Nov. 7, 2009
Bronx, N.Y. -
PHOTO GALLERY
Years ago when the Vincent T. Lombardi Center was renovated, Fordham students gained many things, specifically a new indoor track. But they also lost something: a plaque honoring former Fordham cross country/track and field standout Bobby Byrnes.
On Saturday, November 7th, that was corrected as Fordham rededicated a new plaque to Byrnes on the wall of the lower level of the Lombardi Center, just outside the Mara Family Locker Room.
The plaque reads "Dedicated in memory of Bobby, cross country captain and Met two mile champ, by his family, friends and teammates. His zest for life and devotion to family, friends and sports enriched our lives. His legacy continues to dominate our hearts and minds. He laughed, he loved, he led, he lived. He ran the race to the finish line."
The original plaque was dedicated in 1981, organized by Jim Donohue, FCRH '72, LAW '75, and was located next to the entrance to the Lombardi Center Fieldhouse. The original ceremony was attended by about 40 members of family, friends and former teammates.
Byrnes, a 1975 graduate of Fordham College, died unexpectedly on September 6, 1975, as he was working out with the Fordham cross country team at Van Cortlandt Park. He was an All-American runner with the track and field program, capping a brilliant career by winning the two-mile event at the 1975 Metropolitan Indoor Championship in a time of 8:56.6, both a school and Metropolitan record.
Byrnes was also a captain of the 1974 cross country squad, a team that made Fordham history by qualifying for the NCAA Championships.
Members of the Byrnes family, including his mother and brother, John, FCRH '77, were joined by current track coach Tom Dewey, one of his assistant coaches, Ed Joyce, and the captains of the men's and women's track and field programs, Clifton Hilario and Brian Horowitz for the men and Brigid Moriarty and Kerri Gallagher for the women. Former teammates of Brynes also were in attendance.
Julio Diaz, Fordham's Associate Athletic Director for Marketing and Promotions, opened the ceremony by reading a quote from Gene McCarthy FCRH '78, one of Byrnes' teammate that appeared in the September 17, 1975 issue of The Ram.
"Bobby was a valiant person whose devotion and hard-work attitude was admired by all of us who knew him," quoted Diaz of McCarthy. "When he won the Met two-mile last February, I was probably more excited than he was because I could appreciate all the hard work that he put in to get that title. That was one of the many moments that made me feel proud to know Bobby Brynes. I hope some day I can be like him."
Diaz then introduced Father Joseph Currie, SJ, Director of Campus Ministry, who said a prayer and blessed the new plaque.
Following the blessing, Bro. Robert Kent, the former athletic director and current baseball coach and alumni director at St. Francis Prep in Brooklyn where Brynes attended high school and ran on the track team. Bro. Kent shared some of his memories of Brynes as a student at St. Francis Prep.
"Bobby was considered an angel by some people but he was really quite a character," said Bro. Kent. "St. Francis of Assisi required brothers to preach penance, brotherly love and peace. In that vain, I think Bobby's whole life was a homily."
Tom Bryne, Brynes' coach at Fordham followed with his memories of Bobby. He remembered first finding out about Brynes from his coach at St. Francis Prep.
"Brother Norman came to me and told me he had this student who wasn't the best runner but who was a tough, loyal student, full of persistence," said Bryne. "At the time I didn't know what a character he was too. But he joined with four of his teammates at Fordham to become what I called the Five Stooges who, when mixed together, would create chaos."
Bryne also spoke of the dedication of Brynes and his teammates, who often ran to and from practice, sometimes logging over ten miles round trip, not including the practices. He also spoke of his senior season, when Brynes won the Metropolitan two-mile title and was a member of the All-American two-mile relay that placed second at the 1975 Indoor Nationals.
"For the guys who ran with him and who elected him captain, it's a good thing to place this plaque here," said Bryne. "Now those guys can come here and point to that plaque and say `He was out captain'."
Bobby's brother, John, who first noticed the missing plaque, ended the service by thanking those in attendance. "On behalf of my entire family, we appreciate what Fordham has done," said John Brynes.
