In 1975, Rev. James T. Wilson, CSB, and a committee of seven dedicated alumni, chaired by John P. Fauntleroy ‘53, founded the St. Thomas High School Hall of Honor. The committee believed that special recognition should be given to those alumni who best modeled the spirit of St. Thomas. Members are chosen who personify the Basilian motto, “Teach me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge,” as well as having achieved excellence in their professional lives. Whether it be in service to church, community, state, athletics, education, science, military or family, all Hall of Honor members are recognized by their peers as having achieved an exceptional level of success, to which all current students and alumni can aspire. Election to the St. Thomas High School Hall of Honor is the most prestigious honor awarded to an alumnus. Thirteen alumni were inducted in the inaugural ceremony held February 12, 1976. Today, there are 60 members.

The Hall of Honor Class of 2025 were officially inducted on January 25, 2025. The ceremony included Mass, remarks from each honoree, and dinner, catered by Carrabba’s.

Rawle Andrews Jr., Esq. (’83)

Rawle Andrews Jr., Esq., Class of 1983, is the Executive Director of the American Psychiatric Association Foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of the American Psychiatric Association. In his work, Andrews leads his team in raising mental health awareness and championing innovative research to create new avenues for helping others. Andrews also serves as the President of the Bar Association of the District of Columbia.

Never seeking out recognition for his accomplishments, Andrews’ work ethic is instead motivated by a true sense of goodness. In his efforts to advance the field of psychiatric care, he drives national growth in knowledge and resourcefulness about mental health.

“When I think about goodness, discipline, and knowledge—when I get it right—I know GDK is really undergirding a lot of what I’ve been able to do to help my fellow neighbors in need,” he said.

After graduating from St. Thomas High School, Andrews attended Texas Southern University and earned his Bachelor’s in Psychology. He also holds his JD, with Honors, from the Howard University School of Law and further executive education from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.

“Even though the people have changed, the zip codes have changed, the years have changed, the reality of it is, bringing people together to drive impact for the greater good is what I learned at St. Thomas,” he said. “And that’s what I carried forward in my career.”

Beyond St. Thomas’ influence, his career advancement was largely made possible through his own determination and strong sense of self-discipline. Since his graduation, he has become a stellar representative of St. Thomas High School nationally, receiving the presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service in 2023 from the Biden Administration. He is a highly accomplished member of the Hall of Honor, Class of 2025.

“When I was at St. Thomas, I did have the privilege of studying in the Hall of Honor, and I saw the names of war heroes, the politicians, the business leaders, the sports heroes, who were all over the Hall when I got there,” he shared. “Put plainly, I am humbled beyond belief by an honor such as this.”

Father Carl Belisch, CSB (’54)

Father Carl Belisch, Class of 1954, was ordained to the priesthood on December 12th, 1965, and served at St. Thomas High School for more than 45 years as a Theology, English, and Latin teacher. A large element of his inspiration to join the Basilian Fathers came from his teachers and the Basilian leadership he witnessed while a student at St. Thomas. In particular, Fathers James Wilson and Carl Allnoch left positive impressions of the Basilian brotherhood on a young Belisch. Now, Belisch, Allnoch, and Wilson stand beside each other as namesakes of their respective Houses in the St. Thomas House System.

“In the time that I was here, there was a number of young Basilians, and they were great teachers,” Belisch said. “I joined the Basilians because of them, because they were so happy, and they got along so well together, and they showed that being a Basilian was a lot of fun.”

Throughout his tenure on the St. Thomas faculty, Belisch similarly left a profound mark on the school and the students he taught. He is fondly remembered among his students for his extraordinary memory, often recalling not only the names of countless young men but also the exact courses he taught them and their graduation year.

His passion for the school extended beyond the classroom; he was an avid supporter of Round Up, actively participating in pep rallies and fundraising events. Belisch was also frequently seen walking the halls with a large wooden rosary in hand, praying with students and faculty members, and offering steadfast encouragement and spiritual guidance.

His dedication to the Basilian values of goodness, discipline, and knowledge is evident in everything he did.

“It’s the Basilian motto,” he shared. “I’ve tried to follow that—teaching goodness, discipline, and knowledge, and practicing it myself. I’ve taught at a number of Basilian schools, and I hope I’ve lived by that motto.”

Through his unwavering example, Father Belisch enriched the lives of his students and embodied the spirit of the Basilian mission, leaving an indelible legacy at St. Thomas.

Johnny Carrabba (’77)

Johnny Carrabba, Class of 1977, is a renowned restaurateur and the co-founder of Carrabba’s Italian Grill, a beloved chain of Italian-American restaurants. In 1986, he opened the first Carrabba’s location on Kirby Drive in Houston, Texas. The restaurant quickly won over guests, thanks to its commitment to fresh, high-quality ingredients, traditional recipes, and a welcoming atmosphere.

Since then, Carrabba’s has grown into a national brand with over 200 locations across the United States. The chain eventually became part of Bloomin’ Brands, the parent company behind other popular restaurants like Outback Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill, and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar. Reflecting on his journey, Johnny notes, “When Outback approached me and we expanded the restaurant into a national chain, I consider that my biggest business achievement.”

When he first opened Carrabba’s, Johnny’s vision was clear: he wanted to provide high-quality dishes in a casual, inviting setting. Over the years, the restaurant has stayed true to that original mission, maintaining its reputation as a place where families can enjoy delicious food and each other’s company. In addition to Carrabba’s, Johnny now owns and operates six Mia’s Table locations and Grace’s on Kirby. Mia’s Table, named after his daughter Mia, brings his family values to the forefront of his business.

“The biggest accomplishment that I cherish the most personally is I’ve raised two beautiful children, Johnny and Mia,” he says.

Johnny credits much of his success to the foundation laid during his time at St. Thomas High School. The school’s mission—Teach Me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge—had a lasting impact on him and his approach to business.

“Besides my mother, who has the biggest heart and giving soul, ever, St. Thomas taught me about goodness,” he explains. “When it comes to discipline, I run my business the way my coaches ran our teams. I credit that discipline to my coaches.”

Attending St. Thomas was a dream come true for Johnny, who wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, Johnny Carrabba Jr., a proud alumnus of the Class of 1955. He fondly remembers his father, the owner of a grocery store in East Houston, closing up shop early on Fridays during football season to secure a spot in the bleachers for St. Thomas games.

“St. Thomas played a major role in shaping my success in life,” Johnny reflects.

John Rynd (’75)

John Rynd (’75) is a well-esteemed businessman and passionate St. Thomas alum, who has returned to St. Thomas as a generous supporter, Foundation Board Member, assistant freshman football coach, and most recently, Interim President.

Rynd graduated from St. Thomas in 1975, followed by his two sons, Clay (’08) and Kyle (’09), who continued the Rynd legacy at St. Thomas. His daughter Kelly graduated from St. Agnes in 2012 and was part of the cheerleading squad for three years. His father, Jack Rynd, is a member of the Class of 1937.

“St. Thomas runs deep in our family,” he said. “There was no other school I was going to go to. It’s been a thread in my life that I can’t separate myself from.”

While attending St. Thomas, Rynd played on two state championship football teams. He remembers his time as a student fondly, noting that he still keeps in touch with many of his former classmates.

“My dearest friends today are my classmates from St. Thomas,” he said.

Following his time at St. Thomas, he graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He has over four decades of experience in the global offshore energy industry, serving as CEO of publicly traded companies Tidewater, Inc. and Hercules Offshore. He also served as Chairman of the National Ocean Industries Association and on the Board of Directors of Fieldwood Holdings, LLC and Hornbeck Offshore.

“I was active in business for 42 years,” he said. “The highlights were whenever you can put a team together with diverse backgrounds, diverse views, and were able to achieve success through a common goal, whatever that goal was. Nothing comes without hard work.”

Recently, Rynd returned to campus to serve as Interim President after four years of donating his time to the freshman football team as a volunteer coach and being a consistent supporter of the school. The lessons he learned at St. Thomas have continually influenced his life beyond 4500 Memorial Drive.

“The value of goodness has stuck with me,” he said. “Live your life in God’s way, be reverent, stay humble. On the knowledge side, never quit learning. There’s something to learn every day. I do think that Teach Me: Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge has been a part of my life since I was at St. Thomas.”