By Frank Rajkowski, SJU Writer/Video Producer
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's University Transitional President James Mullen may have summed up the night best when he spoke at the conclusion of the 2021 SJU J-Club Hall of Honor Banquet on Oct. 9 in Guild Hall.
"What you saw tonight was the essence of the magic of Saint John's," Mullen told the crowd of close to 300. "There is nothing else like this in American higher education where people come together and celebrate this kind of tradition."
Indeed, the 13 inductees in this year's class (12 individuals and one team) provided a strong representation of the 150-year tradition of Johnnie athletics the Hall was created to celebrate. It began in 2018 with legendary head coaches
John Gagliardi (football) and
Jim Smith (basketball) inducted as charter members in separate ceremonies.
The first full class was inducted in 2019. The 2020 banquet had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic – meaning that class finally got its moment in the spotlight this year.
And that group, like its predecessor two years ago, included a wide-range of national champions, All-Americans and other standout individuals – all of whom played huge roles in establishing the successful athletic tradition Mullen spoke of.
The full class of inductees were:
"It's an absolutely amazing feeling," said Mucha, who was inducted both for his individual accomplishments and as a member of the 1965 football team.
"I was so fortunate to have such great teammates and to have such great coaches in
John Gagliardi and
Jim Smith. I have to pinch myself sometimes because I'm a very lucky guy."
Leiendecker, a four-time All-MIAC goalkeeper for the SJU soccer team who went on to represent the U.S. at the World University Games in 1984 and to play for the Minnesota Strikers of the North American Soccer League, spoke warmly of the deep connection he and the other inductees still feel toward their alma mater today.
"When you're going down (Interstate) 94 and you see the chapel, something overcomes you," he said during his question-and-answer session with emcee Mark Lewandowski, the radio voice of Johnnie athletics. "Something makes you feel like you're at home."
Former U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger '55, who accepted the award on behalf of his father, said George Durenberger would have been proud to be part of the group he was inducted with.
"My Dad would have been so honored just to have a place among all these names tonight," said Durenberger of his father, who served as athletic director at the school from 1931-72 - presiding over the addition of a number of new sports and the construction of several new facilities.
"These are people who went on to become what he always dreamed Saint John's would be."
