Looking back

50 Years Ago
Mr. Don Dieters, president of Catholic PTA, appointed Mr. Ed Clark as spring festival chairman and Mrs. Pat Setterstrom, ticket and publicity chairman. 
Catholic High cheerleaders elected were: Maureen McGinty, Barbara Garritty, Gail Kennedy, Beth Smith, Mickey Eddington, Jane Cammack, Rhonda Davis, Donna Portera and Jan Martin.
Bishop John L. May celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his priesthood.
About 25 women’s communities and 11 men’s communities served the Diocese of Mobile.
Landsite was chosen for the new St. Patrick Church to be built in Baldwin County.
Senior bandsman of the McGill-Toolen Band, Neil Laubenthal, was soloist in the anniversary concert.
The Sisters of Loretto celebrated Foundation Day.
Members of the 12 and under city league winning team from Our Lady Queen of Mercy School were: Alan Bollinger, Bill Azar, Joe Azar, Steve Durden, Mike Parks, Mark Stianche, Brian Durden, Mike Bates, Mike Robinson and Tommy Logan.
George Gorwan and Paul Kountz of St. Ignatius School won first place in the Optimist Club Oratorical contest.
Mrs. Alice Engwall, adoption supervisor at Catholic Social Services, announced that adoption applications outnumbered babies.
Claire Sadler, a student at Catholic High, Montgomery, crowned the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary at ceremonies in Montgomery.

25 Years Ago
Co-chairs of St. Mary’s School Casino Night were Linda Dolan and Edmund Naman.
Julie DeMouy Brennan was named Corpus Christi School’s Alumnus of the Year.
The Rt. Rev. Hilary Dreaper, O.S.B., celebrated the golden jubilee of his priesthood at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Other special events of Abbot Hilary’s celebration included a private audience with Pope John Paul II in March. He announced his retirement would take place later in the month of May.
Spring Hill College President William J. Rewak, S.J., announced that the longtime syndicated columnist Coleman McCarthy would be featured speaker at the 167th commencement of the Jesuit College.
Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb announced that after appropriate consultation with the Superior General of the Josephite and Edmundite Communities, that the Parish of St. Joseph in Tuskegee, would be entrusted to the pastoral care of the Society of St. Edmund and the parishes of Our Mother of Mercy in Plateau and Our Lady of Fatima in Prichard would be entrusted to the pastoral care of the Society of St. Edmund 
Ray Rosa, Joe Bouchard, Greg and Mary Speltz, Lee Portis and Sr. Dominica Hyde, R.S.M. were recipients of the J. C. Penny Golden Rule Awards given at the 16th annual Volunteer Mobile Recognition Luncheon.
McGill-Toolen High student Binu-John Sankoorikal was one of 10 students in the state named to the Birmingham Post-Herald’s 1997 Alabama All-State Academic Team.
Elected Student Government officers for the 1997-98 school year at McGill-Toolen were: Todd LaCour, president; John Bedsole, vice-president; Bradley Clapper, secretary; and Elizabeth Fiser, treasurer.
— Anne Baggett compiles information for Looking Back from past issues of this newspaper. Anne is a member of St. Mary Parish in Mobile.