{"id":256,"date":"2014-12-14T17:41:46","date_gmt":"2014-12-14T17:41:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/?p=256"},"modified":"2020-01-23T09:52:03","modified_gmt":"2020-01-23T09:52:03","slug":"st-thomas-milestone-leadership-gift-clay-storey-hall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/2014\/12\/14\/st-thomas-milestone-leadership-gift-clay-storey-hall\/","title":{"rendered":"Milestone Leadership Gift Results in Naming of Clay-Storey Hall"},"content":{"rendered":"

As St. Thomas closes the $60 million bid on a monumental land acquisition, the Basilian Fathers announced the largest capital gift in the school\u2019s 114-year history.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dona and Al Clay `61 donated \u00a0$10 million to the 4500Forever capital campaign, the remarkable generosity resulting in the naming of Clay-Storey Hall on the St. Thomas main campus, honoring both Clay and president Fr. Kevin Storey, CSB, two visionary leaders who boldly stepped out to help give rise to this extraordinary period in St. Thomas history.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere comes a time when you have look inside yourself and ask, \u2018Why am I on this earth? \u00a0Why am I accomplishing all that I have?\u2019 \u00a0And the reason is that God has smiled on my life with Dona and on our business,\u201d Clay said. \u00a0\u201cWe have to pay that forward. \u00a0This contribution will help provide the future Eagles the same opportunities I was given.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Clay\u2019s<\/span> unprecedented philanthropy raised the current contributions to 4500Forever to more than $52,500,000 and comes in the wake of another milestone leadership gift.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes you feel you have no right to feel this blessed,\u201d Fr. Storey said. \u00a0\u201cBlessed that Al Clay is contributing like this, blessed that he\u2019s choosing to put our names together for the campus, blessed that our entire community has rallied in a way few others ever have, blessed that I can be but one small factor in this reality. \u00a0Just a great moment to thank God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Joplin-Naming-Joplin-Storey-Clay-Dec-2014\"<\/p>\n

Earlier in December a $6 million matching gift from Jane and Bill Joplin ’54 to 4500Forever ignited contributions of $14.6 million during the 11-week period as part of the No Substitute For Victory Challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n

4500Forever will enable St. Thomas to secure the adjacent 11-acre HISD property and eventually increase its enrollment to approximately 1,000 students, as well as furnish additional classroom areas, enlarged science and drama departments, much needed and expansive athletic practice fields. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Jane and Bill Joplin Campus expansion equips the Basilian Fathers with the necessary resources at the current 4500 Memorial Drive address to meet the future needs of their diverse student body and continue the educational mission and vision established in Houston more than a century ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are other charities out there to support. \u00a0But St. Thomas is part of me,\u201d Clay said holding back some deeply seeded emotions. \u00a0\u201cWithout St. Thomas, I wouldn\u2019t be the same person I am today. \u00a0Wouldn\u2019t have had the work ethic and moral ethic instilled in me, that drive to be successful. Wouldn\u2019t have the relationships which continue to last. \u00a0I\u2019m 71-years-old and the guys I went to St. Thomas with remain my very best friends.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Clay-Blessing-Storey-Clay-2015\"<\/p>\n

Clay and Fr. Storey were admittedly only acquaintances until developing a deep bond working intimating during the last 12 months to create what both believe will be a powerful and lasting impact for STH generations to come.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAl\u2019s passion, his commitment, his tenacity is unmatched,\u201d Fr. Storey said. \u00a0\u201cHe taught me you just keeping taking every \u2018no\u2019 that comes your way, say the time is not yet and clear the hurdle until you get to the \u2018yes.\u2019 \u00a0That\u2019s Al Clay, that\u2019s his life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStorey is 100% St. Thomas,\u201d Clay said. \u00a0\u201cHe loves the boys, understands where the school is headed and isn\u2019t afraid to take risk. \u00a0He\u2019s involved. \u00a0He\u2019s real. \u00a0He listens in areas where he admits he doesn\u2019t have the expertise. \u00a0I\u2019m proud to know him, to be with him in this campaign. \u00a0He took a leap of faith and the two of us have made a good team. \u00a0I told him, \u2018Without you this deal doesn\u2019t move forward, doesn\u2019t get done. \u00a0So if my name is out there, so is yours. \u00a0We\u2019ve been partners from the very beginning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"4500Forever-Clay-Office-Dec-2014\"<\/p>\n

Clay\u2019s enduring relationship with St. Thomas took root more than a half century ago. \u00a0He then graduated from Texas A&M in 1965 with an accounting degree and followed with a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Texas. \u00a0He was a certified public accountant and active in mortgage brokerage in Houston until founding Clay Development & Construction with his son Robert in 1998. The two have helped pioneer the re-emergence of the city\u2019s real estate development business.<\/span><\/p>\n

Clay was a one of the driving forces behind the relentless STH effort to win the best-final bid in November 2013 for the current High School For Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. \u00a0As a member of the Land Acquisition Committee he contributed the initial $500,000 escrow deposit which allowed St. Thomas to enter the bidding without financial exposure to the school and continued to work closely with 4500Forever chairs Suzanne and Danny Grant `78 through a tireless fundraising process.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere was never any doubt from Al from the very beginning this campaign was going to get done,\u201d Danny Grant said. \u00a0\u201cThat supremely positive attitude was infectious. \u00a0I\u2019m so excited that his name will be associated with the campus for the next 114 years … makes me so proud given all that he\u2019s invested in terms of time and treasure to make our campaign a success. \u00a0And we had so many in our community who matched Al\u2019s spirit, whether the contribution was $25 or $10 million. \u00a0They\u2019ve all stepped up. \u00a0We did it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAl is a man of faith,\u201d Suzanne Grant said. \u00a0\u201cWe are humbled by his persistence, loyalty and love for St. Thomas. \u00a0Al and Dona\u2019s family legacy will live at the school deep into the next century, allowing so many more fine young men to learn what Al has not only talked but walked … the St. Thomas motto \u201cGoodness, Discipline and Knowledge.\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"4500Forever-Rathmeil-Joplin-Naming-Dec-2014\"<\/p>\n

John Rathmell \u201875 is the head of the St. Thomas Board of Directors. \u00a0\u201cI have been awed by Al\u2019s passion and energy he has brought to 4500Forever. \u00a0He has continually gone beyond what is expected in terms of time and effort to insure the campaign is a success. It\u2019s clear that this campaign is very personal to Al and he\u2019s willing to sacrifice for the school he loves.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In the spirit of a particular verse which Clay favors, he has been a determined advocate for the growing needs of his alma mater and has advanced the STH objectives through his generous support.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018To whom much is given, much is expected.\u2019 That\u2019s the drill. \u00a0I totally believe that,\u201d Clay said. \u00a0\u201cDona and I owe. \u00a0Because we have the ability to make this kind of contribution, we will. \u00a0I owe St. Thomas a debt. \u00a0And I\u2019m paying it back … investing in the future boys of the inner city … hoping to make the Basilian experience available to many who otherwise could not participate.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"4500Forever-Clay-Office-3-Dec-2014\"<\/p>\n

\u201cPhenomenal\u201d is the word Clay uses to describe the response that has so far resulted in more than 1,500 pledges from STH family and friends, alumni and foundations to 4500Forever, even though there was a measurable amount of outside skepticism at the outset.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know there were those who believed our bid was crazy, that we there was no way we would ever raise $60 million. \u00a0I was 100% sure this was the right number, the right project, the right time. \u00a0If we could get the traction, it would happen. \u00a0But we had to swing for the fences,\u201d Clay said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we hit the home run.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Clay-2014-Commencement\"<\/p>\n

Clay was preceded at St. Thomas by his grandfather, Albert Sr., and his father, Albert Jr. \u00a0In May 2014 Clay delivered the keynote address at the commencement exercises for the Class of 2014, nearly 53 years to the day of his own graduation. \u00a0\u201cOne of the greatest honors I\u2019ve ever had. \u00a0It\u2019s right there with giving $10 million. \u00a0I really believe that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Clay acknowledges that closing on the HISD property brings a proper celebratory moment for all those associated with 4500Forever, yet fundraising efforts remain.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThis campaign will continue. \u00a0We\u2019re not finished until the pledges reach $66 million to cover the refurbishing of the property,\u201d Clay said. \u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re all living in a remarkable time in the history of St. Thomas. \u00a0I\u2019m blessed to be surrounded by loyal and courageous friends who have stepped forward to encourage all of us to take hold of a rare opportunity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

As St. Thomas closes the $60 million bid on a monumental land acquisition, the Basilian Fathers announced the largest capital gift in the school\u2019s 114-year history. Dona and Al Clay `61 donated \u00a0$10 million to the 4500Forever capital campaign, the remarkable generosity resulting in the naming of Clay-Storey Hall on the St. Thomas main campus, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":264,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[9,20,10,13,8],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/4500Forever-Clay-Office-2-Dec-2014.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=256"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":316,"href":"https:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256\/revisions\/316"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}