Christian Brothers Academy - Cadet Yearbook (Albany, NY)

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Festival was largely due to the endeavors of the juniors. We also had third year men on the National Champion Rifie team, Larry Melillo, the public speaking prodigy, won the Junior Speak- ing contest, while his contemporary, John Gormley, won the dramatics medal. james Tabone was also among the medal winners. Jim won the squad leader's medal. There are very few people who will dispute that the climax of that junior year was the June Regents examinations. The pressure was on and the strain was terrific. To those of us who didn't make the grade in some of those exams and took them in summer school, do we here pay tribute. Their intestinal fortitude and stick-to-it- tiveness are certainly worthy of praise. The junior year ended and it was hard to believe that three years had gone by with such rapidity, Seniors! That word seemed to cast a magic spell. At last we had reached the apex of our high school careers. The next big moment in our high school lives occurred at the appointment of commissioned officers. For some of us it was a real thrill to hear the appointments read out loud by Brother Matthew. To others it was a real dis- appointment and, on the other hand, to some very few, it meant nothing at all. After three years of hard work, Paul M. DeRusso emerged as the num- ber one man. He was the Cadet Colonel and Regi- mental Commander. The difficult task of taking over the regiment was done with a minimum of error and the Mid-VVinter Drill evidenced great leadership qualities in the regiment's commanding officers. The innovations 'in that senior year were numer- ous and diverse. The introduction of a new class ring created a mild sensation and the work on the school's first yearbook was received w-ith equal enthusiasm. The C.B.A. basketball team captured the Diocesan Championship, as well as the Evan- gelist Tournament. The season was capped by the appointment of Tom Carroll as All-Albany. The cross-country team set a precedent by being the first C.B.A. team to go to the National Champion- ship meet in South Orange, New jersey. The C.B.A. team acquitted themselves worthily by win- ning third place in this meet on Seton Hall's Col- lege course. The school newspaper, staffed mainly by seniors, won third place in their division in the 1949 CLASS SONG fSung to the tune of Always j Class of '49, ever, Loyalty depart, never, When our class divides In each heart abides Love. and truth besides, ever, ever. Days have e'er been fair, ever, Happy hearts were there, ever. Now we're on our way, God bless C. B. A. Nineteen Forty-Nine, forever. Submittffd by CADET lVIAjOR joserii S. MYERS Columbia Scholastic Press Conference in New York City. The Senior Play was one of the most successful of all senior endeavors. Brother Orchid played four nights and never before had it been portrayed with such ability. Once again C.B.A.'s powerful speaking champion, Larry Mel- lilo, brought honor to the school. This time the victory was in the American Legion Oratorical Contest, in which he retained his supremacy until he reached the national semi-finals at VVaterbury, Conn. The great C.B.A. rifle team again won first place in the Hearst Rifie Match. The victory, symbolic of all endeavors of this year's senior class, was the result of long hours of tedious practice and enabled the school to retire the trophy after this third such victory. .lack Dempsey and Harold Russell assisted at the civic function to present the trophy, plaque and medals to the individuals of the prominent team. Now, as we are about to leave the hallowed cor- ridors of Christian Brothers Academy, let us not look backward with regret. For there is no need to regret the passing of four useful years. Let us not loll in the doldrums of sentimental triviality, but let us throw our heads back and renew our efforts to be representative graduates of an institu- tion without parallel. These four years have been well spent and they are certainly a strong founda- tion on which to base the hopes of tomorrow. Ulf, .nb

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CLASS HISTORY Of all the senior classes to graduate from C.B.A. on University Heights, the Class of l949 enjoys probably one of the most illustrious four year suc- cess stories. As a Htting introduction to this class history, it is well to note that this year's class is the first graduated in the Christian Brothers schools in the second century of their work in the United States. Let us also be cognizant of the fact that the Class of '49 is the first class to go through four years of peace after the Second WYorld VVar, In view of these two significant facts and in their light let us see what H8 seniors have done with their four years at One De La Salle Road. None of us will ever forget that first day at C.B.A. We all stood out in front of the school and listened to the words of the late Brother Aloysius. We can visualize being assigned to our classrooms. These five rooms on the first fioor contained all the boys whom we would some day come to know and love. For many of us the problem of adjust- ment was tremendous, for others, a matter of course. It took us a very short time to learn the meaning of demerits, on guard, as you were and plebe. Wfe soon showed our colors in the Athletic Drive. The freshmen did a bang-up job on that as well as on the mite box drive. We soon got into activi- ties such as the rifie team, track team, freshman basketball, football and baseball, as well as the glee club and school band. IVe had a new experience in interclass boxing and the school cross country meet. Near the end of our freshman year many of us had our first taste of dramatics under Mr. Murphy. In june of that year we presented Shake- speare's hjulius Caesar . Those of us who were in that presentation will not soon forget it. Yes, that freshman year was indeed a memorable one. When the summer recess was at hand we felt that we had really become a vital cog in the C.B.A. regiment, in its social life, sports life and scholastic structure. We were then full-fledged C.B.A. cadets. Having completed our freshman year, we, the Class of '49, happily embarked upon our summer v vacation. But a dark cloud was to overshadow our happy days, for on August the first, nineteen hundred and forty-six, our beloved director, Brother Aloysius, passed on to his heavenly reward. With the advent of the Sophomore year, most of us were immediately plunged into the trials and vicissitudes of Latin II and plane geometry. VVL' started this second year with many empty spots in our ranks. The real blow was the passing of our beloved Brother Aloysius. VVe all knew that we had lost a great friend and true benefactor. To the helm of the C.B.A. faculty came Brother Thomas, whose organization and leadership qualities were proven without delay. We began to feel the import of the annual retreat and monthly Mass in the gymnasium. From the ranks of the sophomores came mem- bers of the varsity baseball, basketball, track, foot- ball and cross country teams. Members of the second year were to be found in the Third Order of St. Francis and on The Sentry staff. Arthur Flores, having won the plebe medal, became the first of our class to attain a rank in the regiment. He was a corporal. lVe were all working for three merit rolls, or better, to assure ourselves of being corporals in our third year. Bill Cashin distin- guished himself by winning the coveted upper classmarfs medal for privates. We had our first encounter with High School Regents when we took Latin II and geometry in mid-june. Some of us did well, while others were struck a stunning blow by failure. That customary arrogance of a high school sophomore was not too prevalent in our class and it was kept to a bare minimum by clear methodical thought and judgment. There is but one word that this writer can call to mind as a theme for our junior year. That word, without limitation or qualification, is competition. It was evident in every field of endeavor. WVe were all in a mad dash for those fourth year commis- sions. The field of competitors was great and the big prizes were few. While striving hard in the military department and scholastic field, we still found time to place men on the city champion football and track teams. The success of the Spring

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SENIOR POLL Best Senior Student .................................. .......... A rthur Flores Senior Most Likely to Succeed .................. ............ P aul De Russo Senior with Most Pleasing Personality ................ George Batkiewicz Most Handsome Senior Most Popular Senior ...... .... ....Edward Angell ...Thomas Carroll Best Senior Athlete ........ ...Thomas Carroll Best Senior Orator ......... ..,.... L awrence Nlelillo Best Senior Vocalist .......... .......... J ohn Somerville Best Senior Writer ......... ........ T homas Brown Best Senior Musician ............................,...... ........ R ichard Thombs Senior Most Efficient in ...lNilliam Cashin Most Witty Senior .................................... ........ R obert Ryan Favorite Senior Subject ,............. .......... C hemistry Favorite Senior Indoor Sport ......... .......... B asketball Favorite Senior Outdoor Sport ......... ............. F ootball Favorite Male Vocalist ................... .......... B ing Crosby Favorite Female Vocalist ......... ......... D oris Day Favorite Popular Song .......... ..,...... S tardust Favorite Automobile ........... .......................,.... B uick Favorite Radio Program .......... ........ L ux Radio Theatre Favorite Magazine ............... .............................. L ife Favorite Cigarette .......,............... ............................... C hesterfield Favorite Dance Band ....................,............................. Guy Lombardo Favorite Young Ladies! School .......... Academy of the Holy Names