University of Detroit Jesuit High School has increased its membership in its Hall of Fame by inducting four outstanding student-athletes and honoring a fifth distinguished alumnus.
John E. (Sean) English, Jr., 1981, is one of the most accomplished all-around swimming and running athletes U-D Jesuit has ever produced. From 1977 through 1981, English competed with the Cubs varsity cross country, swimming and track teams in 12 consecutive athletic seasons, earning multiple All-Catholic, All-City Detroit and All State honors. In his senior year, he was named captain of every one of those teams. He received 43 Division 1 college scholarship offers before eventually deciding on attending Purdue University.
Barry McIntee, 1970, during his four years at U-D Jesuit, amassed eight varsity letters: three in basketball, two each in football and track, and one in baseball. As a junior, he was the quarterback for the Cubs’ first Catholic League Central Division championship in a decade. He averaged 5.8 yards per run, scored six rushing touchdowns, completed 64 percent of his passes and threw for five touchdowns. McIntee received All-Catholic honors and was named captain of the 1969 football team.
Tom Valente, 1969, was the running back on the Cubs’ 1968 Central Division champs that culminated in U-D Jesuit racking up a perfect regular-season 7-0 record and playing against Dearborn Divine Child in the Catholic League’s first- ever “Charity Bowl” city championship game. He rushed for 1,155 yards and scored 19 touchdowns. His efforts were recognized by All-Division, Detroit All-City, All-Catholic, All-State and Honorable Mention All-American awards. He was named the Said Rahaim ’64 Athlete of the Year by his fellow classmates.
Jim Hoff, 1963, a freshman on the squad that won a Catholic League championship in 1960, was named captain of the baseball team his senior year, played basketball for two years, and participated in a wide variety of other activities and clubs. Since 1967, for 50 years, Hoff has been involved with Major League Baseball. He played professional baseball, served as a minor league manager, coordinator and farm league director. He has worked for the Cincinnati Reds, Toronto Blue Jays and, currently, as the Tampa Bay Rays’ minor league field coordinator. He has been a part of five championship teams out of six that made it to the World Series.
Tom O’Keefe, 1964, is the recipient of the Tom Coyne ’62 Distinguished Service Award. For more than a half-century, he has lived a life of dedication to U-D Jesuit: as a student, alumnus, parent and employee. His support for the Cubs’ athletic program has been unwavering regardless of coaching changes, schedules, wins or losses. He has played a leadership role in fundraising and scholarship assistance programs, establishing the O’Keefe Family Scholarship in honor of Fr. Robert Welch, SJ, and serving as president of the U-D Jesuit Alumni Association.
