The day before classes began in the fall of 1973, St. Francis University freshman Jubie Aulisio and his older brother, Leander, crossed paths with Red Flash cross country coach Father Bede Hines, T.O.R. at the end of their short run.
It was a meeting that would forever alter the younger Aulisio's life.
"I had Father Bede for an English class. Everybody dreaded that. They said his classes were the hardest,'' Aulisio said. "When we finished our run, we saw Father Bede. He said, 'Cross country practice tomorrow. 4:30. Be there.'
"When we got back, I said, 'What do I do? I don't want to run cross country.' They said you better be there or else you better drop the class.'''
Aulisio kept the class and joined the team. Four years later, Aulisio, who hadn't even run in high school, was in Boulder, Colo., training for the U.S. Olympic Trials after setting the college's record holder in the three-mile run.
Now a 55-year-old public defender in central Florida, Aulisio is returning to Loretto this afternoon with his brother and numerous others to say goodbye to the St. Francis icon they knew only as "Father Bede,'' who died Wednesday at the age of 92.
A longtime professor and published author during a nearly 70-year relationship with St. Francis, Father Bede was best known for his commitment to athletics and physical fitness. He coached the Red Flash cross country team for 34 years and the track team for 12; the running track at DeGol Field now bears his name. After that, he spent several years as head of the school's intramurals program.
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