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November / December 2024

In this Issue:

Martin de Tours Ceremony

Alumni Spotlight:

Jimmy Robinson ’75

Campus Headlines

Golf Tournament

Former Faculty Holiday Luncheon

In Memoriam

Alumni Accolades

Treasured

Traditions

Snippets from The Shield

Congratulations, Dr. James B. Robinson ’75

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On Friday, November 22, St. Martin’s was thrilled to present Dr. James B. Robinson ’75, with the 2024-25 Martin de Tours Award, honoring him as an outstanding citizen who consistently serves the community and demonstrates a commitment to the highest standards in his field. Robinson is St. Martin’s 27th recipient of this prestigious award. In bestowing the Martin de Tours Award, Head of School Whitney Samuel Drennan ’94 also gifted Robinson with a Saints football jersey bearing his old number of 63. In his remarks at the ceremony, Robinson credited his education at St. Martin's with giving him a foundation rooted in Faith, Scholarship, and Service. Read more.

Alumni on the Course

Brandon Womac ’15, Coach Mike Odom ’92, Mason Wooton ’15 and Des McGovern ’15

On November 8, more than 100 golfers - including several alumni teams, sponsors, donors, and volunteers - hit the course at Chateau Country Club for the annual St. Martin's golf tournament. Support for this event directly benefits the StM athletic department, which offers more than 20 LHSAA-sanctioned sports, and helps provide resources that our coaches and athletes need to be at the top of their game. The sold-out tournament raised more than $37,000 for our scholar athletes! We are grateful for our sponsors, players, volunteers, and donors.

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Alumni Accolades

We invite you to send us your career triumphs and milestones so that we can share them with the community here and on our social media channels. Tag us on Instagram and Facebook, or email alumni@stmsaints.com to submit your news. #AlwaysASaint

Liz Levy Dauwe ’02, co-owner of Studio White Interiors, was included in the newly-published “SPECTACULAR WOMEN OF ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN TEXAS” by Jolie Carpenter Berry & Signature Boutique Books. The book is a collection of inspired, innovative and unique homes imagined and designed by Texas’ top women architects, builders, interior designers, and landscape architects.

Siblings Antoine “Antwigadee” Barriere, Jr. ’14 and Trinity Barriere ’15 were recently recognized at the 2024 Living Museum Performance Arts Showcase. Antoine was honored as a “Dynamic DJ and Rising Voice of the Arts” and a “2024 Living Museum Emerging Artist” honoree, and Trinity was recognized as a “2024 Visual Art Honoree.”

Amanda Rouquette ’15 is currently pursuing her masters in clinical mental health counseling, while working in Finance as an analyst. After graduation, she plans to receive her LPC license to practice working as a financial trauma therapist, using the somatic experiencing (SE) modality for trauma resolution with financial stabilization tools, with the goal of helping people of all ages live a better life. She credits her path to Dr. Rosenbaum, who inspired her to become “the therapist I’ve always dreamed of being.”

Alumni Spotlight - Dr. Jimmy Robinson ’75

  • Member of the 13 Year Club
  • Louisiana State University, BS 1979
  • Louisiana State University, MD 1985
  • Medical Director, University of Alabama Department of Athletics (Retired)
  • Endowed Chair of Sports Medicine, the University of Alabama, College of Community Health Sciences
Read Full Interview

What teachers and classes do you remember most from your time at St. Martin’s? 


I looked back at my copy of The Shield, and I was thinking about some of the teachers that I had and how they influenced what I do now. Of course I think about Mr. Graf, specifically in science, also Ms. Johnson. For social studies, I think about Coach Porter. I was lucky enough to have Coach Porter for a lot of my history classes, and of course, Mrs. Porter, too. But when I think back, I realize my love for science was definitely founded during my time at St. Martin's, especially the high school biology classes, there's no question about that. And I have a passion for history too, and I think the Porters were beneficial in that aspect too. I do a lot of studying of the Civil War, and I remember Coach Porter talking about Civil War stories all the time, and so every time I read about a battle, I hear him in the background.

Talk about the importance of the Episcopal tradition during your time at St. Martin’s.


I look back and realize how privileged I was to be able to be in an environment with like-minded people that had the same core values. That really shaped my personality and my life from there on. But I didn’t know it then! Having a solid academic foundation with a Christian background - I think as a student, you take it for granted until you get out. For us, the Episcopal identity was just a part of our everyday routine, whether it was Chapel or religion classes. I thought that was the norm, but once I got out and realized the structure I had in that area, it was definitely something that I appreciated. I look back on that and I can't imagine having gone to a different school where they don’t have that religious structure involved with the education at all.  I'm glad I had that during my upbringing because I think it really made a difference.

How has St. Martin's helped shape who you are as a person? 


What first comes to mind are the relationships that I developed during my time at St. Martin’s, especially in high school. I was a lifer - kindergarten to graduation. From a developmental standpoint, so much of your character is being developed by the people you associate with during that time. But really, what I think shaped my career was my sports participation throughout my years at St. Martin's. I would also say that so much of my time there revolved around sports, whether it was P. E., recess, or being a part of different teams, sports were such an important part of my day-to-day life.

You recently retired after nearly 40 years as the Head Physician for Alabama Athletics. Talk about being part of such a strong program for so long and how that has impacted your life and your career.

You know, it's been a wonderful ride! I've had some good times. You know, most people nowadays, when they think of Alabama football, they think of the Coach Saban years, and I worked for 16 years with Coach Saban, but we had some really lean years, too. I started in 1989 with the team officially, after my training in sports medicine. We won my first national championship in football in 1992. We won six national championships in football, but we went to ten national championship games, so we were at that level almost every year with Coach Saban, which was good and bad. I mean, it puts a lot of pressure on the team. Every decision you made was critical. 


As head team physician, I’ve worked with all sports. I can remember days when I'd go to three different events in a day, whether it was a baseball game, a gymnastics meet, or a men's or women's basketball game, and then over to football practice, all on the same day. I had fun with all the teams! One of my favorite championships to go to was actually the College World Series when it was in Omaha, Nebraska. We went there twice when I was the baseball team doctor, and that was just so enjoyable. I started taking care of the gymnastics team when I was a resident, and they actually took me as their physician when the gymnastics team won their first national championship in 1988. They ended up winning six titles while I was there.

Saints come to Campus

On December 10, St. Martin's was blessed to have more than 40 of our beloved "oldies but goodies" on campus for a reunion lunch in the Van Slate House. This legendary group of former faculty, administration, parents, and alumni embodies the spirit of St. Martin's. We were honored to serve as their gathering place as they continue to celebrate the enduring bonds they formed through decades of service to our school. View Photos.

Treasured Traditions

What are some of your favorite memories from your time at St. Martins?

Email our Alumni Office to share your memories and photos!

Christmastime at St. Martins

From Christmas concerts to Senior Favorites, Përe Noël to Polar Express, the holidays have always been extra special at StM. #AlwaysASaint

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Saints Making Headlines

Harlem Berry ’25 signs with LSU on National Early Signing Day

St. Martin’s senior Harlem Berry ’25, the No. 1 player in Louisiana and the No. 1 running back in the country, is officially a Louisiana State University Tiger! On National Early Signing Day (Wednesday, Dec. 4), in front of family, friends, classmates, and members of the St. Martin's community in the school's Adkerson Gymnasium, Harlem signed with LSU. Read more.

Boys Basketball Team declared State Champions

The 2023-24 boys’ basketball team has been declared the state champions, after St. Martin’s was notified by the LHSAA that Crescent City, the Saints’ opponent in the state basketball championship final game, violated LHSAA rules and was required to forfeit games. Consequently, our team, led by Coach Mike Odom ’92, has been recognized as District Champions as well as the 2024 Division IV Basketball State Champions. It’s the first basketball state title in school history! The team celebrated with a trophy presentation in the Adkerson Gymnasium on December 22. Congratulations our wonderful players and amazing coaches (Mike Odom ’92, Pat LaForge, Brandon Raines, John Branch), and our athletic director, Frank Gendusa.

Winter Athletes earn All-Academic Recognition


Several members of the Class of 2025 were named to All-Academic Athletic Teams in their respective sports during the winter 2024-25 season. This recognition celebrates outstanding academic achievement for maintaining an unweighted cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

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Choir spreads Christmas Cheer throughout New Orleans


Led by alumna Christina Vial Comer ’91, the Upper School Choir spread holiday cheer with pop-up caroling sessions across the city, including a selection of Christmas classics in the atrium at Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans (main campus).

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Alumni Resources

We understand that the loss of a classmate or beloved teacher is deeply felt by our alumni community. This year, we are adding an “in memoriam” section to our regular updates in between issues of The Bell. To ensure a Saint’s legacy is honored, we encourage you to submit obituaries to the Alumni Office so the school can pay tribute to their lives and contributions within our alumni network. Please provide the obituary, along with any details or memories you would like to share. Submissions can be made through our Scattered Saints form or by emailing the Alumni Office directly. If you wish to establish a perpetual memorial fund in memory of a classmate or teacher, our Advancement Office can assist you. Thank you for helping us keep our community connected and the memory of our Saints alive.

Snippets from The Shield

We love the way this illustration from the 1990 yearbook introduces its beloved faculty section with the following passage. Click below to see how StM recently honored our teachers, coaches, advisors, counselors, and mentors on Giving Tuesday.

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