Alumni Association, formally welcomed the Class of 2014 into the Association. So impressed with the setting and the size of the audience, Gillen could not help but turn his back to the audience, hold up his cell phone, smile, and snap a “selfie” from his position behind the podium. Once his awe subsided, Gillen advised the seniors, “Stay connected, take pride in being a Jesuit grad, and make the Jesuit community proud of you through your success.”

This year’s alumnus speaker — Gordy Rush, who was a football standout at Jesuit and LSU — has done all three. Rush, a 1986 alumnus and father of three, manages a group of radio stations in Baton Rouge and serves as a member of the LSU football announcing team.

From the perspective of 28 years since walking the halls of Jesuit, Rush told the almost-alumni of the life lesson of the school uniform. “Jesuit took students from all walks of life,” he said. “I was a middle class kid from the West Bank sitting next to a wealthy guy from New Orleans on one side and on the other side a kid busting his behind at recess to make ends meet to help pay for his scholarship. But all wore the same uniform. Everyone is equal. That’s life.”

Rush also encouraged the seniors to embrace the spiritual lessons afforded at Jesuit.

“Coming from a private school, I had not discussed openly a spiritual relationship with God,” he said. “Jesuit gave me that opportunity. Here you talked with your peers and the Jesuits about that relationship and did not just memorize verses and history. That led to my personal relationship with God that has been so important to me throughout my life especially in getting through adversity.”