Three Bishop Lynch High School graduates have been named the 2019 Alumni of the Year recipients. They join 39 other alumni who have been inducted since the program’s inception in 1990 to recognize graduates who embody the Bishop Lynch tradition and heritage of community service.
“Bishop Lynch is blessed with faithful, caring and dedicated alumni,” President Chris Rebuck said in a statement. “This year’s inductees have gone above and beyond in their commitment to the school, community involvement and professional career success. I’m so pleased to see them receive Bishop Lynch’s highest alumni honor.”
They will be honored at a dinner and reception Oct. 17 at Bishop Lynch, and their photos will be displayed on the school’s Alumni of the Year honor wall.
This year’s recipients are:
Maria Longoria Farrell, class of 1976: Farrell has dedicated her career to Catholic education. She’s worked as a junior high and high school English teacher at several Catholic schools, including Bishop Lynch, in the Diocese of Dallas. Since 2005, Farrell has worked multiples roles at Holy Trinity Catholic Church and School. She also volunteers at St. Pius X Catholic Church, where she is a parishioner.
J. Brian Walter, class of 1981: Walter earned a degree in petroleum engineering, and in 1988, he formed a software development partnership with two of his college classmates to write and sell petroleum engineering evaluation software. Walter also sponsored the Leyden Arts and Athletics Complex and the St. Jude Guidance Center at Bishop Lynch.
Harold T. Mathews, class of 1987: Mathews retired as a major after 32 years of service in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves. He also served as a firefighter and paramedic for 20 years. Mathews worked as the head wrestling coach at Bishop Lynch from 1993-2010. During his tenure, his teams were named National Prep Runner-Up five times and won the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools’ state championship 16 times. Mathews is an Eagle Scout and volunteers as an assistant troop leader at St. Pius X Catholic Church.
