“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 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. (begin showing poster). 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 a 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.”