Looking back

50 Years Ago
Planners of the St. Jude Youth Club were Fr. Leonard Collins, Versie Nelson, Brenda Luckie, Alvetta Nicks, Mae Witcher and Marielle Smiley.
Miss Amy Garraway was listed in Who’s Who among Americas High School Students.
Fr. Joseph Howze was named auxiliary to Bishop Joseph Brunini of the Natchez-Jackson Diocese becoming the second black bishop in the United States.
St. Columba Catholic Women’s Club celebrated its 36th year. Officers hosting the celebration were Mrs. Deions Weisner, Mrs. Marilyn Westhoff, Mrs. Gayle Reicher and Mrs. Lydia Venegas.
St. Ignatius Student Council Officers were: Ramona Doyle, president; Danz Heggeman, vice president; Gertrude Reed, secretary; Lisa Hardy, treasurer; and Lynn Lott, Staff Coordinator.
An estimated crowd of 7,500 including 76 priests participated in the annual Christ the King tribute at the Municipal Auditorium in Mobile.
Sister Bernarda, O.P., celebrated her 50th Anniversary of which 27 years were spent at St. Margaret’s, Bayou La Batre.
St. Pius Midget Cardinals, led by John Beall, Scooter Eastburn, Happy Travis, Mark Richardson, Grove Dixon and Brian Bjorklund, captured their 3rd straight championship with a 19-0 triumph over Little Flower.
The senior girls volleyball All-Stars coached by Peggy Martin were: Jan Basor, Fran Molyneux, Cheryl Blanks, Jodi Sawyer, Mena Donoghue, Allison Leon, Bridget Pugh, Rosalyn White, Linda Garstecki, Cathy Mansfield, Terri Suleski, Kim Clayton, Cathy Herrington and Michelle Joseph.
The Toy Bowl celebrated its 25th Anniversary. The Parochial All Stars defeated the City Recreation All Stars 18-6. Cliff Brown and Angelo Wilson were named outstanding players.
Officers of Villa Mercy Activities Group were: Mrs. William J. Farnham, president; Mrs. M. E. Toombes, vice president; Mrs. A. Allen Ros, secretary-treasurer; and Mrs. Phillip Leighton, board chairman. 

25 Years Ago
Speaking at the Celebrate Life Banquet held at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Mobile was Helen Alvare, Director of Planning and Information for Pro-Life Activities at the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Special thanks was given to the corporations supporting the activities of Christ the King. Included were William Costarides of Robert Thomas Securities, Sister Betty Guesselman, D. C. and Sister Elise Boudreaux, D. C. of Providence Hospital and William R. Seifert of AmSouth Bank. Fr. G. Warren Wall, chancellor of the Archdiocese was celebration coordinator.
Jonathan Thomas Hethcox earned his Eagle Scout award through Boy Scout Troop 2. Jon’s Eagle Scout project was to replace 130 spindles on a climbing structure and other repairs at Queen of Mercy School.
Montgomery Catholic High won their homecoming game 49-0 over Clayton.
National Merit Achievement semi-finalists from McGill-Toolen were Katonia Butler and Lauren Coleman.
Planning Committee for Montgomery’s first Christ the King celebration since the early 70’s were: Rev. Mr. Charles Gulley, general chairman; Fr. Charles Troncale, clerical chairman; Fr. Matthew Sindik and Fr. David Carucci, liturgical chairmen, Ed Clark, publicity and Rev. Mr. Leo Means. The event was held at the Montgomery Civic Center.
Providence Hospital was named the most consumer-preferred hospital in the Mobile metropolitan area by National Research Corporation.
Rt. Rev. Cletus D. Meagher, O.S.B., led the Christ the King Celebration in Montgomery as presiding celebrant and homilist.
Adrian Harmon and Theresa McGonagle were recipients of the Mercy Medical McAuley Award during Mercy Day celebrations presented by Sister Mary Eileen Wilhelm, RSM, President/CEO.
Rev. Msgr. Francis G. O’Connor died at Providence Hospital after a long battle with cancer at the age of 76. He had served as a priest for 51 years.
St. Ignatius School, Mobile, was recognized by the United States Department of Education as a “Blue Ribbon School” receiving the nation’s highest honor for the second time. Jan Murray served as principal. St. Ignatius School became one of only 21 schools nationally recognized.
— Anne Baggett compiles information for Looking Back from past issues of this newspaper. Anne is a member of St. Mary Parish in Mobile.