Monte Flowers, Memphis Catholic Class of 2008

Senior Portrait

I met this young man last year when he started donating to Memphis Catholic and the Jubilee Schools. I thought it was so cool that this young alum was already giving back to his alma mater to help others receive the same opportunity he received. Even though I had spoken with him several times, I really didn't know much about him besides being a fantastic young man, a graduate of Memphis Catholic, and somehow associated with the Wharton Family.

I like to learn about people, who they are and what makes them tick. I wanted to learn more about Monte Flowers. So, he agreed to be the subject of this blog.

Monte was born in Memphis on July 4, 1989 to Cheryl Flowers and Wilbur Walton. He grew up in a very Catholic family as a member of St. Augustine Parish going to church every Sunday. His grandfather, Walter Flowers, Jr. made sure of it. Monte said that his grandfather was the rock of the family and instrumental in making sure the family attended church. Monte was baptized and received first communion at St. Augustine, and was confirmed at Immaculate Conception.

Life changed for Monte when he joined Boy Scout Troop 143 at St. Augustine. That's when he met Scout Master Ruby Wharton. From that time on, Monte became part of the Wharton Family. From age eleven to thirteen, he spent the summers with the Whartons. Monte believes scouting was essential to his development. He learned to respect himself and his community through this organization. He also developed a special fondness for the Boy Scouts of America as a result.

Starting in 8th grade, he became a member of the Wharton household. AC (former mayor of Memphis) and Ruby Wharton (principal of The Wharton Law Firm) became Monte's parents. They made sure he attended Memphis Catholic, and held the same expectations for Monte as they did Alex, Andre, and AC III; their own biological children.

Ruby Wharton was there to make sure Monte succeeded academically and spiritually. Monte said that the Whartons encouraged him to participate in school and church, and that they were very hands on. His relationship with the Whartons strengthened his faith and desire to participate in activities such as being a member of the parish council at St. Augustine. His sense of duty has been strengthened through the example of the Whartons.

Law School Graduate

Monte graduated from Memphis Catholic in 2008 and was the class salutatorian. He went on to graduate from Hampton University, one of the top historically black universities in the world.  He earned a B.A. in History, a minor in Leadership Studies, and was ranked 10th in his graduating class. He graduated in 2012 and was accepted to the University of Tennessee School of Law in Knoxville. He graduated from law school in 2015. Upon graduation, he was employed through the US Federal Honors Program working with the EEOC. Since May of this year, he has been working at The Wharton Law Firm.

Starting in the 8th grade, Monte attended Memphis Catholic. His first day at Memphis Catholic was during the summer practicing for the upcoming football season. He was nervous about attending a new school and didn't think he would fit in or succeed. The first person he met that day was Devin Walker, another incoming 8th grader. Devin introduced himself to Monte and they have been good friends ever since. Funny how things work out.

Class of 2008

While at Memphis Catholic, Monte was very active participating in football, track, baseball, basketball, Knowledge Bowl, drama club, campus ministry, student government, and a member of the National Honor Society.

"A Life for Others" was his philosophy in high school. As president of Catholic Campus Ministry, he helped to raise funds for disaster relief victims and for annual food drives.

Education That Works program started at Memphis Catholic when Monte was entering his junior year. His first internship was at FedEx Express working in the human resources department. He enjoyed FedEx so much that he asked to return to FedEx Express for his senior year where he interned in the FedEx Express IT department.

Dani Ray Barton, former staff member at Memphis Catholic, had this to say about Monte. "With Monte, from the first time I met him, he had clear and definite plans for his future. With many teenagers, that changes weekly. Not with Monte. He always knew and maintained that target and as we know now, has achieved those goals and more. I also remember the hilarious phone calls we would get from Mrs. Wharton and the mayor because Monte would always manage to forget about some after school activity or event he needed to tell them he was attending."

Deacon Ted Schreck, Director of Education That Works, said this about Monte: "He lolly gagged around the school on his very first day of internship and missed the bus to go to FedEx Express. He was sent home to Mrs. Wharton with a make up day. Beside that event, I was so impressed by his passion for law, for family, for his faith. He would serve on the altar for Mass and carried himself so professionally and with genuine love and passion."

Dawn Rose, English Teacher at Memphis Catholic, said, "He was always polite, helpful, and had a smile on his face. He made friends easily and was always there to help out where needed. He liked a good joke or prank as well."

Monte Flowers is a proud graduate of Memphis Catholic. He is a fantastic young person and models the way we should all be academically, spiritually, and as a member of the community. Everything he has become he attributes to his faith and the Whartons. He said that he could never repay the Wharton Family for what they have done for him. They are his godparents, mentors, and supporters.

Future Lawyer

It is because of the Wharton Family that Monte works so hard to become well educated and to become a lawyer. He sees law and education as mighty tools for helping individuals and groups escape poverty and misery. He wants more for other generations than he initially received himself.

Monte is on a mission to make Memphis a better place for those most in need. Thanks to the Wharton Family, his own hard work, St. Augustine Parish, and Memphis Catholic, Monte Flowers has the ability to be the change he wants to see.

Fun fact about the Flowers Family:
Monte's mother, Cheryl Flowers, is a Memphis Catholic graduate from the Class of '72. His three uncles; Walter, Jr., Ronald, and Paul Flowers are graduates of Fr. Bertrand.

Thank you Monte Flowers for taking the time to share your story.

God bless you,
Didier Aur

Join The Fun: 2017 Wings of Jubilee

Until last year, I had never been a part of any cooking contest. Even though I was a cook at The Loft Restaurant during my high school years, entering a cooking contest never entered my mind until last year when I entered a team in the 2016 Wings of Jubilee.

I am fully committed to the mission of the Jubilee Schools and the philanthropic work of the Blue Streak Scholarship Fund. When Blue Streak decided to hold a hot wings cooking contest (Wings of Jubilee), I decided that I would enter a team not in an attempt to win a trophy but to support the Jubilee Schools and join the fun.

Had I ever cooked chicken wings before? No. Do I enjoy eating chicken wings? Yes, but not hot wings. I like mild wings with just a little bit of dry rub and not the dripping wet use a roll of paper towels type wings.

I hoodwinked my good friend, Philip Schulte, from Jefferson City, MO to come down and help me cook. He had never cooked wings before so it was all new to him as well.

The first time we cooked chicken wings was for last year's Wings of Jubilee. Philip and I concocted our secret recipe the night before the Wings of Jubilee. The sauce was created on a trial and error basis. We had no idea how most people even cooked wings. We marinated the chicken wings all night in our newly created secret sauce hoping we had created something good to share the next day.

Come the morning of the Wings of Jubilee, we set up our team tent with lots of food and drink. We fired up our grill and started cooking chicken wings for the first time ever. We had a lot of fun and our team tent was full through much of the day with lots of friends and family. With several live bands and lots of kids games, the place was hopping.

With the 2017 Wings of Jubilee rapidly approaching, Philip and I decided to enter our team once again. We helped raise money for the Jubilee Schools while having a great time supporting another Blue Streak event. This FUN-raiser was well worth it and we are ready to go again.

We stepped out of our comfort zone and ended up having a great time! It didn't matter that we had no idea what we were doing. We just said "YES" and had lots of fun.

We challenge all Jubilee and Blue Streak supporters to do the same for this year's Wings of Jubilee. Enter a team and invite your friends and family to come out for a day of fun. Enter a team from work and use this opportunity to treat your employees and clients to a fun day out and also as a thank you for being a part of your organization.

Here is a partial list of teams already entered:
Blue Streak
Rytech
Duncan William Asset Management
Skrydetka Kurczaka (Polish for chicken wings)
Northwestern Mutual
R.J. Young
Peggy & Mike Callahan
Wingy Dingy
Wing Dingers
Ray Fracchia
Neil's Music Room
Knights of Columbus (Matt Sorg)
Riko's Kickin' Chicken
Central BBQ
New Wing Order
Jonathan & Brittany Aur
901Q
Wing of Fire: T.J. Mulligan/Pinch
Memphis Catholic

Click here for the Wings of Jubilee website.

Click here to register a wings cooking team.

Click here if you would like to sponsor the Wings of Jubilee.

It is about having lots of fun with friends and family while supporting the Jubilee Schools. It is also about trying something new. Glad I did last year and looking forward to it again this year. Hope to see you out there having fun.

God bless you,
Didier Aur