Looking Back

50 Years Ago
Julius Ericksen was elected president of the Mobile Chapter, Spring Hill College Alumni Association.
Officers of the Dothan Deanery, DCCW, were Jerry Van Goetham, president; Fina Urutia, first vice president; Lori Ann Magino, recording secretary; and Carol Turzanski, corresponding secretary.
Former Gov. Albert P. Brewer was speaker at the Spring Hill College graduation.
Receiving Eagle Scout Awards at Corpus Christi were: Richard Reynolds, Billy Dolan, Mike Reynolds and Hereford Marston. Scoutmaster was William R. Dolan Sr.
Mrs. Carol Cope was elected president of St. John, Enterprise, Women’s Club.
Little Flower Parish Council Officers were: Gwen Waggener, president; Joan Henriksen, vice president; Joyce Schaffer, secretary; and Warren Finch, parliamentarian.
Sister Kostka gave serving lessons to St. John the Baptist, Montgomery, eighth-grade girls.
More than 5,000 people attended Mary’s Day Activities in Mobile at the Mobile Auditorium.
Dr. Andrew Burch was guest speaker at the Mobile District Council of Catholic Women.
Crowning of the Blessed Virgin statue at Mary’s Day Celebration at Resurrection Catholic Parish were Sid Schroll and Sharon Henderson.
New Officers of Providence Hospital Auxiliary were Mrs. George Brabner, president; Mrs. Marion Wilkins, president elect; Mrs. Richard Johnson, first vice president; Mrs. Charles Andrews, second vice president; Mrs. Hugh Casteix, recording secretary; Mrs. Francis Sullivan, corresponding secretary; Mrs. George Heironymus, treasurer; and Mrs. Robert Hedburg, assistant treasurer.
Paul Rica was named Junior Achievement “Officer of the Year.”
St. Andrew Parish in Montgomery completed its church remodeling project.
Senior class officers of McGill-Toolen High were: Butch Turner, president; Tommy Zoghby, vice president; and Tommy Pollman, secretary treasurer.

25 Years Ago
Ernest Reinecke Hyndman Jr. was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
In separate actions Michael C. Dow, mayor of the City of Mobile and U.S. Congressman Sonny Callahan, gave public recognition to McGill-Toolen High School and its Centennial Celebration. Dow, on behalf of the City of Mobile and the members of the City Council, proclaimed May 4-11 McGill-Toolen Centennial Celebration Week. Rep. Callahan read a statement into the public record of the United States Congress recognizing the contributions of the 100-year old institute and its more than 17,000 graduates.
The McGill-Toolen Varsity girls won the County track and field championship. Individual county champions were: Catherine Baggett, 1600 meters; Katherine Ankerson, 800 meters; Theresa McCarty, 3200 meters; and Danesse Littles, long jump and high jump.
Nationally celebrated novelist Ron Hansen was commencement speaker to the 363 graduates at Spring Hill College’s 166th graduation ceremonies on the Avenue of Oaks.
Fr. William J. Skoneki, along with Mobile Mayor Mike Dow and Allright representative Colleen Ireland held a press conference announcing plans to demolish the Admiral Semmes Motor Hotel and build a landscaped surface parking facility. The Allright company entered into a 10-year agreement to lease the property with the Archdiocese of Mobile at 250 Government St. The lot was the original site of McGill Institute.
The 13th graduating class of the Toolen Institute for Parish Services (TIPS) were commissioned at ceremonies held at St. John Parish, Enterprise, and presided over by Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb. New TIPS graduates were Judith Wolf, Ronald Jones, Ann Torres, Anne Rowe, Barbara Camp and Helen Walters.
Sidney A. Robbins of St. Jude High School was awarded a $2,000 scholarship to the college of his choice by the National Achievement Scholarship Program.
St. Bede students placed second in the 1996 Elementary Science Olympiad held in Auburn. A total of 37 teams participated.
— Anne Baggett compiles information for Looking Back from past issues of this newspaper. Anne is a member of St. Mary Parish in Mobile.