Looking Back

50 Years Ago
St. Jude Hospital started Alabama’s first Regional Treatment Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
Council No. 1, Knights of Peter Claver, announced the opening of a new expansion to the Knights of Peter Claver Hall.
Officers of St. John Parish, Ozark, Parish Council were: Mr. Virgil O’Dell, president; Mr. Roy Carlson, vice president and treasurer; and Miss Florine Colvin, secretary.
The Burse Club meeting of the Montgomery and Dothan Deaneries was held in Cusack Hall with Mrs. Frances Miaoulis presiding.
Mrs. Frank Baxley served as chairman of the Ladies of Charity Annual Grocery Shower.
Sister Frances Hefferman, R.S.M., died at Villa Mercy.
John J. Carey, architect for Catholic Boys Home, Little Flower Church, St. Mary’s Home, McGill Institute, St. Mary’s School, Bishop Toolen High School, the Federal Building and restoration of the Cathedral was buried at St. Mary’s.
Miss Cecilia Street was named Religious Coordinator of Corpus Christi Parish, Mobile.
New officers of St. Patrick’s Parish Blessed Virgin Sodality, Phenix City, were: Mrs. Harry Scott, president; Mrs. Hubbard E. Bell, vice president; Mrs. William A. Beach, secretary; and Mrs. Helen Mobley, treasurer.
The 22nd annual Blessing of the Fleet was held in Bayou La Batre.
Patricia Mengenast, sponsored by the Montgomery Deanery DCCW, was selected as Montgomery’s “Miss Patriotism.”
25 Years Ago
Edward J. Kilday III was elected post commander of the American Legion. Kilday was a 1956 graduate of Spring Hill College and a member of St. Ignatius Parish.
Catholic High Seniors Melissa Boyer and Patrick Lyons were awarded the Senior Service Alumni Scholarship and the Robert Vida Scholarship respectively, for the graduating class of 1996.
A Memorial Mass was held for Fr. Charles J. Zaunbrecher at Little Flower Church, Mobile. Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb was the main celebrant.
Mercy Medical honored the charter members of the McAuley Society at the first annual luncheon of friends and supporters of Mercy Medical. John Howard Wilson served as chairman of the Mercy Medical Fund Development Council and Richard Sullivan was Chairman of the Mercy Medical Board of Trustees.
Brother Remigius David, S.C., a religious educator for many years at McGill and other schools served by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, died suddenly in Louisiana.
Faustin Weber, principal at Montgomery Catholic High, announced that James Toner would be the new head baseball coach, assisted by Jonathan Boddy.
George Weigel, distinguished national columnist featured in "The Catholic Week," received a formal Vatican invite to write the authoritative biography of Pope John Paul II.
A fire destroyed more than $20,000 of clothing, equipment and other items at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store.
Brother Blaise Toups, S.C., formerly known as Brother Constantine, died in New Orleans after a brief illness.
Lisa Paille of Covington, La., was selected the new Health Educator at Spring Hill College.
Sister Dorothy Christine Seymore L.S.P., celebrated her Silver Jubilee. Participating in the celebration were Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb, Mother Mary Bernard, Provincial, and Mother Judith, L.S.P.
— Anne Baggett compiles information for Looking Back from past issues of this newspaper. Anne is a member of St. Mary Parish in Mobile.