SCHOLARSHIP BALL
| Giving from the Heart |
SCHOLARSHIP BALL HONOREES |
DARRYL JONES, '68 AND JIM, '60 & KATIE O'BRIEN DARRYL JONES, '68 Basketball standout, national champion, winning coach, loving father, and successful businessman, Darryl Jones is a prime example of all that Benedictine College can bring to an individual’s life. At the same time, Darryl is also a model for what an individual can do when given the opportunity. He embodies the very hope and principle of the Scholarship Ball. A 1968 graduate of St. Benedict’s College, now Benedictine College, Darryl earned his degree in Sociology. During his four years on campus he was both a student leader and an All American basketball player. He led the Ravens to three consecutive tournament appearances and the 1967 NAIA national basketball championship. He was co-captain of the championship team in the 1967 Pan American Games and played in the 1968 Olympic Trials. In his career, he played against such notables as Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Wes Unseld, and Jo Jo White and was a fourth-round draft pick of the NBA’s San Diego Rockets (now Houston) in 1968. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) recognized him as a four-time All-American who has since been inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame. His inclusion as a member of the 50th Anniversary NAIA All-Star Team indicates the respect he earned across the country both for his ability and his leadership. From 1974-1979, Darryl came back to work at his alma mater, serving as the assistant director of development while also helping in athletics as an assistant basketball and football coach (1974-1976). In 1977 he took on the duties of head basketball coach as well as assistant director of admission. He has happily maintained contact with many Benedictine graduates, both from his time as a student and his years on the staff. Darryl’s professional life includes over 30 years of experience in sales and management. He is presently employed by State Farm Insurance and has his own agency in North Richland Hills, Texas. His previous accomplishments include running a successful and profitable agency in the inner city of St. Louis, after which he was offered the opportunity to go into management and lead other agents in an effort to do the same. Darryl is a true Benedictine ambassador, exuding love for the college and possessing an uncanny ability to share and spread his enthusiasm. His introduction of 1967 national championship teammate Gregory Glore was a huge hit at the 2008 Alumni Reunion, his 40th. Darryl has been a steadfast supporter of the school as well, contributing to the new Academic Center within the Investing in Excellence Campaign, as well as the Benedictine College Fund, the basketball program, football program, Scholarship Ball and Fund-A-Raven. In 2004, he joined the Board of Directors and currently chairs the Student Life Committee. Darryl is also involved in many community service projects and organizations. He is a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, 100 Black Men of America and is regional chairman of the Amateur Athletic Union Regional Golf Association. He also served on the executive committee of the NCAA Div. 1 Fort Worth Bowl, now known as the Armed Forces Bowl. Darryl is the father of three children. Son, Clayton is a graduate of Lincoln University and is also a State Farm Agent. Daughter, Courtney Brickner (married to Scott Brickner ’95) is a St. Louis University graduate and lives in San Diego, Calif. His youngest daughter, Micah, graduated from the University of Illinois and now lives in Los Angeles, Calif. JIM, '60 & KATIE O'BRIEN Jim and Katie O’Brien have been associated with Benedictine College for many years, going back to Jim’s football days as a student athlete at St. Benedict’s College. He graduated in 1960 with a degree in Business Administration and, after a brief career in coaching at St. Pius X High School and University of Colorado, found his place within the pharmaceutical industry. He also met his wife, Katie, a Kansas City native and graduate of the University of Kansas with a degree in elementary education. They were married in 1962. Jim began his career with Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, where he spent 17 years, starting as a sales rep and progressing to Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Katie taught full time for four years, and then served as a substitute teacher until Jim’s job took them to Atlanta, California, Basel, Switzerland, and New Jersey, where they lived for 22 years. Jim eventually took a major leadership role with Revlon’s health care group, as president of USV Labs and the Armour Pharmaceutical Co. In 1986, following Revlon’s divestiture of the health care group, he founded his own company, O’Brien Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He later sold the company to Elan Corporation, plc. and served as President and Chief Operating Officer until returning to Kansas City. He and his son, David, then started O’Brien Marketing and Communications, a regional advertising agency. In addition to serving as the Chairman of the Board at Benedictine College, he has also been on the boards of four publicly traded companies, including Derma Sciences, Inc., Princeton, NJ. He has recently joined the board of the non-profit Urban Rangers Corps, a program to help prepare at-risk inner city youths for productive futures, started by his brother-in-law, Father John Wandless. Katie has continued to donate her time and energy, volunteering at De La Salle Education Center, Nativity Parish and the Front Porch Alliance. Jim was honored with the Kansas Monk Award in 1997. The O’Briens reside in Leawood, KS. They have three grown children and four grandchildren. |