St John Neumann High School - Crystal Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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of Fortitude Up to Ianuary of 1936, the athletic teams were referred to as the 'ROCKS'. A student poll in The Rocket indicated that from now on the teams would be called Purple Pirates, by a vote on 112 to 584. In Iune of 1936, Father Traeger stepped down as principal of Southeast Catholic and was replaced by Father Michael McKeough. Father McKeough came to Southeast Catholic from Archmere Academy in Claymont, Delaware where he had been Headmaster. It was under the administration of Father McKeough that some of the advances at Southeast Catholic were made. When the doors opened in September again, the student enrollment had increased. As a side light, another Catholic high school had opened its doors at 17th and Wyalusing Avenue. It was given the name of Saint Thomas More. During this school year, the colors of the school were changed from the original purple and white to orange and black, remaining to this day the traditional school colors. It should be noted that because of the increased enrollment of students, the former buildings of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish were added to Southeast Catholic. Some four hundred freshmen reported to class in September 1937 to the new Sacred Heart Hall. Fr. David Rondou became the vice-principal in charge of the freshmen. This relieved pressure from the Sev- enth Street building, now called Main Hall. Changes were made at Main Hall with the enlarging of the library, office space for the Administration, while in the former Church courses in woodworking were initiated. This was the beginning of a venture into vocational courses that culminated later in the school's good relations with Bok Vocational. It was under the leadership of Father McKeough that Southeast Catholic received its accreditation from the Middle States Association. This accreditation was con- sidered at the time to be quite an accomplishment for Southeast Catholic. The first member of the faculty to die while teaching at Southeast Catholic was Father William I. Millay, O. Praem. It was in his honor that the present alumni association derives its name. September of 1941 again saw an increase in enrollment with a freshmen class of 423. The Nor- bertine faculty continued to grow from the original 16. Many of the Fraters who taught at Southeast and re- turned to DePere, Wisconsin to continue their educa- tion for the priesthood would return again to Southeast as priest teachers. 40's -War Days Advertisements in the March 31, 1942 edition of The Rocket requested the support of the students in buying defense stamps and bonds. Stories were also published of alumni who were serving in the Armed Forces. In compliance to safeguard people during air raids if they should occur, Father Hockers was made Air Raid War- den and Father Rondou, First Aid Warden. The Assistant Coach, Rem O'Hara, would leave Southeast to join the Navy and be replaced with the captain of the football team from the previous year. Father McKeough announced the formation of a School Victory Corps, that all young people should be doing something to help win the war. In October of 1942, it was announced that Patrick Sweeney, Class of 1939, was killed in the Solomons on August 21, 1942. He would be the first of more than fif- ty students who would make, in the words of The Rocket, the supreme sacrifice for their country. Through the war years, The Rocket would continue to publish the names of those alumni who were serving in the Armed Forces as well as stories surrounding the death of those who were students at Southeast Catholic. Frater Francis Mcl-Iugh, O.Praem captures the atteniton of his English class in 1940.

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Fifi Years 30's -The Beginnings The beginnings of Southeast Catholic High School were indeed humble. ln Iune of 1934, the Sophomore and Freshmen attending South Philadelphia annexes of Roman Catholic High School received word that a new school was to be instituted in which they would com- plete their secondary education. In the midst of a worldwide depression, Cardinal Dougherty and Msgr. Bonner decided to establish the fourth diocesan high school for boys following the traditions of Roman, West, and Northeast. In September, 1934, some five hundred and fifty students from the South Philadelphia annexes reported to the new school which would be called Southeast Catholic, located on the Northeast corner of Seventh and Christian Streets. The building was formerly Saint Mary Magdalen de Pazzi grade school. The original faculty consisted of sixteen Norbertines under the leadership of Father H. L. Traeger, O. Praem, first prin- cipal and superior. The Norbertines were evenly divided with eight priests and fraters. In addition to these sixteen Norbertines, the Rev. Iohn White of Saint Paul's parish would teach Italian, Mr. Iohn Oakes would be physical education teacher and coach. Classes in the first year consisted of the first three years of high school, there being no seniors. Interestingly, the first mimeographed edition of The Rocket, the school newspaper, records the events that surrounded Southeast Catholic and its beginnings. The choice of school colors was decided, purple and white. This would combine the white of Saint Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin and the purple of Roman Catholic High School. Most of the extracurricular activities that exist today had their beginnings in a modest way. Southeast Catholic's football beginnings were also somewhat modest. The squad, under Mr. Iohn Oakes, engaged in six contests, including the first Thanksgiving Day game with Southern High School. The first game played against West Catholic ended with a West victory of 33-0. However, The Rocket recorded the event: although outweighed and showing lack of experience during their initial fray, the 'ROCKS' displayed great courage and spirit in charging and tackling the bigger foe. To make up for the humble beginnings of the football squad, the basketball team achieved great success, winning their first five games. An interesting light of the game against Roman Catholic was that two brothers played against each other: William Wood of Southeast Catholic and Charles Wood for Roman. The 'Purple Pirates' as the Southeast team was called defeated Roman Catholic, 31-24. Father Traeger's second year as principal saw an in- crease in the student enrollment to eight hundred students. Of the many parishes sending students to Southeast Catholic, Saint Monica's Parish ranked first with 1 16 students. Fr. H.L. Traeger, the first of the twelve principals of Southeast-St. Iohn Neumann High School.

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By the war's end, the list would grow to more than two thousand students of Southeast Catholic who served in the Armed Forces. It was during this time also that the school schedule would be adjusted to allow for seniors of draft age to serve in the Armed For- ces. In Iune of 1943, Father Iohn Keough, Pastor of St. Gabriel Parish, would distribute diplomas to two hun- dred and eight seniors, many of whom wore the unifor- ms of their respective branches of the service. Those not present were represented by one of their parents to whom their diplomas were presented. The first mid-year graduation was held on Ianuary 24, 1944 in Sacred Heart Hall. Twenty-one diplomas were given to seniors who were of draft age and would be going into the Armed Forces. After nine years as principal of Southeast Catholic and superior of the Norbertine Community, Father Michael McKeough was sent to Washington, D.C. During Father McKeough's time as principal, many changes occured at Southeast, not the least of which was the tremendous increase in enrollment. The student population went from about five hundred in 1937 to more than twelve hundred in 1945. Father L. A. V. DeCleene, O. Praem. became the third principal of Southeast Catholic, coming to the school from St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin. Father Iulian Resch, O. Praem. was named vice principal suc- ceeding Father David Rondou, O. Praem. During the 1945-1946 school year, the first class reunion took place under the direction of Father Francis McHugh, O. Praem. In the spring of 1946, Mr. Paul Bartolomeo was named football coach of Southeast Catholic. Bart as he came to be called, remained in this capacity for many years, leading the Pirates to victory in football and baseball. The 1946-1947 year saw Fr. Iulian Resch, O. Praem. replace Fr. L. A. V. DeCleene, O., Praem. as principal of Southeast Catholic. There was also a change in the composition of the faculty. Twelve diocesan priests were assigned by Cardinal Dougherty to teach at Southeast. Father Resch was no stranger to Southeast, having served as vice principal, teacher, and moderator of many activities. He would remain as principal until 1954. During these years under Father Resch, many changes took place in the school. The football team came into prominance under Bart, with one out- standing player, Bill Brannau, receiving the Maxwell Award for the first time in the history of the school. This same football squad was the first to take the Catholic League Football Championship, defeating West Catholic at Shibe Park before a crowd of more than thirty thousand people. Congratulations were ex- tended to all the team as well as the coaching staff-Bartolomeo, Matthews, and Cunningham. The City Title was shared with Frankford in a tie game, 6-6, at Franklin Field. Some forty-five thousand people at- tended the game. It wouldn't be until 1954 when Southeast Catholic would meet Frankford again and finally claim their first City Title in football, 34-0. The Victory Corp of Southeast Catholic High School marches in for- mation.