Nick Theos, a 1956 Elon alumnus from Charleston, S.C., was honored Saturday, Nov. 10 during Homecoming Reunion Weekend festivities. Details...
President Leo M. Lambert dedicated the Theos Arch at the entrance to Rhodes Stadium during a ceremony before the Homecoming football game Saturday, Nov. 10. The arch recognizes Theos’ lifetime accomplishments as an educator.
Furman Moseley, Theos’ friend and former Elon football teammate, gave $1 million to Elon in 1998 in honor of Theos. The two men were recruited to Elon by John L. Georgeo, Elon class of 1946, who coached football at a Mt. Pleasant, S.C. high school. Both Theos and Moseley played guard on the Elon squad for coach Sid Varney. Varney called Theos “a truly outstanding player” and a leader who always knew what to do on the field.
Moseley went on to become chairman of an international paper company based in Seattle, while Theos had a distinguished career as principal of Bishop England High School in Charleston.
As principal, Theos drew on the lessons he learned as the son of a Greek Orthodox immigrant mother in a poor area of North Charleston that he called “The Bowery.” When he began school, he didn’t speak a word of English. Even though his parents struggled to make ends meet, his mother insisted on music lessons, which helped Theos develop a lifelong love of classical music. He later went on to sing with the Charleston Symphony and win honors as the top baritone in state competition.
Theos is credited with building the new Bishop England High School campus on Daniel Island. When he retired in 1999, after 27 years at the school, he was honored with the Benemerenti Medal, a papal medal first bestowed by Pope Pius VI in the 18th century and given in recognition of service to the church and society. The former bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Charleston, the Most Rev. David B. Thompson, conferred the title of “honorary bishop” on Theos in a school assembly.
“You know his last name, Theos, is Greek for God, and Nick has many godlike qualities,” said Thompson, in praising Theos’ strong beliefs and courage. Theos was an advocate for values-oriented education, and insisted on programs that gave students a sense of morality and discipline. Enrollment flourished under his leadership and SAT scores were above the national average.