Teixeira '65 Has Number Retired

Catholic Memorial has raised number 52 to the rafters of the Ronald Perry Gymnasium, honoring alumnus Ron Teixeira '65 on Friday, January 19, during halftime of the Knights' varsity basketball game.

Teixeira, the first African-American student to enroll at Catholic Memorial, led the Knights to 94–9 record from 1961 to 1965, culminating with a perfect 26–0 season and a state title during his senior year, the same year he became the first 2,000-point scorer in Massachusetts high school basketball history.

"It's good to be back," said Teixeira. "I'm honored that they remember our teams and the great teams of the 1960s and my contribution to those teams. That was the beginning of CM's tradition, and I think it helped to grow the school way back when."

"I often say the best decision I ever made was to come to CM," adds Teixeira. "The luckiest day of my life was the day I met Mr. Perry. He, outside of my mother, is most responsible for who I am today."

Teixeira was a high school All-American under Ron Perry Sr. at Catholic Memorial. At 6’9” he was a defensive force. In 1965, "Tex" and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) at Power Memorial competed in a storied matchup of big men. Both among the top recruits in the country at that time.

"[Ron] was really the person who began the CM mystique of the 1960s," said Perry. "He was a great player for four years. Very humble and — you can see the turnout here of his teammates, almost 100 percent — a great teammate... there couldn't be a nicer guy, and I'm so happy for him."