Looking back

50 Years Ago
The administrative team moved for the consolidation of McGill Institute and Bishop Toolen High School were: Sister Mary Alda Balthrop, RSM, principal; Wayne T. Merritt, director of curriculum; Margaret Golf, director of human development; Thomas P. Davis, director of student activities; and Sister Mary Rosina Bayliss, director of finance.
Two priests of the Diocese of Mobile, Fr. John O’Hara, V.G., and Fr. David Becherer, celebrated their Silver Jubilee.
Ordained for the Diocese of Mobile were Fr. Eamon P. Miley and Fr. David McGuinness.
Little Flower P.T.A. officers were: Morris Striplin, president; Jerri Lawrence, vice president; Olga Estelle, secretary; and Sue Merifield, treasurer.
Installed as officers of St. Vincent de Paul Parish Altar Sodality were: Mrs. George Lods, president; Mrs. M. E. Wilkins, vice president; Mrs. G. F. Norton, secretary; and Mrs. Lumin Anglin, treasurer.
St. Jude High School graduated its largest senior class of 77 graduates in school history.
Priests from the Mobile and Birmingham Diocese joined Bishop John L. May on the annual retreat at Spring Hill College.
Officers of St. Pius X Sodality were: Mrs. John R. Bailey, president; Miss Eunice Drederich, vice president; Mrs. H. H. Hand, secretary; and Mrs. Charlie Wilcox, treasurer.
Fr. August H. Englert, C.M., was named pastor of St. Michael Parish, Auburn.
Cathy Box and Timmy Betbeze, McGill-Toolen band members, received notification that they were two of three students in the nation awarded superior ratings in the solo division of the National Catholic Bandmasters Association’s Contest.
Thirty-one senior students received diplomas at St. Margaret’s School of Nursing graduation exercises in Montgomery.
25 Years Ago 
Phillip Madonia, son of Dr. and Mrs. Phillip Madonia of St. Ignatius Parish and a senior at McGill-Toolen High School, was honored by being designated a Notre Dame Scholar.
Alexis Herman, a 1973 graduate of Spring Hill College and the United States Labor Secretary, was commencement speaker at the Jesuit institution in Mobile. Degrees were awarded to 287 graduates.
Margaret Olive Jones was named Montgomery Catholic High’s 1998 Distinguished Service Honoree. She was a 1944 graduate and helped established the current alumni committee.
The 95th annual convention of the Knights of Columbus, Alabama Council, was held in the Muscle Shoals area of North Alabama. State Deputy John Reiser presided. Honored guests included: Most Rev. Oscar H. Lipscomb, Archbishop of Mobile; Most Rev. David Foley, Bishop of Birmingham; and Supreme Director Thomas Shaughnessey of Coral Springs, Fla.
The CYO 67th annual Field Day was held at the Texas Street Recreation Center with about 4,000 students, teachers and families attending. At the conclusion, Most Rev. Oscar H. Lipscomb awarded trophies for first place to Little Flower School, Blue Group and St. Ignatius School in the Red Group. Thirteen Schools participated.
Rev. A. Patrick Phillips, a Jesuit priest, Mobile native and Director of Manresa House of Retreat since 1994 in Convent, La., died of a heart attack. He graduated from McGill Institute, Spring Hill College and served in the U.S. Army. He was ordained at Spring Hill in 1962.
Christi Nash, a 1991 graduate of McGill-Toolen was named the head coach of the Lady Jackets basketball teams. A former player at McGill-Toolen, she graduated from Florida State in 1995.
The 1998-99 Student Government Officers elected at Montgomery Catholic High were: Christopher Vercelli, president; Danielle Taylor, vice president; and Kristen Ryan, treasurer.
 — Anne Baggett compiles information for Looking Back from past issues of this newspaper. Anne is a member of St. Mary Parish in Mobile.