CONGRATULATIONS, MR. HORN, ON 35 YEARS AT SCA!

Mr. Horn explains, “I was raised in Bellevue on a family farm which is today called Cross Timbers subdivision. From there, I attended Montgomery Bell Academy and Vanderbilt University, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and had a minor in history. Six more history hours, and I would have had a double major!

During my junior year at Vandy, 1952-53, I learned of a basketball coach's position available at Overbrook School. I applied and was accepted and continued in that capacity through 1953-54 (Parochial League Champs regular season and tournament). SCA was yet to arrive on the Dominican Campus!

Upon graduation from Vanderbilt, I was commissioned Second Lieutenant, United States Marine Corps and went on active duty.

Three years later, 1957, since the U.S. was not in any kind of a shooting scrape (Vietnam was still known to me as French Indo-China), I transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve and relocated to Nashville. I continued my Reserve duties until 1978 when I retired as Lieutenant Colonel.

Once back in Nashville, I was employed in various executive positions at Harvey’s Department Store with its eventual six branches. When that business was sold late in 1988, I was Vice President of Operations.

During my stint as coach at Overbrook in the early '50s, I had come into the Catholic faith, so my wife, Sydnor, and I sent our only child, Sara Elizabeth, to Overbrook and St. Cecilia, K through 12. I was around SCA girls in my home, in other parents' homes, and on-campus quite a bit in those 13 years, and with much encouragement from Sydnor, I decided that I wanted to teach; and not just anywhere - at SCA!

I did test the environment and applied at other private schools, but when Sister Elizabeth Anne said ‘OK!’ I was hooked! The Class of 1990 was my first of the current 35 years.

In my early days at SCA, I was Dean of Students for several years while teaching two history classes. As Dean, I knew every girl in the building as well as her parents. Over the years, I helped coach cross country, basketball, and softball. I was in several stage productions directed by Cathie Stamps: and that meant that I was with the girls in class, then after class on the sports field, followed by a couple more hours at play practice. I gave the girls all nicknames: Sunshine, Tiger, Rockin’ Robyn, and Sweet Caroline, to recall a few. The SCA girls were my daughters for several hours a day!

One of my favorite memories of those years happened during the softball division playoffs about 20 years ago. Our opponent, Harpeth Hall, had a two-run lead in the bottom of the 4th inning, when Megan Whaley, with two Scarabs on base drilled a double between center and right field to tie the score. We went on to win the game!

Another happy memory took place in my AP US History class when studying the TVA and its production of electricity. I asked the class ‘What two items does one need to produce electric current?'

‘Copper wire and a magnet,’ correctly answered Rachel Duff Burmester ‘12. This was a science question, not history; but she had researched.

Since I now live alone, I enjoy spending time with my daughter Elizabeth and her family, most sports in person and on television, and a good book: A Murder in Music City, for example.”

Thank you, Mr. Horn, for your 35 years of service to St. Cecilia Academy!