This award is presented in appreciation of Tony Messineo who has been a tireless ambassador for Pius X High School and serves as an example of leadership and service to his family, friends, community and country.
This award is presented in appreciation of Anthony O. Messineo, Jr. who has been a tireless ambassador for Pius X High School and serves as an example of leadership and service to his family, friends, community and country.
Anthony “Tony” is a 1959 Pius X graduate where he received several awards in public speaking, played football and ran track.
After attending St. Thomas Seminary in Denver for a year and a half, he received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska in 1965.
In 1971 Tony and his brother Ron purchased a local restaurant in Lincoln – Valentino’s. The two, along with their cousin, Mike Alesio, who joined them a year later, went on to expand that business and today Valentino’s has expanded to 39 restaurant locations in 6 states.
Throughout the years Tony has been an ardent support of Pius X with his gifts of time talent and treasure. He served as with Monsignor Barr as Chair of the initial Pius X Endowment Drive in 1981, and they were able to raise $1.1 million in pledges.
He has also served on several boards and committees throughout the community including the Wesleyan Board of Governors, Catholic Social Services, Teammates, Nebraska Restaurant Association Board, Rotary Board and Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department Board.
His restaurant chain has received numerous awards over the years and he has personally been awarded Restaurateur of the Year Award (1990), Catholic Social Services Cor Christi Award (1997), Angels of Madonna Award, Burnham Yates Citizenship Award (2002), Board of Health Regional Directors Award (2006), Cedars Home Recognition Award and 2008-2009 Lincoln Rotary #14 Rotarian of the Year.
He has been married to his wife, Carmen, since 1963. They have three children, Debbie Washington and Michael and Anthony Messineo. Carmen and their children are active in Valentino’s with Michael and Anthony serving as vice presidents of operations. They have seven grandchildren, Rachael Washington (2010 Pius X graduate) and Julia, Katherine, Dominic, Samantha, Sophia and Mary Messineo.
