MESSMER TODAY Sum - Messmer Catholic Schools

ALUMNUS PROFILE: Tom Flynn ‘62Introduction by Ron Davies ‘60Tom Flynn is arguably one of the greatest athletes to ever graduate from Messmer High School. Hewas an All Conference basketball player for three years. He was a First Team Associated Press (AP)and United Press International (UPI) All State selection his senior year including being selected as theMost Valuable Player (MVP) on the UPI team. He is the leading men’s basketball scorer in Messmerhistory. He was a three year starter in football and earned First Team All State recognition his senioryear. Tom played three years of varsity baseball. When Messmer began a track program, he joinedthe team and took second place in the state in discus his senior year.After high school, Tom earned a four-year basketball scholarship to Marquette University. He isthe only player in Marquette basketball history to have been selected as Marquette’s MVP eachof his three years on the varsity team. Tom was Marquette’s leading scorer two years and leadingrebounder one. Al McGuire named Tom team captain his junior and senior years, and he is stillthe sixth leading All-Time Rebound Leader and twenty-fifth All-Time Leading Scorer in Marquettehistory.Tom Flynn in his high school seniorphoto (above), and in a recent photoHowever, of more importance and even more impressive than Tom Flynn the athlete is Tom Flynnthe person. I can’t imagine anyone who has accomplished all Tom has accomplished throughout theyears being less impressed with himself. Tom has always been very humble. Listen to him talk abouthis mother, his family, his coaches, his teachers, his friends, and his teammates. There is alwaysone common thread; the respect Tom has and has always had for them. Tom has demonstrated hisrespect and concern for others by his actions throughout his lifetime. Tom is very proud of MessmerHigh School and we are proud that Tom is a graduate of our school. He is a wonderful role modeland is someone who all of us connected with Messmer would like our students to emulate.Following is an excerpt from a conversationwith Tom Flynn ‘62.Q. Did you have a favorite teacher atMessmer?TF: Sister John Dominic stands out in mymind. She was my homeroom teachermy senior year and Sister Immanuelcommanded the room next door. JohnDominic dropped her alias and is nowSr. Marian Blong I believe. She andImmanuel were wonderful people whoseemed to really care about the students.I also liked Mr. Neja who taught biologyand coached basketball. He taught mediscipline when I really needed thatlesson. Don Simeth as a good coachin track and the other sports too. Hehelped me a lot in sports and in growingup. There were many wonderful peopleat Messmer and they all helped me alongthe way. I have fond memories.MESSMER TODAY 17Q. Ron Davies ‘60 has many stories aboutthe fun you had in high school, and theoccasional trouble you got into with thenuns for “inappropriate behavior,” suchas having an arm over a girl’s shoulder inthe hallways. Like Ron, do you have anystories you can share?TF: I was no match for Ron Davies whowas always much more mature than I.Ron always looked out for the moraldevelopment of his friends and he wouldidentify your shortcomings to any nearbynun if he felt you were not up to his highstandards.Q. In what activities were you involved inhigh school?TF: Mostly sports – football, basketball,baseball and track. I was student bodypresident my senior year. I can’t recall alot of executive decisions I was allowedto make in that capacity but I introducedoutside speakers at the school, etc. Someof my classmates still make fun of theway I did that. It was a high honor tobe elected by the other students to thatposition. My fellow officers were MaryQuinn, Carole Dunn and Mike Munsonwho were all wonderful people andvery successful in life. Participation onathletic teams helped me immensely inmy struggle to grow up. Competitionreally prepares people for life. One learnshow to strive to win but to accept it whenyou don’t win and to try harder nexttime. You also learn how to get alongwith others and to function as a team.Q. After high school you attendedMarquette University, where you receiveda number of distinctions in athletics,including the Robert L. and William P.McCahill Award in 1966 for scholarship,