NEW ORLEANS – Holy Cross School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee announced this week the five distinguished and decorated former student-athletes and staff that have been selected to the 2021 Hall of Fame class.
Induction ceremonies for both the 2021 class and the postponed 2020 class are slated as part of Hall of Fame weekend Feb. 4-5, 2022 on the Paris Avenue campus.
The 2021 Hall of Fame class includes Andy Thiel '65 (Track), Bill Wilcox '73 (Track/Football), and Steve Ferrer '71 (Track/Football) from the current era. Joining that trio from the historical era (pre-1950) are classmates Ted Mace '46 (Football/Baseball/Basketball/Track) and Albert Hanzo '47 (Football/Basketball/Track).
Hanzo and Mace were also teammates on the 1945 Tiger State Championship football team which goes into the Hall of Fame as part of the 2020 class.
Joining these five Holy Cross Men will also be Bill Heller who will receive the 2021 Rosemary Odinet Award.
The Rosemary Odinet Award, enacted in 2019 for its namesake, is a humanitarian award that recognizes the achievements of a special person whose dedication and loyalty to Holy Cross School is unmatched and exemplifies extraordinary service, commitment, and support to Holy Cross High School and its student-athletes.
"I could not be more excited to welcome such an impressive group to our Athletics Hall of Fame," said interim headmaster Eric Desormeaux. "These inductees represent the highest achievement in their sports and represent the true meaning of the Holy Cross Man. We look forward to having them and their family join us on our campus in February."
The 2020 Class will also celebrate their induction the same weekend. Members of this class include Carlos Zuniga '76 (Basketball), Tom Besselman '68 (Football), Johnny "Pat" Brechtel '58 (Baseball/Football/Basketball), and the school's first NBA player Leroy Chollet '44 (Basketball/Track/Football/Baseball).
Brechtel and Chollet will be inducted posthumously. William "Bill" Orkus will stand as the recipient of the 2020 Rosemary Odinet Award.
In addition to those individuals, the 2020 class is also recognized by the 1945 State Championship Football team and the Men of Katrina, whose efforts and commitment through sports put life back into a school whose spirit was thought to be lost following Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005.
You can read full bios on the 2020 class on our website at www.wearehc.net/honors/hall-of-fame.
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