Andy Houghton memorialized at Jesuit

By Robbie Roach
Magis staff writer


Captain Andrew Ryan Houghton’s deeply moving memorial service was held on Wednesday, August 18 at the Parsley Center. Houghton, class of ‘97, became the first Strake Jesuit graduate ever to be killed in combat. Capt. Houghton died on August 9, 2004 after being severely injured on July 10, by shrapnel from a rocket propelled grenade in Ad Duluiyah, Iraq while leading his 3rd Platoon, Anvil Troop, into battle.
The service began at 7:00 p.m. and lasted until around 9:30 p.m. During this time, a wide variety of people made speeches honoring Capt. Houghton’s memory and attesting to what a special person he really was. The program began with Mr. Nevle, principal of Strake Jesuit, mentioning Houghton’s many achievements at Jesuit. Houghton participated in football, track, debate, yearbook, SJET, Crusader Guard, Freshman Retreat, and NHS. In 1994, he received the Crusader of the Year Award. His football jersey, 87, was retired in his honor and all the football players will have 87’s on the sides of their helmets this year.
A detachment from the 75th Division of Training and Support OST served as an honor guard who posted and retired the United States flag. Gene Sury, one of Houghton’s best friends since 7th grade, and James Leisinger, the father of one of Houghton’s classmates from West Point, both gave eulogies during the service. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, and Dr. John Lockhart, pastor at Richmond’s First Baptist Church also gave speeches at the service. Sharon Lockhart, Lynn Sury, and the Men’s Ensemble from the West Point Society of Greater Houston sang the “National Anthem,” “Army Blue,” “The Old Rugged Cross,” “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” “Amazing Grace,” and “The Mansions of the Lord” very beautifully. Mr. Peri, Head of the Music Department at Jesuit played TAPS on the trumpet and the Strake Jesuit Chamber Orchestra accompanied the Men’s Ensemble on “The Mansions of the Lord.” Fr. Lahart, President of Strake Jesuit, closed the ceremony with a prayer.
The memorial service attracted acute interest from many local news stations and the Houston Chronicle. Stories of the service were aired on the local 10 O’clock news that night, and an article was printed in the Chronicle the next day. At a press conference held in the Strake Jesuit orchestra room, Mr. Gary Houghton, Andy’s father, had an opportunity to say a few words.
Andy was truly a man for others. His father said, “My son was a hero not only because of the way he died, but more importantly because of the way he lived . . . For his senior service project, Andy read books on audio tape for the blind. After he had completed the required number of hours, he kept going because he enjoyed it so much.” Houghton continued devoting his life to service for others after graduating from Jesuit. His father says, “during his junior and senior year [at West Point], he not only participated in but directed the Special Olympics at West Point. As a senior, he served as cadet in charge of counseling for other cadets.”
Indeed Houghton was right on the mark when he told his father on his last leave to the United States, “I’ve lived a wonderful life.”

To learn more about how Andy Houghton was a Man for Others, visit the family website at: www.andyhoughton.com.