Looking back by Anne Baggett

50 Years Ago
A “Workshop on Marriage” sponsored by the Priests’ Senate was held in Evergreen.
The McGill-Toolen Jazz-Rock Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble won Superior ratings at the 1973 Alabama State Solo and Ensemble Contest.
U. S. Navy Captain Jeremiah A. Denton, Jr., a former McGillian, was the first man off the plane from Hanoi after being in a North Vietnam prison camp since 1965.
Frank A. Ahn, administrator of Providence Hospital, was president of the Southeastern Catholic Health Assembly.
Dr. Paul Marx, professor of Sociology at St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN. and noted author and lecturer, spoke on “Protection of the Unborn” at several meetings throughout the archdiocese.
Providence School of Nursing Senior Barbara Sims was named 1973 School Sweetheart.
Officers of St. Columba Men’s Club were: Don Stankowski, president; Don Walker, vice president; and Tom Clark, secretary-treasurer.
Fr. John N. Coutoure, S.S.E., completed a history of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Mon Luis Island, with events dating back to 1699.
Archbishop Thomas J. Toolen celebrated his 87th birthday. 

              25 Years Ago    
Fr. Albert Kelly, pastor of St. Mark Parish, Wetumpka and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Millbrook and parishioner Bill Deyerle, presented their parish pledges for the Catholic Charities Appeal to Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb with both parishes achieving 150 percent of their goal.
Members of the 1998 McGill-Toolen High School Coming Home Court were: John Bedsole, “Mr. McGill,” Harry Brislin, Phillip Calagaz, John Edwards, Todd LaCour, Joe Gonzales, Ryan Frost, Zach Miller, Travis Conner, Wells Griffith and John Carey.
A new effort designed to protect children while strengthening families was started in the Archdiocese of Mobile. The Therapeutic Foster Home Program was overseen locally by Catholic Social Services in a cooperative effort with the Alabama Department of Human Resources.
Penny Prater, a 1994 graduate of Spring Hill College, was named the new head coach for the women and men’s cross-country teams at the college. 
Mr. Bernard Frye, in his 28th year of teaching math at Montgomery Catholic High School, was selected for entry in the 1998 Edition of “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.”
Lady Valencia Lipscomb presented Grand Lady Larietta Andry with the Lady of the Year plaque at the James Mason Court 172 annual awards luncheon at the Adams Mark Hotel.
At the District Solo and Ensemble competition, McGill-Toolen Chambers Singers Jessica Crowley, Jessica Fuller, Erin Santini, Victoria Shepard, and Cecilia Sweeney earned two Superior ratings and three Excellent ratings.
New members included into the Spring Hill College Athletic Hall of Fame were Richard Airey, Tony Bivens, Joseph Nolfe, Francis “Bucky” Poole and Jay York. Jim Rebarchak served as chairman. Also honored was John Carwie for his long-time support of the college’s athletic programs.
Winner of the 35th annual Spelling Bee for Mobile/Baldwin Catholic Schools was Murrell Greer Martindale.
— Anne Baggett compiles information for Looking Back from past issues of this newspaper. Anne is a member of St. Mary Parish in Mobile.