By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Saturday was a night of celebration as Hayden Catholic High School welcomed its six newest members into the school's Hall of Fame.
And 2023 inductee Tom Stringer had even more to celebrate than being recognized for one of the most successful football coaching careers in Topeka history.
Hayden coaching Legend Tom Stringer chats with friends during Saturday's Hayden Hall of Fame induction ceremony. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The last eight months Stringer has faced a fight tougher than any football game he ever played in or coached after being diagnosed with blood cancer on Easter weekend, but the Hayden legend was happy to report that he has finally turned the corner in that battle and was all smiles Saturday as he shared the night with many of his closest friends and family members.
"I'm in remission,'' Stringer said. "The first two months about killed me, but it's been good now. I feel normal again, and it definitely changes your outlook on life.
"Every day's a gift. You get up every day and thank God every day for another day.''
Hayden 2023 Hall of Fame inductee Tom Stringer (left) shares a laugh with his former star quarterback, John Tetuan, Saturday night at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Stringer, a former All-American lineman, is also a member of Pittsburg State's Hall of Fame, but said that being back at the school that has meant so much to him throughout his life was extra sweet.
"It's really special because you get to re-live one of the best parts of your life,'' said Stringer, a 1979 Hayden grad who went to coach the Wildcats' football team during for 15 seasons. "You don't know how bad you liked something until you get away from it, so this is good. I'm very proud and very grateful that I got selected to do this.
"It's been 17 years since I've been here and every day I think about this place. Every day.''
Stringer was inducted Saturday for alumni achievent, along with the late Kevin Sloan, a former state track and field champion and state record-holder in the long jump.
Hayden basketball legend Tom Meier was inducted for student athletic/activity achievement while Mary Beth McCarthy and the late George Silovsky were inducted for staff achievement and the late Judy (McGivern) Row was inducted for contributor achievement.
Hall of Fame capsules:
KEVIN SLOAN (alumni achievement) -- Sloan, who passed away in 2021, graduated from Hayden Catholic High School in 1975. He received his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Kansas State University and his Master of Architecture from Syracuse University along with a graduate fellowship to study in Florence, Italy.
Sloan taught landscape design at Syracuse University and the University of Texas at Arlington. He received many landscaping awards. He believed in the importance of taking land that lacks character and turning it into places that would draw the community, as well as those outside the community.
Sloan was a Kansas state record-holder in the long jump. His jump of 24 feet, 6.75 inches at the state meet stood as the overall state best and still stands as the Class 4A state meet record after nearly 50 years. He qualified for the 1980 Olympic Trials.
TOM STRINGER (alumni achievement) -- Stringer graduated from Hayden Catholic High School in 1979 and graduated from Pittsburg State University where he received first-team All-America honors as an offensive lineman.
Stringer, a member of the Pittsburg State Athletics Hall of Fame, returned to Hayden and coached football from 1992-2006. Stringer led the Wildcats to the school's first Class 4A state championsip in 1998 with a 13-0 record and added a second undefeated state title in 2004.
Stringer's Hayden teams won the Centennial League championship seven times and he achieved a career record of 131-35 during his 15 years as the Wildcats' head coach. Stringer coached in the Kansas Shrine Bowl four times (twice as head coach).
Former Hayden star basketball player Tom Meier was inducted Saturday night into the Hayden Hall of Fame. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
TOM MEIER (student athletic/activity achievement) -- Meier graduated from Hayden in 1983 where he led the Wildcats to back-to-back Class 4A state basketball championships, including the city's first perfect 25-0 season in '83. He graduated from Washburn University where he earned two All-American awards and led the team to the 1987 NAIA national championship.
Meier was inducted into the Washburn University Hall of Fame in 1996, the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2019. He was inducted into the Hayden Hall of Fame with his 1983 Wildcat basketball team in 2022.
Meier's three children graduated from Hayden. He resides in Topeka and is an insurance agent.
GEORGE SILOVSKY (staff achievement) -- Silvosky, who passed away in 2016, was a science teacher at Hayden from 1955-1992. He also served as building administrator, director of personnel, associate principal and assistant football and track coach during his tenure at Hayden.
Silovsky was an adjunct professor of science at Highland Community College from 1990-1998.
He believed in the mission of Hayden and his actions demonstrated his love for Hayden. He was considered a leader in the Topeka Catholic community.
MARY BETH McCARTHY (staff achiefment) -- McCarthy was the debate and forensics coach at Hayden from 1979-1996. McCarthy was instrumental in bringing the National Catholic Forensics League to Kansas and implementing a competitive debate program. She served on the National Board of Officers for the National Catholic Forensics League (NCFL) for eight years.
Her final two years from 1994-1996 she served as the National President. in her final year of coaching in 1996, she hosted the National Tournament in Topeka.
McCarthy was a key in laying the foundation for debate at Hayden and in the larger debate and forensics community in an effort to give students opportunities.
JUDY (McGIVERN) ROW (contributor achievement) -- Row, who passed away in 2022, graduated from Hayden in 1954. She worked in her father’s company, J.F. McGivern Painting, and also partnered in running the Senne & Company, Inc. Row had an affinity for technology and was key in helping Hayden finance the network and computer systems.
Her generosity supported the schoolwide network, the Hayden Computer Center and the technology in the Hayden Library and Media Center. Her service to the Hayden students enabled academic excellence.
Senne & Company helped complete the renovation of the third floor of the main building as well as the renovation of the Hayden cafeteria. Row demonstrated selfless support for Hayden over her lifetime.
