Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
October 16, 2002
Mullen dedicates library named for much-honored long-time teacher
Ceremony includes special honor for school president and financial counselor
By Jack Bacon
Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., dedicated J.K. Mullen High School's new Frank Sferra Research Center Oct. 8, its name honoring one of the brightest and most lasting stars of the faculty.
The ceremony was a double feature. It also included the affiliation of school President Vince Greco Jr. and Charles K. Carlson, long-time Mullen financial counselor, as honorary Christian Brothers of the New Orleans-Santa Fe, N.M., Province.
In blessing the center, Archbishop Chaput led the gathering of Mullen leaders and friends in prayer that "all who come here make progress in divine and human science and grow in knowledge of God's love for you."
Father Kent Drotar, director of vocations for the Archdiocese of Denver, read St. Matthew's Gospel on Christ's teaching on the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and spoke briefly of the importance of such facilities as the center to "education, the most important of human endeavors."
Take advantage of the school experience, he counseled students in the audience, "It cannot be replaced."
"Say a prayer of thanksgiving to God each and every time you pass through (the center's) doors," he added.
The $3 million, 19,980-square-foot high-tech research center housing a new library, a computer laboratory and seven classrooms has been in full use since the opening of the school year in August.
"It's student-friendly," Greco said proudly.
Brother Richard Kovatch, auxiliary provincial of the New Orleans-Santa Fe Province, presented the letters of affiliation from the Christian Brothers' superior general in Rome for the "extraordinary lives" of service to the order by Greco, first lay principal of the Christian Brothers school and for the past two years its first lay president, and Carlson, in turn a financial adviser, a member of the board of directors and treasurer of the board. Their wives, Sharon Greco and Sue Carlson, were presented bouquets in recognition of their sacrifices in support of their husbands' service.
Frank Sferra, who joined Mullen in 1961 after teaching at Regis Jesuit High School, the old St. Joseph High School and a year on Bishop Machebeuf High School's first staff, has a page-long list of honors and achievements reflecting his skill, his students' achievements and his reputation among the best of the nation's forensics teachers and coaches. Asked if he has retirement plans, he replied as he often has: "The brothers told me I had to stay 'til I got it right," and added, "I've got a ways to go."
Sferra reminded Ed Rowtzon, president of the Mullen board of directors and master of ceremonies at the dedication, that he still owed him homework due in 1963. Rowtzon acknowledged the dereliction, then praised Sferra for having "influenced thousands of students" and offered an amendment of the adage, "People make the difference."
"The right people make the difference," he said.
The naming of the research center recognized Sferra's nationally honored contributions to forensics. He has served the National Forensic League as president and vice president and as president of its executive council, chairman of the Colorado State Speech Tournament for 13 years, chairman of the Colorado High School Activities Association Speech Committee, and president of the National Forensics National Tournament twice.
He was elected to the National Forensic League's Coaches Hall of Committee Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Colorado High School Activities Association Hall of Fame in 1993 and was the National Endowment for the Arts Teacher of the Year for Colorado in 1996.
Sferra currently heads the CHSAA Speech Committee and is a member of the national organization's Seek Committee.
During his career at Mullen, 280 of his students have qualified for the state tournament and more than 125 for the national tournament.
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