*J-Club Distinguished Service Award Recipient
Mike Fahey was a distance runner in cross country and track and field before his graduation from SJU in 1975. He went on to a long and successful career as the elected county attorney, and as a district court judge in Scott County. But he remained connected to Johnnie athletics, serving as J-Club president and on the board of directors.
He also played a role in helping establish the Gagliardi Trophy and was one of the architects of the Father Wilfred Theisen Student-Athlete of the Year Award, presented annually by the J-Club to SJU's top senior athlete. In addition, he was a strong supporter of the creation of the J-Club Hall of Honor in 2018.
Not only that, but he organized picnics to welcome first-year students to both Saint John's and Saint Ben's.
"He has such a strong connection to (SJU)," his daughter Maura Fahey said. "He loved going up there and being part of the community. He's really a community-oriented person in a lot of things in his life. He's not extroverted or talkative. But he enjoys being around other people and making connections, and he found that at Saint John's."
Indeed, Fahey might be best known as "Johnnie Red," one of the founders of the Johnnie football tailgate – helping turn it into the massive SJU community get-together it has since become. He began bringing special spiced hamburgers, made famous by their popularity at the annual German celebration Stiftungsfest in Norwood Young America, to grill before games.
Things grew from there.
"He bought the meat, buns, condiments, charcoal and small portable grill and would set up shop outside home and away stadiums, wearing a Johnnie Red shirt, sweatshirt or jacket, start cooking away and offer his largesse to all that passed by," recalls Rob Wicker '64, who assembles the popular
Unofficial Underground News, chronicling the Johnnie football experience. "Frequent SJU fans began looking for him and gathered before games. Eventually, as others joined him in providing other delights to the ever-growing crowd, it became the now-famous SJU tailgate."
Former SJU football player Ryan Bielat '03 got to know Fahey as a fellow poster on the D3football.com message boards, then began attending his tailgate during SJU's run to the NCAA Division III national title in 2003.
"I know he had organized some tailgating in prior seasons, but with the success the Johnnies had that year – combined with the message boards as a way to connect with other fans – it really started to gain traction. Mike was always welcoming to Johnnie fans and visitors alike. We'd gather in Science Lot 1 to eat, play games and discuss (that day's matchup).
"When I think back to those days, I'm just reminded of what an ambassador for SJU Mike was. He really wanted to share his love for SJU with everyone."
A battle with Alzheimer's disease has limited Fahey's ability to attend games in person in recent years, but his daughter says his love for the school and Johnnies athletics remains strong.
"He still follows along and stays engaged," she said. "His love for SJU hasn't faded."
