Cranwell Preparatory School - Bell Tower Yearbook (Lenox, MA)

Page 32 text:

Once outside the classroom, we could wander toward the gym and watch the ubiquitous Gillespie flash his winning form, or saunter over to the rink where Bill Hickey, Bill Healy and Dan Burns polished their puck work. The snow also brought skis and toboggans out of hiding, and hidden talents were shamelessly displayed on the slopes. While all this was going on outdoors, Berchmans' second floor was sustain- ing a brutal battering. Pillow Hghts, midnight roof climbing, and complicated practical jokes helped to while the time away. Many a truant, intent on mischief, was caught rounding the corner at top speed by Fr. King and Mr. Kennedy. Suits were hurled into showers, sometimes with their owners insideg firecrackers exploded once in a while, and even invisible burglars visited us. Then car racing became the vogue, with small toy ones replacing the larger models we all dreamed of. What with cars whizzing around the halls at all hours, no one's legs were safe. But the highlight of winter enthusiasm was the trial that rocked the very foundations of our class-The State vs. Arnold Killen! Arnie was charged with the despicable crime of bulb-snatching. Of course, we had to make sure he'd be acquitted, and the jury was accordingly advised. Needless to say, he was declared innocent. After so much excitement, all of us welcomed a most enjoyable Easter vaca- tion. Refreshed and replenished, we marched back and slowly slipped into the daily routine. But somehow, the routine seemed different, Spring had changed lf. Grass and golf, buds and baseball! While Bill Hickey and Peter The Man Gillespie made life miserable for opposing pitchers, the Murphy boys, Ray and Charlie, proudly paraded the links. Parents' Week-End flashed by in a blur of prize debates and plays. Gerry Lapean performed like a Webster incarnate. . Final exams loomed, an obstacle course that we eventually hurdledg and there we were at the halfway mark - almost juniors. The Summer and its pleasures had faded, as we retraced our steps up the winding trail to knowledge. The era of wise-foolishness had ended, we were Juniors. Caesar and his Roman legions were vanquished, Cicero,s silver oratory now confronted us. There were four new reinforcements in our ranks. They hailed from the four corners of the earth. jack Growney represented Roches- ter, Tom Keogh journeyed from the fabulous Westchester County, and Mike Craig defended the Southern Cause. Because of heavy seas, Gil Vernet arrived late from Switzerland. After the annual retreat, once again we filled our pens and brushed the dust from our books. Classes had by now become routine, but a surprise was in store for us. We were to meet one of the most startling and unforgettable personali- ties at Cranwell. Everyone actually enjoyed Latin and English, Fr. Drohan was an excellent professor and a still better friend. A new Fall sport was inaugurated. Football now shared its limelight with soccer. Our class had its enthusiastic fans. Gene Dwyer, Gil Vernet and Bryant Langmuir were lettermen from the beginning. Football attracted many of us. jim Vogt, Charlie Murphy, Larry Eagan, Bill Hickey and Peter Gillespie were QQYPIIR Hg' Page Twenty-eight YZTJ - ,i ,!1 42F'5, Sil l aff-?lrZiZ.is1W

Page 31 text:

Healy, the Babylon fur trader, and Bill Hickey, Larchmont's Old Reliable. Lee Bradley left Baltimore for the blustery Berkshires, and Long Jim Ruppe brought us shy folk songs from Lake Linden. While Vic Cieszynski traveled from New Britain to join the fold, Hartford's favorite son, Bob Shea, also made his appearance. The promising year began auspiciously with the usual three-day retreat. After we started on the daily classroom struggle, football took up most of our free time. Sophomores swarmed over both varsity and intramural gridirons. Pete Gillespie became a major hero when, despite size and sickness, he held down the Hrst string fullback berth. Perhaps the most spectacular play of the year was his ninety-seven yard run after having stolen the ball practically on the oppo- nent's goal line. Bob Mullane and Larry Eagan also enjoyed considerable success on the field, as did Man-Mountain Vogt and Charlie Murphy. The season came to a Htting climax when the frosh were crushed in two mighty battles, 27-6 and 25-O. Of course, the exciting Yankee-Dodger World Series provided the setting of another Stevenson-against-all Dodger-fans duel. We still remember how Marc raged when a year's supply of Yankee clippings mysteriously disappeared. For- tunately, they turned up a few days later. Winter arrived rather late and brought with it sleet, snow, shoveling, skating, basketball-and mid-years. There were a couple of crash landings, but no one was seriously hurt. We were slowly learning that things do have a serious side. Seriously, though, most of us enjoyed our studies. Geometry was the popular favorite, while History hnished a close second. It was about this time that Ray Murphy, the Woonsocket Irishman, made his debut. He proved a welcome addition to our roster. rf: c gnu ,f A 4 4' ST. JOSEPH'S HALL u6?HRf GD in E vaix i af 0 '19aQ'Q 57 .o h Page T11 enlx seven S. A f - 'Q SQ 5 QE, Y , - 4' H' g 'A 'iq gu gi rivl df 9

Page 33 text:

outstanding gridsters. We also held our own in the jayvee and Intramural leagues. After Thanksgiving vacation we were forced to listen patiently to the esca- pades of our class Romeos. lt was a trying ordeal. Christmas came and went, and the semester drew to a close. Regardless of previous experience, we still burned the midnight oil in preparation for exams. Some people never learn! Nevertheless we are still here to talk about it. Our basketball season was a grand success and a little letter to Reverend Father Rector invited us to Boston Garden. lid Considine, Lee Bradley and Bob Shea represented us on the Varsity. We narrowly missed the championship by a mere ten points. A mild winter graciously afforded an early start at spring sports. Golf clubs were prematurely taken out of storage and racquets were regutted. Of the many who flocked to the diamond, Peter Gillespie and Bill Hickey were spectacular. Under the watchful eye of Fr. Weeks, jack Quinn, Charlie Murphy and Bob Killen waged war against the downstairs. Aloysius was a mess. Fr. Burke su- pervised rehabilitation. Once again Parents' Week-Eiid arrived. Gerry Lapean won the Best Speak- er Award for the second time in the annual prize debate. The final days passed quickly and after successful examinations we began our summer vacation, wiser, more mature and happier. And now the climactic year begins. Wheli we returned to the hills, the trees had already begun to shed. But, strangely, they were l10t red and yellow BERCHMANS' HALL GPHRZYQ vii A, Page Twenty nine AV' g 94, , if Lg S ea ,I I li x 1L l'!1f ' eg i , 3 I 0 'IQQQWQ' tl at lm.,