Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1368856
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com JUNE/JULY 2021 17 A TRIBUTE TO LOU SOMOGYI followed his lead on what to do, which usually had something to do with Notre Dame." Somogyi grew up in a modest house on Stanfield Street — just a few blocks southwest of campus — so the beautiful Golden Dome was always near, and in many ways, al- ways calling. Galos explained that as far back as he can remember, Somogyi was a rabid Notre Dame football fan and a student of the program's rich history. "It was always his passion," Galos said. Somogyi's father was a cook in the South Dining Hall at Notre Dame while his mother worked a soda fountain in the Oak Room, a separate restaurant and refreshment area also in the South Dining Hall. Notre Dame employees received some financial benefit and accep- tance consideration for their children to enroll there. And mother and fa- ther worked tirelessly to help their son realize his scholastic dream. Galos explained that even when Somogyi was in elementary school, he frequently talked of someday at- tending Notre Dame so he could be- come close to Irish athletics, mainly football. "It was almost a given that he was going to take the college and career path that he did," Galos recalled. "He always knew he was going to go to Notre Dame, his parents wanted him to go there, that was the place for him. I don't think he really consid- ered anywhere else." Like many other Notre Dame stu- dents, Somogyi began his college journey across the street at Holy Cross College. After one year there, Somogyi became accepted to Notre Dame in 1981, then moved his books and bril- liance back across the street, having no idea of the journey and experi- ences to come. LIVING HIS DREAM Folks that read this magazine are certainly familiar with fine journalist Tim Prister. A 1982 Notre Dame graduate, Pris- ter spent 22 years as a writer and editor (1982-2004) for Blue & Gold Il- lustrated and was instrumental in the success and longevity of the magazine. Upon college graduation, Prister decided to hitch his career wagon to a relatively new sports publication niche that focused on a single pro- fessional team or a specific college program. Somogyi graduated in 1984 and immediately became one of Prister's first job candidates to fill an open writing position. A staff member with The Observer — Notre Dame's daily student news- paper — Somogyi covered Irish var- sity athletics while in college and also produced a column there called "Club Corner," a piece that focused mainly on intramural sports on campus. Prister admits now that he knew nothing about Somogyi then — other than his job candidate was from South Bend, they both had Hungar- ian roots and they shared a passion for Notre Dame athletics. An inter- view invite was extended, and Somo- gyi got the gig. "To be honest, I probably would've hired anyone that interviewed for the job at the time," Prister recalled. "We needed someone." Thirty-seven years later, "Well, I guess that turned out to be a helluva hire," Prister said with a sorrowful sigh. Like Paul McCartney and John Lennon of "The Beatles," Prister and Somogyi emerged a formidable one- two Fighting Irish coverage duo, in part, because their similarities and differences blended so well. "I was a journalist first and a histo- Above: Lou interviewing Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer. At left: Lou with co-worker Ryan Tice during a campus tour in 2015. PHOTO BY JEANETTE BLANKENSHIP PHOTO BY ANDREW IVINS "One of the nicest, most caring people in the industry. Honored to have worked and served alongside him. I snapped this picture of him years ago. A true legend." ANDREW IVINS,FORMER BGI RECRUITING REPORTER