Photo by Travis Pratt Frederick attorney David Grove recently won the Father John McElroy Award from Friends of Catholic Education. Above, Grove is shown in front of Frederick’s Visitation Academy, where he is chairman of the board of directors.

He credits many for making that education possible -- many of whom have been honored in the past with the Father John McElroy Award, which is given by the Friends of Catholic Education and recognizes those who advocate on behalf of Catholic education.

So when Grove was named winner of this year's award, he was humbled.

"I'm trying to figure out how I'm joining this lofty company," he said after reciting a list of former winners, including his father. "It just leaves me wondering why."

For Caroline Pugh, executive director of the organization, there is no mystery as to why Grove won the award.

Grove has been an invaluable part of the Catholic school community, she wrote in an e-mail, and he has given back to a school system that he loves.

"David is one of those people who see a need and without hesitation step in to fill it if it's within his power to do so," Pugh said. "I hope young kids will look to him as a role model, both in the way he conducts his life and the way he gives back to his community."

Grove, 48, attended St. John's grade school from kindergarten through eighth grade. He graduated from Prospect Hall, now known as St. John's Catholic Prep, in 1980. He received his bachelor's degree in political science and history from Mount St. Mary's University in 1984 and his law degree from the University of Baltimore in 1988.

He specializes in litigation at Frey and Grove, his downtown Frederick law firm. He enjoys "anything that gets me in the courtroom," he said.

The Father McElroy Award is presented by Friends of Catholic Education, a nonprofit organization that raises money for Frederick County's Catholic schools, Grove said.

Each school is encouraged to nominate people for the award, presented at a dinner each October.

Grove serves as attorney for St. John's Catholic Prep, where he works on the capital campaign and has worked on golf tournaments. He serves as chairman of the board of directors of Visitation Academy, an all-girls Catholic school, and is also a board member of the Frederick County Catholic Schools Coordinating Council.

"You should have been at the committee meeting to come up with that name," he said with a laugh.

Catholic education is a family affair at the Grove home. His wife, Andy, teaches at Catholic Prep, where his daughters Paige and Emily are students. His son William, a Catholic Prep graduate, is a freshman at Frostburg State University.

"It's my responsibility to pay back those people who provided those educational opportunities for me," Grove said. "I would not be where I am today, professionally or personally, without the Catholic education I received, the attention I received.

"I can only hope that something I have done has made that happen for someone else."