On behalf of The Board of Directors for The Pines Catholic Camp, it is with great pleasure and excitement that we announce the creation of a new leadership structure that will lead the future growth of the organization. The Pines has experienced significant growth and has plans to continue that growth to provide the best camp experience for our youth both at summer and year-round camps in cooperation with our parishes and schools. We were extremely fortunate to find two individuals whose life experiences, spiritual strength, and commitment to the Catholic faith provide the perfect dynamic to strengthen this important ministry.
Effective immediately, John Egan has been promoted to Executive Director of Ministry (based in Big Sandy), and Rick Villarreal has accepted the position of Executive Director of Business Operations & Development (based in Dallas). Both will report directly to the Board of Directors.
Effective immediately, John Egan has been promoted to Executive Director of Ministry (based in Big Sandy), and Rick Villarreal has accepted the position of Executive Director of Business Operations & Development (based in Dallas). Both will report directly to the Board of Directors.
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John "Big Tuna" Egan is excited to take on a new role with The Pines Catholic Camp as the Executive Director of Ministry. John and his wife Ronna have been an integral part of The Pines for the last decade, where he has served as the Camp Director, and she as the Camp Store Manager. John, with the help of great assistant directors, has been instrumental in hiring, training and supporting over 800 young adults to lead tens of thousands of young people closer to the Lord. He is most proud of working to bring the Blessed Sacrament to the camp, the construction of the St. Francis of The Pines Chapel in 2010, and the amazing people he has had the chance to develop within the camp (most especially his six children.) John holds a Masters in Pastoral Ministry from Caldwell College and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Marywood University. Before becoming the Camp Director of The Pines in 2007, John was a parish youth minister for ten years, most recently at St. Leo the Great in Winston Salem, North Carolina.
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Rick Villarreal comes from a Catholic family of six boys whose mom took a job in a Catholic school cafeteria to make sure her children could receive a Catholic education. After graduating from St. John High School in Gulfport, Mississippi, he attended Southern Miss where he eventually earned a degree in Sports Administration with a minor in accounting. While there, he married his high school sweetheart and faith partner D’Lynn and have since welcomed their three children (Kimberly, Justin and Tony) and six grandchildren. After some time spent in ownership of eight Domino’s Pizza franchises, Rick began a collegiate football coaching career that led him to LSU and TCU. Here, he also ran summer camps and was involved in the formation and development of Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapters at each. In 1997, Rick returned to Southern Miss where he served as an Associate Athletic Director until being named Director of Athletics at The University of North Texas in 2001. During his over fifteen years at the helm, the program experienced unparalleled growth in academic success, gender equity, fundraising, post season appearances and facilities among others. While most consider the state-of the-art Apogee Football Stadium his crowning achievement, he revels most in the dramatic increase in graduation rates and the progress made in raising women’s athletics to a level of respectability. Active in St. Mark’s Parish in Denton, Rick has served as an usher, lector/speaker, ACTS team member and has been active in the Knights of Columbus for nearly 40 years. Rick served most recently as Vice President of The Pines’ Board of Directors, and brings a wealth of knowledge of leadership, development, facilities, and organizational excellence. His excitement for our Catholic faith and the opportunity to serve children and their families brought him out of retirement, and we are so fortunate to have him in this role.
Please join me in congratulating both John and Rick as they prepare to lead The Pines into the next chapter of growth and service to Catholic families in Texas and beyond.
Greg Johnson
Board President
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