St Xavier High School - Tiger Yearbook (Louisville, KY)

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class history 4-7am Qleeiwq QGCIJM The First Year 1936-1937-We were Freshmen! Brother Be- nignus was Director of Studies and Brother Benjamin was Principal. On November l, Brother Dionysius died suddenly and, on a snowy day, the entire student body heard Mass at St. Boniface's for the repose of his soul. In February, 1937, the unforgettable Ohio Valley flood disrupted school for a period of weeks and damaged many homes of boys in this class. Mid-year exams were dispensed with when school finally resumed and returning students found that the water had damaged basement typing and lab rooms. In May, the Freshman Field Day was held at Shawnee Park. Paulie Miller won the 100-yard dash and baseball throwing contest, while lack Mc- Sweeney won the 220. The Freshman Relay was won by lA, but IH amassed the greatest number of points. World events to be associated with this period include: The maritime workers' strike on the Pacific Coast, the inauguration of Presi- dent Roosevelt tor a second term, the New London, Texas, school explosion, which killed 293, the destruction of the dirigible Hinden- burg , and the Coronation of King George Vl and Queen Elizabeth of England. The academy award motion picture for 1936-1937 was The Life of Emile Zola and Spencer Tracy was acclaimed for work in Captains Courageous. In the world of sports, the New York Yankees defeated the New York Giants four games to two to win the 1936 World Series, Pittsburgh defeated Washington 21-0 in the 1937 Rose Bowl, and War Admiral romped home with the 1937 Kentucky Derby. ,. The Second Year 1937-1938-Sophomores now! A new principal, Brother William, and a new building, Fresh- man Hall, greeted the eleven hundred and fify boys who entered St. X this year. Bernie Crimmins led the Tiger footballers, and several new clubs, including the Camera Club and the Stamp Club, were formed. The year was cli- maxed in March, 1938, when the St. Xavier basketball team, coached by Bob Schuhman, won the National Catholic Basketball Tourna-- rnent at Chicago, for the third time. On the team were three members of the class of '40- lirn Ewing, Tommy Geisler and Paulie Miller. The team, feted by state, city and religious dignitaries, was received by the public at the Armory, and a special edition of The Xavier News was issued in its honor. Earl Gerhard, won top honors in the State test in Geometry. Sophomore class of '40, Achievement Field Day results listed lack McSweeney as winner of the 100-yard dash, Charles Wathen as winner of the 220, Class 2A as carrying away honors in the tug-of-war and softball contests, and 2E as the winning class. Thus ended our second year at St. Xavier's. lt was during this period that Italy gave notice of her withdrawal from the League of Nations, Germany took over Austria, and the Richard Vlfhitney Wall Street scandal came to light. Spencer Tracy again won the Academy Award, this time for his part in Boy's Town. Bette Davis was lauded for Iezebel, and a special award was given Walt Disney for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first feature length cartoon. The New York Yankees took the 1937 World Series from the New York Giants, four games to one, Lawrin won the 1938 Kentucky Derby, and California defeated Alabama 13-0 in the 1938 Rose Bowl game. i' 'k 'k The Third Year 1938-1939-As Iuniors, we began the second half of our schooling at St. Xavier's. When classes resumed on September 5, 1938, Brother Adalbert was the new Director of Studies, Brother Rudolph was athletic director, and Brother Sylvanus was athletic business man- ager. Ioe Celetti captained the 1938 Tiger foot- ball team, whose greatest feat was the con- quest of the Male High Bulldogs. The Booster Club was organized and promoted many

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A DAY IN THE L I F E OF T H E TYPICAL SENIOR Up Be+imes To His Books In The Lab. On The Job Sfepping Ou+

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class history activities, finally donating a new loud speaker unit to the school. The Marconi Science Club also came into existence this year. The jubilee spirit prevailed throughout the second semester as l939 was the centennial year of the Xaverian Brothers, the seventy-fifth year of the Xaverian Brothers in Louisville, and Brother Columba celebated his Silver Iubilee in April. Following' the Iunior Field Day in May, our third year at St. Xavier's came to an end. Memorable events of this time include: The New England hurricane, Gerrnany's annexa- tion of Czechoslovakia, the death of Pope Pius Xl and the election of Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli, who took the name Pius Xll, as his successor, Italy's seizure of Albania and the United States Government's official recognition of the Franco nationalist regime in Spain. Mickey Rooney was the star of the year and the out- standing picture was Good-bye Mr. Chips. The Three Little Fishes was the novelty song hit that everyone was singing towards the close of the year. The 1938 World Series found the Chicago Cubs going down before the New York Yankees in four straight games, Duke succumbed before the Trojans of California, 7 to 3, in the 1939 Rose Bowl, and Iohnstown was the winner of the 1939 Kentucky Derby. i' 'k i' The Fourth Year l939-1940-At long last-Seniors! Eleven hun- dred and forty-six boys enrolled at St. Xavier High School in September, l939. This entire student body heard a special Mass of the Holy Ghost at the Cathedral of the Assumption soon after the beginning of the semester. Class elec- tions followed soon and Pat Lenahan, captain of the Tiger football team, was elected general- issimo president of the student body. Knobby Walsh and Tommy Geisler were elected gen- eralissimo vice president and secretary-treas- urer, respectively. At the head of the St. Xavier Student Council was Phil Muldoon. Two Senior C.S.M.C. study clubs were organized and met throughout the year. The St. Iohn Bosco Club was organized with Brother Iohn Ioseph at its head to assist boys in selecting their vocations. The Marconi Science Club this year elected Earl Gerhard as its president and later in the year gave a special science exhibit in the school auditorium. The P.E.P. Club replaced last year's Booster organization and had as its president, Charles Clark. The club sponsored several dances, one a special dance for the Seniors held in the St. Xavier gym. The P.E.P. Club also sponsored the first girls' pep rally ever held in the St. Xavier' gym. The Music Appreciation Club was organized. The Rev. Cyril Georges, a former student at St. Xavier, was retreat master at the annual retreat for the Seniors and Iuniors. Brother Adalbert was stricken with an attack of appendicitis and was forced to undergo an operation. Thomas Geis- ler captained the St. X cagers who Won the seventh regional tournament, bowed out in the State to the eventual winner of the State Cham- pionship, and then travelled to Newport, R. I., for the Eastern States Catholic Invitational Basketball Tournament, where it lost to one of the best teams in the East. Then came the round of activities, exams, ceremonies and formalities terminating with graduation. The New York Yankees won the 1939 World Series four games to none against the Cincin- nati Reds. The Louisville Colonels surprised the world when they defeated Rochester four games to three to cop the Little World Series. Southern California defeated Tennessee in the l939 Rose Bowl by the score of 14-U, and Gala- hadion was the winner of the 1940 Kentucky Derby. This final year was a war year. War swept across Europe like a scourge, involving Eng- land, Poland, France, Germany, Russia, Den- mark, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, Fin- land, and other countries. President Roose- velt provoked a nation-wide controversy when he proclaimed the third Sunday in November fNovember 233 Thanksgiving Day instead of the traditional last Thursday in November date. Gone With the Wind was the motion picture that everyone was talking about and the wee voice of Wee Bonnie Baker made Oh, Johnny Oh the national anthem.