Rev. Carl Mitchell Allnoch '27 +

Father Carl Mitchell "Bucky" Allnoch was born in Victoria, Texas. The 5'6", 125-pound Father Allnoch played football and hockey while attending St. Thomas. After graduation he entered the Basilian seminary in Canada. He was ordained in 1935 and spent all but two years of his priesthood at St. Thomas as a teacher, coach, athletic director, principal and superior.

Father Allnoch was an outstanding football coach. His 1937, 1938 and 1939 teams won the state championship, and his 1940 team was state runner-up. His 1941 team defeated San Jacinto High School, earning the first win by St. Thomas over a Houston public school in 12 years. Father Allnoch was a co-founder of the Texas Catholic Interscholastic League (TCIL). Father Allnoch's conditioning drills in the early 1940's were unique. He used the football team to clear the land for the football field at St. Thomas' new campus on Memorial Drive. He used a converted Dodge Eagle as a tractor to pull the tree stumps and had his players clear brush and level the ground.

For someone whose entire life was dedicated to St. Thomas, it is not surprising that his spirit is still active in the school. The chapel at St. Thomas is dedicated to his memory, and the annual award to the St. Thomas athlete with the highest academic average is named for Father Allnoch, reflecting his passion for both sports and studies.