The Dr. William P. Sexton Award - 2010: Brother Louis Hurcik, C.S.C., and Brother Frank Gorch, C.S.C.
2010:
Brother Louis Hurcik, C.S.C.
With the 2010 Dr. William P. Sexton Award, Brother Louis Hurcik, C.S.C. was recognized for his outstanding service to the University and for his exceptional embodiment of the spirit of Notre Dame.
Brother Hurcik first arrived in the South Bend area in 1952, shortly after joining the Congregation of Holy Cross community. Although he did not learn to swim until adulthood, Brother Hurcik became a lifeguarding and swim instructor in 1956.
In 1970, the pool director in the Rockne Memorial Building retired, and Brother Hurcik was asked to take over his job. Throughout his time working in the University’s physical education department, he has assumed many responsibilities, including organizing the freshman swim test, developing orientation videos, and offering faculty and staff classes in CPR and first aid.
During the winters, Brother Hurcik shuttled freshman students to ski lessons at Swiss Valley in Jones, MI, where he volunteered as part of the ski patrol.
Until a couple of years ago, Brother Hurcik was director of the Rockne Memorial Building. Over the years, he has also helped with first aid at football games.
Brother Frank Gorch, C.S.C.
With the 2010 Dr. William P. Sexton Award, Brother Frank Gorch, C.S.C. was recognized for his life of service to the University, and his excellent representation of the spirit of Notre Dame.
Brother Gorch arrived at Notre Dame in 1941 as a seminarian and professed in 1948. As both a brother and an ordained priest, Gorch is committed to serving the Congregation of Holy Cross religious family, the community and the Church in a variety of ways.
One of Brother Gorch’s first jobs at Notre Dame was as caretaker of the Holy Cross community’s cemetery. He also did shopping and groundskeeping for community members. And during the 1950’s, Brother Gorch was an assistant to Brother Conan Moran, C.S.C., the manager of Notre Dame’s bookstore.
For over three decades, Brother Gorch lived in the campus firehouse, and along with other brothers, was an integral part of the Notre Dame fire squad. He was recently recognized by the fire department, and the bench outside the firehouse has a plaque honoring his outstanding service.
For 26 years, Brother Gorch was manager of the LaFortune Student Center. For seven of those years, he also cared for the Washington Hall facility. Today, the pool hall in LaFortune is named after him.
Brother Gorch has served the Holy Cross community for more than 60 years. His loyalty, enthusiasm and service to the University epitomize what it means to be part of the Notre Dame family.