Hall of Fame
There was nobody more beloved by the Holy Cross student body that Father Francis Hart, S.J. '21. Known as "Ma" Hart, he ran the intramural program from its infancy in 1933 when he was named associate director. In 1943 he became director of intramurals and served in that capacity until his death in 1986. Generations of Crusaders sought out Fr. Hart to borrow equipment from horseshoes to basketballs, to arrange time and space for their intramural leagues and activities at the field house, freshman field and later in the Hart Center. Students for more than half a century developed a strong bond with Father Hart, who would dispense wise advice along with the equipment. Crusaders attending reunions, when asked to recall the highlights of their time at Holy Cross, often speak of the fun they had playing intramural sports and speak fondly of Father Hart.
The Rev. Francis J. Hart Recreational Center opened on Dec. 1, 1975 as Holy Cross defeated Loyola (Md) 94-85. A footnote on pages 456-57 in "Thy Honored Name," a history of Holy Cross written by Father Anthony J. Kuzniewski, speaks to the humility of Father Hart. "Father Hart's motives for accepting the recognition are a matter of conjecture. In 1967, the trustees voted to name the field house in his honor, but Hart refused. In 1974 he seemed more compliant. The trustees may have acted without giving him an opportunity to veto the idea, or (as some pundits have impishly suggested) he may have been holding out for the better building."
No doubt, the Hart Center underscores Holy Cross' commitment that home games should be played on campus before its student body and that the College should maintain its focus on amateur intercollegiate competition.
Perhaps Donald Morrissey '65, in a reflections booklet published for his class' Silver Jubilee reunion, best summed up how students felt about Fr. Hart: "Fr .Hart, God bless him and his love for intramurals," Morrissey wrote. Amen to that.
