The Legacy Continues

For the first time since its inception in 1960, Strake Jesuit has its first triple legacy. The Shebay family, comprised of Michael ’69, David ’94, and Jonathan ’25, has made Strake Jesuit history. Their legacy speaks volumes of the longevity of the school and the importance of the work and mission it has dedicated itself to over the past few decades. In my sit-down interview with David and Jonathan, and Michael’s wife, Georgia, I had the pleasure of diving deeper into the Shebay family legacy at Strake Jesuit and how influential their time was here.

When first speaking to Georgia, she described the feeling of being the school’s first triple legacy as “special” and a “tremendous honor.” She was in complete shock, but one could tell how excited and proud she was to be a part of this accomplishment. David, Michael’s son and Jonathan’s father, spoke about how Strake Jesuit is “such a special school” and how the values the school instills are “important enough to pass along.” In this case, David is passing this on to Jonathan ’25 and his youngest, Eli ’27. When talking to Georgia and David, it is clear just how much of an influence and difference being part of Strake Jesuit and its community makes. Jonathan expressed how “it feels good to be able to carry on the memory of Strake Jesuit [and] its first class and see how the school has changed throughout the years.” Listening to the Shebays, I got a sense of appreciation and joy when talking about Strake Jesuit and its impact on their family.

David elaborated on the influence that his time at Strake Jesuit has on his daily life. He compared how Strake Jesuit’s adage of Man for Others is like the idea of servant leadership in the business world, and commented that “holding true to core values and beliefs is even more important today.” In both concepts, we put the needs of others before our own, while focusing on growth, empowerment, and mutual respect. It just goes to show how being a Man for Others isn’t just a phrase or empty words that we just throw around; these words carry through beyond our campus and into practice as David lives through his work.

One of the topics of discussion that impressed me was the different ways the school offers our young men to grow. While talking to David, he said, “There’s a chance to do and to grow in so many different ways.” Georgia added, “There’s something for everyone.” During his time here, David participated in two sports and was on the debate team, while his friends were involved in theater, so he was able to see the “different parts of the scope.” His sons, Jonathan and Eli, have both been part of the rugby program for the last two years; Eli has also found a home in SJET.

Legacies aren’t built in a short amount of time. Longevity is the key to forming and continuing them. For Strake Jesuit, the school has endured its share of struggles, most notably the bankruptcy it faced in the early 1970s. Since then, the school has bounced back and has grown exponentially to what it is today. Though the Sharpstown and Bellaire area that surrounds the campus has evolved over time, the school’s mission has not. David reflects, “The growth of the campus kind of mirrors the growth of the city, but it's still got the same ideals.” As the world around Strake Jesuit continues to grow, the school grows through the work we do each year as we form young men day in and day out for the greater glory of God.

The Shebays are a wonderful family that I have had the pleasure of getting to know over the last couple of years. I taught Jonathan as a sophomore in English 2 and was proud the day he walked the stage during graduation. I’ve coached Eli on the rugby team and watched him grow and get better each day. I’ve gotten to know David a bit as well, as he helped us during rugby practices during Eli’s freshman year. Finally, I was honored to meet Georgia Shebay during my interview with the family. Their stories and reflections of the school left me with a huge impression; our school continues to thrive and get better as each year passes. The world around us may change, but the school’s mission carries on and remains true. The Shebays are the first triple legacy of Strake Jesuit, and their place as such is a powerful sign that the growth and formation offered here has been, and will remain to be, of the utmost importance.