Cathedral Griffin High School - Yearbook (Springfield, IL)

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The band made its first appear- ance in its West Point style uni- forms at the Springfield- Cathedral football game. Under the direction of Father Eugene Surprenant, the Echo began pub- lication as the school's newspaper. The word first has appeared in this text over and over, but it is hard to avoid as each of these early years saw the beginning of some aspect of school life, many of which became permanent parts of the Cathedral-Griffin tradition. Perhaps the most important first , since it indicated that the new school was here to stay, was the first commencement ceremony held in the June of 1934. The cer- emonies began with Mass cele- brated by Bishop Griffin in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Following Mass, a breakfast and class exercises were held in the Knights of Columbus Hall. Fifty-nine young men be- came the first graduates of Cathedral Boys' High School and the nucleus of alumni that numbers over 5,000 today. Two members of that first graduating class, J. Cullen O'Brien and Jo- seph Prokopp, became priests of the Diocese of Springfield. eil illffyji il thy iff!-A-as ' Wills ua 35 I GM' .... Qwogct izwsuui yvw9L 064'-90' K rn-rm p Jun- was If-ix CSV 3 -A . Founded in 1933 by Fr. E. J. Surprenant ,, ..., .. .. 'A V . M... 'x V

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Two hundred and sixty-five students registered for the I933-34 school year, more than had been expected. The curriculum was ex- panded to handle the fourth year as the first freshmen were now beginning their final year of high school. This was the year that State Inspectors visited the high school and were so impressed that they granted full and immediate accreditation. The athletic teams began to establish the winning tradition that has always been a hallmark of Cathedral-Griffin. Thej7rst band uniform was West Point style. Freshmen and Sophomores in 1932. Bob Heilz, 38. --rams . my of , - r W News .tu :we-asm r . . A .. Q--was - - N S'fw,i.s. - WB . N-www ,-. - ,eww Q21 ff -.0-K -' if xiii' ii -f .W gi is r -- Wwe, e ' : :Qi in i 'S i SMF' 1 ,gl ' J I . bqqr M Q 5?-. N 1 i we Q 'z 1'2- gr , A e , fr- . , gif. F' ' K Q ,e n. ,Q X -Q . flag. - - -iw' T 1 ,ig fr e ff . Ni: ' I ' - in F35 -:Eg : , . v ' K , rig T . - 'X 8 ,sg K at J?-E Y k 4. K ::t,,g,,x' bf sk ew 4-1, -.K N as 1' X fs? si, X lf, L 'ya vs ,, W fs, is 'P-' 'K r R ei 'F ' if N is at its ,refs ..- dl ., ,,, at W l K 91.35 1 v uv 1 we 1 1 9... wi? X ' Q . .4 we 4 + , ,Q 32 r i A Q ' 4 , as , . . . . s .ga 'H X ffi1E7i'Q,., 441. 'Q ' , Fira W e f . ' -- -Q, , , it le K '. ,.u'7 ' . l f'f.,f-in .s .. V , -. 1,15 1- agar. , ,,, --e: +'h.t if.. -- t K, J If f' f , . fy Fletcher Ulterbavk, 38.

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With the first graduates suc- cessfully launched, the 1934-35 school year began with the inevit- able changes that characterize any school. There was a new coach, Mr. Don Anderson, who replaced Mr. Earl Reavy, the first full-time coach that the school had. The dramatic club, founded in l93l by Brother Wilken and called Genesius, presented several productions for their fellow stu- dents and were hired to present radio skits on Sunday evenings for the Springfield listening pub- lic. Father John Morris was a member of the class of 1935. The sixth year of the school's existence saw a slight drop in en- rollment. Two hundred and forty- seven students registered for classes in the fall of 1935. lt was also the last full year in which Father O'Connor, the founding principal of Cathedral, would serve in that office. There were now sixteen Viatorians staffing the school, and their quarters in the former rectory of old St. lVlary's parish were not only in- adequate, but actually posed a health hazard to the men living there. So cramped were these quarters that the Fathers and Brothers did not have a room in which they could gather as a group for recreation and prayer. One of the Viatorians who spent several years there recalled that many of the priests and brothers A pioneer team in 35. spent their free time next door at the fire house sharing the recrea- tion of the firemen. These firemen not only served as hosts to the Viatorians, but were of constant help to the school. They donated many hours of their time to help repair the inadequate facilities, built scenery for the minstrel and variety shows, and in general were some of the most valuable and devoted backers of Cathedral Boys' High School. Members of Engine House No. 1 donated time, talents and materials to schoolprojects. Old St. Marys is seen in the background. .411