{"id":233,"date":"2014-11-02T21:04:24","date_gmt":"2014-11-02T21:04:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/?p=233"},"modified":"2020-01-23T09:52:03","modified_gmt":"2020-01-23T09:52:03","slug":"joplin-mystery-6-million-donor-st-thomas-4500forever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/2014\/11\/02\/joplin-mystery-6-million-donor-st-thomas-4500forever\/","title":{"rendered":"Joplin ’54 Revealed as Mysterious $6 Million Donor to 4500Forever"},"content":{"rendered":"

For nearly two months his identity was a mystery but never his unquestioned commitment to ensure the all-encompassing future excellence of his Alma Mater.<\/span><\/p>\n

And now there is a face and a name to the driving force behind the No Substitute For Victory Challenge, thrusting the most ambitious capital campaign in the 114-year history of St. Thomas to a furious final stretch.<\/span><\/p>\n

Friday night Bill Joplin `54 emerged from the shadows and assumed center stage, the focal point of the annual Alumni Weekend turned celebration of St. Thomas past, present and promising future.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Joplin-Revealed-Joplin-Storey-Nov-2014\"<\/p>\n

Joplin was identified by President Fr. Kevin Storey, CSB as the anonymous $6 million alumni-donor during Alumni Weekend, presented to a thriving support group gathering on campus with a more than suitable backdrop.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Eagles erased a 14-10 halftime deficit against generational rival St. Pius X with 28 unanswered second-half points to seal a third straight district title and 19th straight win at home while the 1964 state football champions were honored at halftime.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot that long ago I never would have dreamed being here tonight … certainly never expected to be involved quite like this,\u201d Joplin told the assembled alumni. \u201cBut this campaign is so big for St. Thomas. \u00a0We needed something to help get us over the hump.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joplin stepped forward in mid-September to match dollar for dollar, each donation and pledge, up to $6 million and will continue that commitment through December 5 to assure maximum benefit to the 4500Forever capital campaign.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since the No Substitute For Victory Challenge was declared, Joplin\u2019s bold generosity has generated $6.6 million, raising the 4500Forever total to $38 million.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Joplin-Revealed-Nov-2014\"<\/p>\n

\u201cBill was an answer to our prayers, no doubt about it. \u00a0He guaranteed the success of the campaign,\u201d Fr. Storey said. \u00a0\u201cHe transformed the campaign. \u00a0Having that size boulder go into the pond mid-way through our fundraising effort has sent a reverberating belief of accomplishment and confidence to our community. \u00a0So many wide-ranging examples … a $250,000 donor who indicated he was inspired by Bill\u2019s initiative. \u00a0But regardless of the amount of the each gift, Bill instilled that sense of \u00a0\u2018now it\u2019s my turn\u2019 which has struck a chord within so many Eagles.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

St. Thomas stands on the brink of the the one-year anniversary of securing the final-hour $60 million final bid for the adjacent 11-acre HISD property, a North Campus expansion which broadens the STH physical footprint, and brings additional facilities and land space to enable the Basilian Fathers to continue their educational mission and maintain the institution’s urban identity at the 4500 Memorial Dr. campus into the next century.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joplin had held a deep and distinguished history of service to St. Thomas for decades. \u00a0He followed the Eagle lead of his brother, Jack `42, and Bill\u2019s son, Richard \u201884, continued the family legacy, \u00a0celebrating his 30-year reunion earlier in the spring. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4500Forever was ongoing when Joplin somewhat suddenly felt the urge to \u201cdo something big\u201d to catapult the campaign to completion. \u00a0He elected to initially keep his name unknown, preferring that the emphasis be placed on the collective 4500Forever effort rather than create a singular spotlight.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joplin and Fr. Storey crafted the NSFV $6 Million Challenge, which was unveiled to the STH community September 19 minutes before the Eagles kicked-off their annual Homecoming game.<\/span><\/p>\n

At that time Joplin spoke in anonymity that he was \u201choping (to) loosen some pocketbooks sitting on the sideline. \u00a0(This) is the time to come forward and back a winner.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Fr. Storey draws the analogy of a pennant-contending baseball team swinging a deal in the stretch drive for that critical additional presence which eventually serves as a championship catalyst.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Joplin-Revealed-Pledge-Nov-2014\"<\/p>\n

\u201cWe already had a great team. \u00a0Bill Joplin was adding that clutch hitter, that difference-maker in the middle of our lineup, someone who creates confidence and energizes his teammates to dig deeper, demand more from themselves, perhaps even reach a level they didn\u2019t realize was possible,\u201d Fr. Storey said.<\/span><\/p>\n

And now the school’s resident \u201c$6 Million Bill\u201d is known to one and all, a one-time mystery benefactor turned magnanimous, saluting all in the Eagle community who have responded to the No Substitute For Victory Challenge, while still encouraging those who are still considering their involvement to make a decisive move during this crucial window when the donations can deliver the highest dividend.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI want all our supporters to think about joining the cause,\u201d Joplin said. \u00a0\u201cThink about it hard and give, give, give … until it hurts … or until it feels good. \u00a0I know how good it feels for me to make this happen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Catholic. \u00a0Basilian. \u00a0Teaching Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge since 1900.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For nearly two months his identity was a mystery but never his unquestioned commitment to ensure the all-encompassing future excellence of his Alma Mater. And now there is a face and a name to the driving force behind the No Substitute For Victory Challenge, thrusting the most ambitious capital campaign in the 114-year history of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":235,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[9,10,17,13,8],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Joplin-Revealed-Rooftop-Nov-2014.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/233"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=233"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/233\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":240,"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/233\/revisions\/240"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/235"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=233"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=233"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=233"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}