February 2021

50 Years Ago
St. Jude School of Practical Nursing held graduation ceremonies for 17 graduates. Betty Tomlin, executive director, Alabama Board of Nursing, gave the address.
Catholic High Knights, led by John Martin, Steve Schroll, Sid Schroll and Chuck Allen, defeated the First Deposit Red Devils 56-23.
Jesuit Scholastics Geoffrey Dillon and David Pillar were welcomed by the City of St. Jude Director Fr. Patrick C. O’Connor, to participate in a four-week orientation program.
Members of Our Lady of Queen of Mercy 12 and under basketball teams were Alan Bollinger, Greg Falcoa, Rick Wallace, Tim Donovan, David Friederes, Danny Friederes and Mark Friederes, Edding Wampler and Tommy Wampler, Tommy Logan, Ronnie Nelson, Mark Stenache, Randy Karalus, Wallace Ingalls and Billy Ingalls and Brian Durden and Steve Durden.
Bishop John L. May attended the first Catholic Charities meeting ever in the Dothan Deanery.
Mrs. Robert Spotswood presided at the PTA Deanery Council meeting held at Holy Family School. Speakers on the panel were: Brother Andre Robichaud, S.C., diocesan Director of Catholic Schools; Sr. Margaret Alice, principal Little Flower School; Tommy Davis, Guidance and Counseling McGill Institute; and Fr. Francis Messing, Bishop Toolen High Guidance and Counseling.
Helen Savage, Bishop Toolen junior, captured first place in the Escambia Women’s Extemporaneous Speaking contest.
Officers of Queen of Mercy’s Altar Society were: Mrs. John Golab, president; Mrs. Jerry Harper, vice president; Mrs. James D. Lunsford, treasurer; Mrs. James C. Passmore, recording secretary; and Mrs. H. E. Young, corresponding secretary.
25 Years Ago
Mrs. Aileen F. Randag of St. Ignatius School, Mobile, was chosen to receive the National Catholic Education Association Distinguished Teacher Award. The honor was the first received by a teacher in the Archdiocese of Mobile.
Fr. W. Bry Shields was awarded the 1996 Junipero Serra Award by the Mobile Serra Club.
New Officers of St. Mary’s Home Auxiliary were: Mrs. Eric R. Anderson, president; Mrs. Patrick J. Cooney, first vice president; Miss Josephine Bronald, second vice president; Mrs. Marion P. Johnson, recording secretary; Mrs. Dan B. Nolan, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Robert Spotswood, treasurer; Miss Catherine McKeever, historian; and Mrs. Charles L. Rehm, parliamentarian.
Theme of the 22nd annual Catholic Schools Week was “Catholic Schools: Schools You Can Believe In”.
Edmundite Father Leo Arthur Martel died at Edmundite Missions House in Selma were he was living.
Catholic High was the first Montgomery high school to establish a website home page. Librarian Amy Johnson was the teacher of the interim “Internet” class.
Representing McGill-Toolen in the County’s Azalea Trail Maid tryouts were: Melissa Warner, Sarah McAtee, Elizabeth Jones, Katie Abreo, Carrie McDonough, Andrea Lamendola and Anna Strain.
—Anne Baggett compiles information for Looking Back from past issues of this newspaper. Anne is a member of St. Mary Parish in Mobile.