Beloved Teacher Provides Likeness For St. Pius

By ERIKA ANDERSON, Staff Writer

Published: December 4, 2003

ATLANTA—It’s become a little harder for Msgr. Richard Lopez to say no.

The much-beloved St. Pius X High School religion teacher’s likeness has been forever captured in the oversized nodding noggin of a bobblehead doll.

And fans of Msgr. Lopez can bring him home for only $20, all of which goes to support St. Pius’s various fine arts programs through the St. Pius Arts Society.

Steve Siler, director of development at St. Pius, said although there were several people at the school who were considered to be “icons,” the decision to use Msgr. Lopez was an easy one.

“From a marketing standpoint, it’s kind of a no-brainer,” he said. “There are a few teachers around here that are really considered legends…but with Msgr. Lopez, his icon status extends beyond St. Pius and into the archdiocese. He is loved not only by the St. Pius community but throughout Atlanta.”

Msgr. Lopez has been teaching at St. Pius since 1981. Ordained in 1973, he served at several parishes before coming to the school. He also served as the director of vocations for the archdiocese from 1978-1983 and served for nearly 10 years as the chaplain for Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cancer Home.

“We were pleasantly surprised that he agreed to do this, but he seemed so perfect. He’s really a self-deprecating, very low-key, humble guy,” Siler said.

Designs for the bobbleheads began early last summer, spearheaded by alumni director David Buechner and St. Pius parent Ken Burrow, a former Atlanta Falcon who owns a sports promotions company that markets the dolls. Burrow’s company has created bobbleheads for many Atlanta sports teams and other local celebrities. The bobblehead dolls began selling during the St. Pius football season.

The dolls themselves are replicas of Msgr. Lopez with one hand placed on his stomach the other pointing. He wears his trademark glasses and famous smile.

Hand-painted and made in China, 2,500 dolls were ordered. But they are selling “briskly,” Buechner said.

As for the model himself, Msgr. Lopez remains humbled and a bit amused by the honor.

“I’m honored by the doll but the only thing is I worry because it only says yes and I think sometimes saying no is equally an act of love as saying yes,” he laughed. “I hope anyone who uses it just remembers to pray for me.”

The dolls are $20 each. For information on purchasing a Msgr. Lopez bobblehead, call Kate Horlander at (770) 935-0197. For more information, e-mail the St. Pius development office at development@spx.org.