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Father Bray: Never Forgotten
Upon entering Iolani in the
sixth grade, I had never heard of Father Bray,
nor had I any idea of the legacy that he bestowed
upon the Iolani campus. Now, as I have exhausted
my years here, I am fully aware of not only who
Father Bray was, but also the impact that he had
on Iolani. His teachings have survived decades
and are still a huge part of Iolani culture today.
Father Bray’s influence
is evident everywhere you look. From the Father
Kenneth A. Bray building to the One Team logo
imprinted on our varsity soccer shirts last year,
it is impossible to be unaware of how influential
a person Father Bray was. The tribute to him just
outside the boys’ locker rooms speaks volumes
about just how important he was. Before reading
The Ol’ Man, I had walked past these glass
cases many times without ever stopping to read
about, or appreciate, the man to whom it was dedicated
to. As a coach and a mentor for his players, he
achieved monumental status, becoming almost god-like
to the people who knew him well. When he died
in 1953, it marked a tragic loss to the Iolani
community. But his death did not mark the end
of his legacy. Through the many years following
Father Bray’s death, almost everyone who
is or has been a part of Iolani has been affected
in some way or another by the ripples left behind
by Father Bray. These ripples have even extended
to other schools, through the multiple generations
of coaches that have spread out around the islands.
These coaches have continued to preach to their
players the same values taught to them by Father
Bray and thus have kept the one team spirit alive.
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As a participant in and spectator
of many sports, I have been witness to just how
powerfully Father Bray has implanted the one team
philosophy into Iolani athletics. When I played
soccer and basketball for Iolani, both my coaches
continually told us that a team was only as good
as its weakest link and that we would only be
successful if we improved together. During practices,
when a losing team had to run, everyone would
run with them because as the coaches would say,
“We win together, we lose together.”
All the players reflect this
spirit and it is evident when select players get
interviewed because of their successes. Like Packard
Harrington, who upon receiving the 1939 outstanding
player award said, “A lot of hooey! Father
Bray and the guys made the touchdowns; all I did
was run a little” (Johndon, Oba 83) these
players always give credit to their teammates
and coaches, never focusing on themselves. Iolani
teams are also consistently marked by humility;
humble in victory, humble in defeat. An Iolani
coach will never blame a loss on the referees
or put the blame on anyone but themselves for
an unsuccessful game or season. These principles
are not only the basis of championship teams,
but of all Iolani teams.
An even deeper result of Father
Bray’s influence is as obvious in campus
life as it is on the sports stage. The students
at Iolani are all drilled on the one team spirit
just like the athletes. Character themes are selected
each quarter to remind students of the conduct
which is expected of them. Many of these character
themes are values that Father Bray expressed years
ago, such as respect, humility, responsibility,
and discipline. Although Father Bray preached
these values to his players on the field, they
are also equally applicable in the classrooms
as well.
Father Bray was more than just
a coach and a pastor, he was a legend. Even he
could not have imagined that he would have this
big an influence on Iolani School today. His influence
has extended into all branches of life at Iolani
and beyond.
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