Hamburge leaves Judge Memorial High School

Intermountain Catholic

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After five years, Jim Hamburge, principal of Judge Memorial Catholic High School returns, to the Minniapolis-St. Paul Area. Leaving the Judge Memorial family, he said, will not be easy.  IC photo by Barbara S. Lee

SALT LAKE CITY — After five years as principal of Judge Memorial Catholic High School – five full years marked by outstanding students, a school community that was the faith community for families of students who died tragic deaths, and moving the school into a new century with the construction of a remarkable new sports field and facility that serves two schools, Jim Hamburge finds himself in a very emotional place.

"I don’t want to leave," Hamburge said in a May 17 interview with the Intermountain Catholic. "But I can’t stay."

Family responsibilities are calling Hamburge to return to the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. Area, and will result in the retirement of his wife, Susan, a teacher at J.E. Cosgriff Memorial School.

"We will be moving to Victoria, Minn., a western suburb of Minneapolis, where I will be taking over the role of president of Holy Family High School. My challenges there will be to help grow the enrollment and reduce the debt."

The Hamburges must deal with Jim’s mother, whose health is failing, and other family issues.

"Sue will retire from teaching, but I will stay in Catholic education, to which I am utterly devoted. Sue will be taking over some of the family issues."

Hamburge said he is determined to stay connected with Judge Memorial, and in fact, he plans to stay with the school through June, helping with the transition to a new principal.

"Judge Memorial has been the greatest experience. My only regrets are that I didn’t come earlier and I’m not staying later."

Describing Judge Memorial students as "less sophisticated but more real and genuine" than students he’s found in the Midwest and eastern states, Hamburge said, "the loyalty of the students and their parents to Judge Memorial is phenomenal, as is the loyalty of the entire Catholic community. Judge Memorial alumni go back three, four, five generations in this community, and the Catholic community here really values the connectedness and the history here."

He said in other Catholic school systems in which he’s taught; families have had students in two or more high schools.

"I really came to appreciate the loyalty to Judge Memorial, and I will never forget it," he said.

Hamburge said when he arrived in Salt Lake City five years ago, he was an unknown entity, and one of the largest challenges he faced was being an outsider.

"There were questions out there. The school system was looking forward to the opening of Juan Diego Catholic High School at the Skaggs Catholic Center. Some people were wondering if Judge Memorial would survive. The transition from one Catholic high school in the Salt Lake City area to two has been exciting, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working side by side with Dr. Gabriel Colosimo (principal of Juan Diego High School). I have enjoyed our partnership and our collegiality.

"Now we have more students in Catholic schools in Utah than any time in history. It’s exciting to watch both schools go forward meeting the needs of the Catholic Church in Utah and others in the valley who are looking for the quality education our schools offer."

Hamburge said today more students can achieve more accomplishments with the two schools, and there is more room for more students to participate in the programs our schools offer. It offers more choices and more opportunities than ever before.

Hamburge recalled that his coming to the Diocese of Salt Lake City was actually a case of chance and friendship. "I was actually at the decision stage between two other schools, when my friend (Vice Principal and Head Basketball Coach) Jim Yerkovich called and convinced me to come out and take a look at Judge Memorial. I fell in love with this school."

Hamburge led the school through the building of a new auditorium and a new athletic field and stadium that also serves Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School.

"The number of students has actually increased," he said. "Next year Judge Memorial will have 860 students, and they will see 900 students the following year."

Hamburge gives in to the tendency to say "we will see 900 students the following year." He is intent on keeping track of the school’s progress and its strategic plan, of which he had a great deal to do with the planning.

Hamburge fills with pride when he talks of the honors Judge Memorial students have achieved in the last five years.

"We’ve seen improvement in so many programs, including our mock trial team. We’ve been a 3A sports school for three years in a row, and our students continue to earn scholarships to the best colleges and universities in the country and abroad.

"I’ve always said, the world is our classroom, and excellence is our goal. I’ve encouraged our students to aim high, and they’ve tried to do that in sports, drama, speech, and other academics. We have programs that meet the needs of our students and make everyone associated with Judge Memorial proud."

Hamburge’s pride extends to the alumni of Judge Memorial who have helped him build the sense that in a time when high schools are being built on 60-acre plots, Judge Memorial is the best four and one-third acre school in America.

"Our emphasis and investments have been in advancement," he said. "Judge Memorial has never been a school for the academically or financially elite," he said. "But we recognize the future of the school calls for financial stability. I believe in the Holy Cross motto: ‘No margin, no mission.’"

Hamburge said he has tried to be both a good educator and a good businessman; celebrating Judge Memorial’s socio-economically diverse population while assuring adequate funds for all programs to reach a level of excellence."

The history of Catholic schools in the United States has seen the generosity of religious orders reinforced by parishes, Hamburge said. "Now, dioceses are being asked to do more and more on their own. Catholic educators have to be community builders who seek excellence on all levels."

His inspiration, Hamburge said, has been Diocesan Vicar General Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald, whose "vision of the big picture is always right on target. He is the greatest leader I’ve ever worked for. He offers great support while giving people enough latitude to do what we’re good at. He’s not into the minutiae; he just wants to be kept in the loop. I can’t imagine a diocese going so long without a bishop without a Msgr. Fitzgerald. He’s the best."

He said he’s also proud of the Diocesan Office of Catholic Schools, recently honored for the good work of its board of advisors.

"They’re really on the cutting edge; coordinating and planning for the future; demonstrating strategies, and creating innovative advertising.

For the next few weeks, Hamburge will be flying back and forth, readying both Holy Family High School in Minnesota and Judge Memorial High School Salt Lake City for the 2007-2008 school year.

"I love Catholic education," he said. "It’s who I am and what I do. I don’t think Judge Memorial has seen the last of me. I have no intention of giving up my red jacket."

For the time being, Hamburge likens himself to one of his favorite fictional characters, Shane.

"Maybe it’s a little like ‘Shane,’ the novel I taught my eighth-graders in English some 37 years ago. He came to the valley, came to know, to respect, and to love the people in the valley. They worked hard and together they were able to accomplish many things. But one day there came the time when Shane had to leave the valley. For us, that day has arrived."