MARIA S. YOUNG / TIMES PHOTO
Brian King has been president of Father Judge High School since Jan. 1, and the Judge community celebrated its new leader last week with a Mass that also celebrated the feast of St. Francis de Sales.
King was formally installed during a Friday morning Mass in the gym that was followed by a luncheon in the cafeteria. The new president said things have been going well in his first month on the job.
“We have something special,” he said. “We have the same tradition, but a new look and a new feel.”
King, the school’s fourth president, replaced Patrick McGonigal, who assumed the presidency after last school year, only to quit after a short stint.
The Rev. Joseph Campellone had been president for 15 years until taking a one-year sabbatical to study Catholic secondary education models. Campellone delivered the homily at Friday’s Mass.
The Rev. Ed Rauch was Judge’s first president.
The Rev. James Dalton, Judge’s principal, had been interim president since McGonigal’s departure in the summer.
King, 36 and a 1997 graduate of Father Judge, spent more than five years as director of advancement and operations. He oversaw renovations to the cafeteria and the track and field, along with an initiative that led to new fields at Ramp Playground.
King, who lives on London Road in Somerton, was joined at the Mass by his wife, Kim, and sons Mason, Jaxon and Casey; his parents, Ed and Patti; and his grandmom, Catherine.
Among those in attendance were state Sen. John Sabatina Jr. (Father Judge class of 1988) and state Rep. Ed Neilson.
King said he is leading a school that boasts an excellent faculty, staff, board, academics, athletics and extracurricular activities.
“We have a rich tradition and a lot of all-stars here,” he said.
King said grade school boys and their parents should consider Judge, which has an enrollment of 874.
“Take a look at us. Look at the investments we continue to make,” he said.
King worked for Campellone. The two met when Campellone became school chaplain when King was a senior.
“Our relationship goes back a long time. I knew Brian when he was cutting lunchmeat at Marinucci’s,” Campellone said. “I’m really proud of him.”
Campellone said King did well working with unions and government officials to improve the Judge campus.
“It worked out well. His greatest talent is his ability to be creative on the spot. And he has an incredible knack to bring people together,” Campellone said. “He’s got a challenge and will meet the challenge.”
Before working at Judge, King was the executive director of the Mayfair Community Development Corporation for over three years. A graduate of Saint Joseph’s University, he was the physical education teacher at Saint Matthew Elementary School from 2001 through 2006.
On a related note, St. Hubert is still looking for a president. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has hired a firm, Education Strategies, to conduct a national search. A new president is expected to be named by late April. ••
MARIA S. YOUNG / TIMES PHOTO
Hello, Mr. President: The Father Judge community celebrated the school’s new president, Brian King, during a Mass last week. MARIA S. YOUNG / TIMES PHOTO
