Join us for our weekly “Rock Reflections,” a series celebrating Trinity alumni. From all 50 states to countries worldwide, our graduates are making an impact, and we'll share their stories on Trinity's website and social media.
This week's profile is about Ray Schmidt '61
Go For It. Just Go For It.
“Who is that guy?”
Students and faculty have wondered since the photo was displayed at Trinity’s Opening Mass for the new school year on August 22.
The black-and-white photo, taken in September 1958, features students gathered in the parking lot on the first day of school. The photo was used to emphasize the theme for 2025-26: “Seize the Moment.” It was walked up and down the aisles at the Mass for students to see.
Standing in almost the center of the photo is a young man wearing a striped shirt. He was looking at the camera when the photo was shot. The photo is prominently displayed in Trinity’s cafeteria.
That guy is Ray Schmidt, Class of 1961. Along with classmates Tom Dues and Gary Lange, he came to Trinity on the evening of October 6 to make phone calls for the Alumni Phonathon. Ray smiled upon seeing the photo, and he and his classmates reminisced about their Trinity days in the 1950s and ’60s.
What follows are some of the remarks Trinity Principal Dr. Dan Zoeller H’07 made at this annual Trinity tradition regarding the 1958 yearbook photo.
I appreciate again how your senior leadership is challenging us with a new theme this year: “Seize the Moment.” We believe it was the Roman poet Horace who coined the phrase “carpe diem” to urge people to live for the day. As Max [Max Corbett, Senior Class president] referenced, it came back into modern conversation with Robin Williams’ dramatic performance as Professor Keating. In the movie, “Dead Poets Society,” Williams plays a much beloved teacher who will do most anything to get his classes excited about learning. You may be picturing your favorite Trinity teacher, one who’s not afraid to be a little bit crazy, a lot funny, and very creative when teaching.
In the movie, one day in class, Professor Keating shows his students an old black-and-white photo of students from years ago . . . pictures like we have in the Student Affairs Office, the Learning Support Center and the rotunda. A photo very much like this one. Ms. Mullen in our Archives helped me find this photo of Trinity students from 1958. Ms. Snyder helped me enlarge it.
In the movie, Professor Keating urges his students to lean closer to a photo like this one and hear the words coming from these past students. I love that scene, because the camera is panning over the faces of boys who have since grown up, some who’ve passed away, and Professor Keating whispers: “Carpe diem; make your lives extraordinary!” as if it’s the boys speaking.
Look at this photo making its way around the gym. Take it a bit further. What would these guys say to you today if they could. Their biggest question might be, “What is the gadget in your hand you keep staring at?” It wouldn’t be 33 years until the smart phone was invented. After they got over how weird you were acting, they might offer you advice.
The guy with his hand on his chin might say, “One day I finally talked to a kid at lunch who made me laugh. I quit saying stupid things to impress guys I didn’t really like. That kid I talked to ended up the best man in my wedding!”
The guy with the folded arms in the corner is saying, “I was not as smart as I look. I got into the wrong things. I paid a big price. Take my advice! Be careful!”
The guy in the white shirt looking over his shoulder is saying, “Go on senior retreat! It helped me understand God in new ways and got me through the tough times to come.”
The little guy next to the senior at the center of the photo is saying: “Max is right. Try something new. I should have tried theater and taken that music class.”
Who knows, one of you, years from now might even catch yourself wishing you’d showed up for Uno Club to take on the King but you missed your chance.
And that guy in the striped shirt at the center. He’s saying “Go for it. Just go for it.”
‘The choice was simple’
Ray Schmidt started his Catholic education at St. Elizabeth of Hungary School in the Germantown neighborhood of Louisville. He participated in all athletic programs, served as an altar boy and was a member of Troop 17 of the Boy Scouts of America.
When it came time to choose a high school, Ray’s options were Trinity and St. Xavier. Ray’s father had a connection with Trinity’s founding principal, Monsignor Alfred Steinhauser.
“Influenced by my father’s connections with Monsignor Steinhauser, the choice was simple,” Ray said. “Trinity provided the opportunity to continue my sports and to further my education. My grade- school closest friend was Jay Young, and together we hitchhiked from Burnett Avenue and Eastern Parkway in Germantown to St. Matthews for three years.”
Ray participated in varsity basketball and track and freshman football.
He has many wonderful Trinity memories.
“Every day and every year at Trinity was an adventure of positive development,” Ray said. “I treasure it to this day.”
One of his favorite memories is about his senior prom in 1961.
“The night of our senior prom we had a track meet in New Albany, Indiana, against several other schools. Father Wagner and Father Pank volunteered to pick up our dates and have them waiting for us at St. Paul Catholic Church. Father Wagner had to drive all the way to the West End to pick up my date. Imagine the look on my date’s mother’s face when a Catholic priest knocked on the door to get her daughter for Trinity’s Senior Prom.”
Teammates and brothers
Ray also remembers Coach John Moll believing in him.
“At the start of my senior year, Coach Moll came to me and told me that he wanted me to run the high hurdles and that he wanted me to jump rope for half an hour each night after basketball practice in order to get my shins in shape,” he said. “Mission accomplished, and Coach Kelly provided me a ride home every night after basketball practice, preventing me from hitchhiking to Germantown. Coach Moll told me that the best hurdler in the city was Fred Cogswell of St. X, and he had been running the hurdles since he was a freshman. My training enabled me to beat that Tiger in our first five competitions. On a separate note, at our first competition the St. X coach, John Miehouse, bet my father $5.00 that his boy would beat me. To this day the St. X coach has never paid my dad. My second-place finish to the St. X hurdler was in the Meet of Champions on a very cold night. In the state meet, my time of 14.9 seconds allowed me to finish third. I still have the medal.”
Ray recounted how his teammates rallied around their brother Rocks.
“After the state track meet in Lexington, our team entered a restaurant and began ordering when the manager of the establishment informed one of our seniors that they were unable to serve us because two of our teammates were black. At that point, Rich Stuedle [1962] informed the entire team that we were leaving immediately. Racism was never tolerated at Trinity.”
Some of Ray’s favorite teachers and coaches are Father Wagner, Father Pank, Dave Kelly, John Moll, Father Vessel, Bud O’Neil, Jim Vessel and Mr. Kause.
“Above all is our principal, Monsignor Steinhauser,” Ray said.
‘I give each year to give back’
After graduating from Trinity in 1961, Ray enrolled at Bellarmine University. He dropped out to serve in the U.S. Army from 1963-69. He returned to college with the help of Trinity teacher and track coach John Moll, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1972.
Ray spent most of his 60-year career managing and troubleshooting operations for manufacturing facilities in five states. He retired in January 2025 at age 82.
In addition to his career, Ray was passionate about martial arts. He practiced for 30 years before ceasing fighting competitions at age 72.
Ray has been involved with the Alumni Association for years. As an alumni Class Agent for 1961, he’s helped plan his class reunions and participated in the Alumni Phonathon for financial aid.
“Strong ties have been made with many of my brothers from the Class of 1961, and these ties continue with those that have not passed,” Ray said.
Ray also has been a regular donor to the Trinity Annual Fund.
“I give each year to give back what I received at Trinity,” he said.
Ray and his wife, Rebecca, have been married for 25 years. They have one son, two daughters, two sons-in-law, a daughter-in-law, two stepsons, and 12 grandchildren. Ray and Rebecca reside in Sellersburg, Indiana. They attend several Catholic churches in the Louisville area.
Share an alumni story!
Do you know a Trinity alumnus with a compelling story? Please reach out to Travis Wagoner '90, Alumni Relations & Communications Director, at 502-736-2122 or wagoner@trinityrocks.com.
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