Moments in sports are often remembered until something else exciting happens; then they’re forgotten. But for inductees to the Loyola University Hall of Fame class of 2009, their countless moments over the course of their athletic career will last a lifetime.

Loyola’s Hall of Fame committee selected Gerard Brechtel, A ‘70, Doug Neill, A ‘02, Margaret “Maggie” Schaefer, A ‘03, and the 1961 Loyola baseball team to be honored at the induction ceremony Feb 28.    

The night featured the men’s and women’s basketball teams playing against conference opponent William Carey University, followed by a brief reception before the induction ceremony, which began with a brief introduction from Ed Daniels, WGNO sports director.

Brechtel, a four-year starting catcher for ‘Pack baseball, was awarded the D.H. Holmes trophy in 1970 recognizing Brechtel as Loyola’s most outstanding student-athlete.

Brechtel is best remembered for his remarkable feat during his tenure at Loyola for pitching the first game of a doubleheader and moving back to catcher for the second game.

Neill was an outfielder and infielder for the Wolfpack from 1999 to 2002. He remains Loyola’s lifetime leader in runs batted in, hits, runs, at-bats and doubles and was named All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-Region and NAIA All-American Honorable Mention for his efforts on the field. In addition, Neill was honored for his academic excellence as an NAIA Academic All-American in his last two seasons as a member of the Wolfpack.

Schaefer, the only woman to be included in the Hall of Fame class of 2009, played for Loyola’s volleyball team from 1999-2003. She was honored several times over her illustrious career being named to the All-GCAC team four consecutive years, named to the All-GCAC team her junior year, and named an NAIA All-American honorable mention.

During her career at Loyola, Schaefer held records for most kills and digs in one season and the most kills, total attacks, best percentage and digs of all-time. Although she broke most of those records over her career span, those records were broken, years after her graduation. Schaefer spoke proudly of being selected as a Hall of Fame inductee.

“I think it’s great and I feel very honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, especially since it’s for a sport that I love to play,” she said. “Anytime your’e awarded for something you love to do, that makes the award that much better.”

The 1961 Loyola baseball team held a 14-1 record and was considered by many supporters and coaches to be one of the best teams in the nation. Their efforts on the baseball diamond earned them a bid for the NCAA national tournament.

Some notable wins include defeating LSU, Northwestern, Illinois Wesleyan, Oklahoma and Southern Mississippi. The ceremony gave each of the players on the baseball team a chance to see each other again for the first time in years.

“It was great to see my old buddies from the baseball team tonight,” Lloyd George “L.G.” Webre said. “Some of us get together to have a luncheon once a month, but not everyone can make it because they live out-of-town so it was great seeing those guys once again. We were a very close group and we used to kid around a lot, but we just enjoyed one another.”   

Perhaps the most heart-felt moment, however, came when Fred Schwartz’s sister, Carla Gammin accepted the award on behalf of her deceased brother.

Gammin felt honored to accept her brother’s award. “It’s very exciting for me because he loved baseball and really enjoyed playing on that team with those other guys,” she said.

Michael Giorlando, Loyola athletic director, closed the ceremony recounting memories of  the athletes that played for Loyola.

“It’s a coming home for those athletes who played in the ‘60s, ‘90s, and other years,” he said. “I think it’s just a great way for them to be recognized for the four years of their lives that they contributed to the quality of life here at Loyola.”

Webre felt the ceremony was a success: “I thought the ceremony was very professional and well put together. I enjoyed myself and had a lot of fun. It (the ceremony) made me feel special and privileged to be standing here as an inductee to the Hall of Fame.”

For Giorlando, the night was a chance to get to know some of the athletes from Loyola’s history. “It’s one of the best parts of my job being the athletic director or the director of athletics and wellness, reconnecting with some of those athletes that came here before I got here and listening to their stories and accomplishments,” he said. “It’s a situation where the past meets the present.”

Craig Malveaux can be reached at [email protected].

The Rev. Kevin Wildes , S.J., university president, presents members of the 1961 Loyola baseball team with commemorative shadowboxes holding signed baseballs and a team photo at the Loyola Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Feb. 28. ((Photo by Dan Helfers/The Maroon))

Lovebirds enjoy drinks during dinner and cocktails in Monroe Library at the reception preceding the induction cermony. Alumni shared stories of past glory before the induction. ((Photo by Dan Helfers/The Maroon))

At left, Margaret “Maggie” Schaefer, A ’03, receives her picture to be hung in the Loyola Hall of Fame at halftime of the men’s basketball game against William Carey University on Feb. 28. Schaefer held records in volleyball for most digs in one season and the most kills and digs in one season and the most kills, total attacks, best percentage and digs of all time. ((Photo by Kevin Zansler/The Maroon))