Loyola announced a new class of Hall of Fame atheletes Feb. 5 in The Den.
Felix Gaudin A’ 54, A’63 historian of the Hall of Fame Commission announced the inductees of the Loyola Hall of Fame for 2011.
As Gaudin made the announcements, three current Wolfpack athletes held the picture frames of those to hang on the Hall of Fame, while the inductees, except one who is deceased, walked across the court to stand beside their photograph.
The Hall of Fame committee inducted Loyola alumni John J. “Rags” Casteix, Jr., A ‘48, Jaime M. Richard, A ‘65 and Fred Woessner, Jr., A ‘53. Families from around the country went to the formal Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in the St. Charles Room of the Danna Center.
The ceremony began with a welcome by Ed Daniels, A’79, sports director at WGNO-TV with an invocation by the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J.
For all families and inductees, the recognition came as an honor and a surprise. “I was very honored and very excited to come back on campus,” said Richard. Richard was a volleyball player since beginning high school at Mt. Carmel Academy in New Orleans. She went on an all-state volleyball selection in high school and held Loyola’s record for career assists (3842) and season assists (1193).
For Kylin Casteix Ajubita, A’75, daughter of “Rags” Casteix, it was emotional. During the announcement in The Den, she sat down amongst the noise of fans and her eyes watered.
“Its been almost 28 years to the day that my dad passed away, I mean it was this week,” said Ajubita. “It was like divine timing in a sense so I guess that’s why it’s so touching.”
“Rags” Casteix played basketball for the Wolfpack from 1944-1948 and was co-captain of the team that won the national NAIB Pepperdine championship in 1945.
Inductee Fred Woessner, Jr., A’65, played golf and baseball from 1960-1963. He set Loyola’s record of a .509 average and ranked seventh in the nation. After completing his junior year, Woessner signed a professional contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
“This is really exciting for all of us,” Woessner’s daughter Liz Woessner said. “My brother and I are really proud of my dad but it’s really exciting to hear him reflect about his years in baseball and what that led to, and all the people he met along the way.”
Santiago Caicedo can be reached at [email protected]
