 
Colwick Soaring to New Heights
6/24/09 - By Winston Dutchin, KPRC-2
Rice's Colwick has nerves in check this time around
One dream, two career paths
Bar keeps going up for Colwick
Ex-Catholic star Lewis coming home as visitor
Former Heights QB Clement heading to Canada
Up and coming Lennie Waite: Wanderer who's found the right track
When it comes to NFL prospects, James Casey is one of a kind
Clement's focus on relaxing, not draft
O.J. Brigance pays a visit to the Rice campus, keeps up fight vs. disease
Rice freshman Saravia gains on court after loss in family
Fanuzzi starting to feel at home
Casey, Dillard hope to create a higher NFL profile for the Owls' program
AD's goal is to get Rice Athletics on par with its academics
Owls are Dominant in Track Competition
How high can he go?
The sky's the limit for Rice's Jason Colwick
Draft status doesn't worry Dillard
One September night could shape the future of Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jeff Niemann
James Casey, Triumph over tragedy
Rice's Clement, Dillard represented San Antonio well
Rice's mighty Casey strikes out ... for the NFL Draft
Dillard Proves Big-Time Comes in Small Packages
Rice volleyball hires BCA's Russell Brock
Within a Wasting Body, Brigance is the Ravens' Source of Strength
Former BriSox Pitcher Now A Record-Setting Receiver for Rice University
Record-breaking duo has Rice cookin'
Rice's record-setting duo has given a stagnant program new life
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Nov. 3, 2008 Share your memories of Dr. Castañeda UPDTATE: There will be a memorial service for Dr. Castañeda at 4 p.m. on Friday at Reckling Park Jim Castañeda, who served Rice University for 46 years as an educator, coach and administrator, passed away last weekend. "Everyone at Rice is shocked at the passing of Jim Castañeda," Rice Director of Athletics Chris Del Conte said. "He touched so many lives over the past 46 years. This is a loss that touches so many people, because Jim was always so giving of his time. He was a wonderful educator, and in his role in Athletics, he was a caring advocate for all our student-athletes." "This is a great loss for Conference USA and all of intercollegiate athletics. "C-USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky said. "A friend to all, his dedication was pure and his contribution was significant. He touched thousands of lives and we will miss him dearly." Castañeda joined the Rice faculty in 1961 as a Spanish professor and began his association with the Athletics Department the following spring as the head freshman and assistant varsity baseball coach. In 1975 he assumed the duties as the school's representative to the Southwest Conference and the NCAA, a position he held until his passing. He also served as the coach of the Owls golf team from 1983 to 1998. He led Rice to seven team tournament championships during his career as the Owls' golf coach. Also during his tenure, Rice had eight individual regular-season tournament champions. He coached 11 student-athletes who received a combined total of 19 Golf Coaches Association of America Academic All-America awards. In 1986, the Rice University "R" Association named him the year's Honorary "R" Man for his dedication and service to the Rice athletic program. Castañeda was inducted to the Drew University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997 and honored with the Association of Rice Alumni's Meritorious Service Award in 2000. To top it all off, Rice established the Jim Castañeda golf scholarship in fall 2001. Castañeda served on numerous athletic committees, often as chairman. The Golf Coaches Association of America, All-America Scholars Committee, Southwest Athletic Conference and Western Athletic Conference all benefited from his talents, and he was most recently serving as the faculty athletics representative liaison to the Conference USA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. In addition, Castañeda was a member of the NCAA regional postgraduate scholarship committee. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native received his bachelor's degree summa cum laude in Spanish from Drew University in 1954 and briefly played in the Baltimore Orioles' farm system after a four-year career on the Drew baseball team. He then enrolled at Yale University, where he studied romance languages and received his master's degree in 1955 and his doctorate three years later. Castañeda was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1985. The author of five books, he was named Spanish Teacher of the Year as well as Foreign Language Teacher of the Year by the Texas Foreign Language Association. He served as president of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese and has been decorated by King Juan Carlos I of Spain. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the James Castañeda Golf Scholarship, Rice University. |
