Looking Back

50 Years Ago
The Mobile DCCW board meeting was held at Visitation Monastery. It was announced that Mrs. J. Kenny Crow would chair the annual convention with Mrs. Joseph Bolton, co-chair.
Paul Scheurmann, McGill senior, served as March of Dimes Walkathon student leader.
Bishop Toolen Science Fair winners were Michele Wade, Debbie Roe, Carol Zimlich, Beth Weaver, Ginger Gerald, Yvonne Battles and Mary Ellen Bachus.
Sr. Margaret Alice Dawes, C.S.J., celebrated her silver jubilee.
Tommie Faye Boles of St. Margaret School of Nursing was elected president of the Alabama Student Nurse Association.
Mobile Diocesan Holy Name Society executive board members J. L. Marston, president, Jules Franklin, Willis Johnson, Jim Champagne, Jeff C. Mims, Herbert Noletto, Paul Sheldon, Leigh Breland, E. M. Pearson and Msgr. Thomas J. Cullen, spiritual director, met in Mobile for the quarterly meeting.
St. Catherine Senior AA girls basketball team won the CYO championship. Team members were Valerie Diemert, Cheryl Maurin, Kathy Swenson, Mary Pat Moore, Theresa Rohmer, Terri Moore, Peggy Burden, Lisa Nichols and Melanie Zoghby. Bobby Campanaro was coach.
Anne Krause, a senior at Bishop Toolen, was named winner in the Providence School of Nursing essay contest.
John Maston and Sid Schroll were named captains of the year of the Catholic High Knights basketball team.
Fr. Timothy Deasy was honored with a testimonial for his nearly 13 years of work at St. Jude, Montgomery.
25 Years Ago
Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb invited all to enjoy the St. Patrick Day celebration in downtown Mobile. Officers of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick were Michael O’Hara, president; Buck Curran, vice president; Paul R. Thompson, Grand Marshall; Bob Galloway, treasurer; John Rabbeitt, recording secretary; and David Wilson, finance.
Little Sisters of the Poor Auxiliary members planted a red crepe myrtle on the grounds of the Sacred Heart Home in memory of Sr. Martha Dierick, lsp, who passed away. Participants were Cora Voloshik, Adele Murray, Eloise Fadalla, Normajean Rooney, Jo Ann Ryan and Sister Celestine, lsp.
The Visitation Monastery began restoration on the Chapel of the Sacred Heart. The restoration was expected to be completed at a cost of $310,000 according to Mother Rose Marie Kinsella, V.H.M.
Fr. William F. Danahy, S.S.J., former pastor at St. James Major Parish, Prichard, died in Eunice, La., after a brief illness.
Dr. George Joseph Allen was awarded the NCEA Distinguished Graduate Award by Our Lady of Lourdes School.
The Knights of Columbus initiated 21 men into the Second and Third Degree classes honoring two area priests. The Second Degree class was to honor Rev. Peter Cunningham, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes and Faithful Friar of St. Joseph’s Assembly, Fourth Degree, K of C,Theodore. The Third Degree rituals honored Rev. Matthew O’Connor, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul and Chaplain of K of C Council 7270, Theodore.
The State Knights of Columbus presented L’Arche Mobile a van to help with their ministry to the mentally handicapped. Mickey Portella, District Deputy and Charles Hedrick made the presentation.
Winner of the Archdiocesan Spelling Bee was Emily Cone of St. Mary School.
Assisting with the Historic Homes Tour of the Cathedral Rectory/Residence of Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb were: Mrs. Margaret Bolton, Mrs. Mary  Ann Thames, Mrs. Anna Crow, Mrs. Margaret Bender and Mrs. Marie Martin. Msgr. James Oberkirch, rector of the Cathedral, noted that the residence was built in 1861 and purchased by Bishop Allen for the Diocese in 1906.
— Anne Baggett compiles information for Looking Back from past issues of this newspaper. Anne is a member of St. Mary Parish in Mobile.