Catching up with Dave Dixon ’83

September 5, 2019

Dave Dixon ’83, Legacy Dad

In Fall 2015, David and his wife, Mary Beth, had a decision to make – what high school do they send their son to for his 9^th grade year? While they had many great options, they chose to send him to Brother Rice, his father’s alma mater. As a legacy student, DJ, is proudly following in his father’s footsteps.

We recently caught up with Dave to talk about his Brother Rice experience and why choosing Brother Rice was the right fit for DJ.

What impact has Brother Rice had on your life today?

Attending Brother Rice has had a very positive impact on my life. Brother Rice taught me the value of hard work, both in the classroom and on the field. Spiritually, it helped me build my relationship with God and become a man of character. Academically, it prepared me to do well at the University of Michigan and to go on to receive an MBA from U of M as well. Socially, my best friends today are still my Brother Rice classmates.

How did you and your family determine that Brother Rice was the right place for your son, DJ?

We looked at other high school options, both public and Catholic, but Brother Rice felt like the best fit for DJ. Rice was strong academically and athletically and I knew firsthand the type of friendships that are formed while at Rice and I wanted that for my son.

How has Brother Rice lived up to your expectations as a parent?

DJ has loved his Brother Rice experience. He was fortunate to attend the Kairos retreat as a Junior and that had an incredibly powerful and positive impact on him. He has enjoyed his teachers and had great experiences on the lacrosse and hockey teams.

Describe the sense of pride you feel having your son follow in your Brother Rice footsteps.

I’m very proud to wear my Brother Rice gear and tell people that my son goes to school there. Like every parent you want your child to have a positive high school experience and Brother Rice has done an outstanding job in helping DJ grow from a boy into a man of character.

What advice would you give to a fellow alum who is considering sending his son to Brother Rice?

Brother Rice, in addition to being an outstanding academic school, teaches Respect, Integrity, Character, and Excellence, which are the same things that they learned during their time at Rice. The Brother Rice experience teaches boys a winning attitude and that they need to work hard in order to achieve their goals. In short, I would tell them that they would be proud to have their son become a fellow Brother Rice alum.