Judge Memorial | Diverse & Inclusive College Preparatory School

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1947 - 48

Class Leaders

Senior Class Officers: Gerald Buller, president; Beverly Brewer, vice president; Julia Maher, secretary; Patricia Peake, treasurer.

Junior Class Officers: Milan Stimatz, president; Patricia O’Meara, vice president; Mary Deason, secretary; John Galanis, treasurer.

Sophomore Class Officers: Dewey Jimerson, president; Darlene Allam, vice president; Roselee Norwood, secretary; Bill Raterman, treasurer.

During the Summer

Renovation work enhanced the appearance of the building’s exterior and made the interior more useful. The locker room and showers were repainted and new lockers were installed. New football gear was procured and the field was readied for practice. Several hundred folding chairs were acquired for the auditorium. A new heating plant also was installed.

The Year

Rev. Mark Benvegnu, a Bingham native who graduated from Murray high and was ordained in 1941, took over administrative duties at Judge after his release from the U.S. Army. Since 1945, he had worked overseas transports in Alaska with Task Force Frigid and was later a chaplain.

Faculty: Sr. Veronique, principal; Fr. James Kenny, superintendent; Sr. Frances James, English and religion; Sr. Mauricita, math; Sr. Annunciata; Sr. Mercedes, social science; Sr. Anne Marie, math; Sr. Claire Antoine, science; Sr. Jose Marie, business and shorthand; Sr. Miriam Rose, music; William Moran, physical education and coach.

Enrollment exceeded 150 high school students, with 570 in the whole K-12 program. The resulting overcrowding prompted the Salt Lake Diocese to announce in April that a new Cathedral elementary school would be built in the lower Avenues. The projected $175,000 building was designed by the Salt Lake City architectural firm Ware and McClenahan to hold 350 students. The Sisters of the Holy Cross were engaged to teach at the new school.

Judge provided a bus service to transport students to school from St. Patrick’s, Guadalupe and Cathedral of the Madeleine parishes.

Class of 1927 graduate William McDougall published a book, “Six Bells off Java,” recounting his war experiences and ultimately futile efforts to escape the Japanese Army. McDougall went to the Far East in 1939 after working at The Salt Lake Tribune. He was a reporter for the Japan Times for 10 months before joining United Press International, assigned to Shanghai, China. He had that job when captured by the Japanese off Indonesia and held in a POW camp. He was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard before publishing his book.

The first Superior of the school established in the older Judge Mercy Hospital, Sr. Teresa of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent DePaul, died in November.

Col. Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre, a member of the British Parliament, newspaper publisher and soldier, spoke at Judge at the request of Bishop Duane Hunt. He talked of the threats posed to America by Nazi Germany and Communist Russia. He was serenaded by the Glee Club, directed by Sr. Miriam Rose. His message was reinforced later by former U.S. representative and Catholic convert, Claire Booth Luce, who spoke at the Hotel Utah but also visited Judge and St. Mary’s.

The Pep Club played host to the team’s post-season dinner, with Renee Anderson performing a ballet and Robert Smith playing a piece on the piano, “Malguena.” Beverly Pavela was Pep Club president.

Patricia Peake and Joseph O’Meara organized a reception after 58 Judge students – 36 boys and 22 girls -- were inducted into the Sodality of Our Lady of Good Counsel, an organization formed in 1587. The new inductees raised Judge’s group to 115 – 68 girls and 47 boys. In May, Peake’s term as president ended and she was replaced by Patricia O’Meara, with Patricia Coveny serving as vice prefect. Barbara Jean Allen was elected secretary while Barbara Hurley became the new treasurer.

The Spring Music Concert featured performances by Leah Abbott, Moonyeen Sawyer, Mary Colleen Day, Katherine Reeves, Renee Anderson, Marilyn Smith, Bob Smith, Patricia Coveny and the 43-member Glee Club. Coveny provided piano accompaniment on many songs.

“Their Name is Pius” was the theme of the Speech Department’s annual Oratorical Contest, featuring speeches by Frank Regan, Julia Maher, Roy McLeese, Marilyn Smith and Joseph O’Meara. The judges were University of Utah Debate Director George Adamson, VA Hospital rehabilitation chief Dr. Josephine Dowd Coulter and Salt Lake Tribune sports writer Jack Schroeder, a devout Catholic.

The Plays

“Don’t Take My Penny,” starring Patricia Peake, Betty O’Reilly, Beverly Brewer, Colleen Sylvester, Charles Robinson, Frank Regan, Gerald Buller, Patricia Sherren, Joe O’Meara, Bill Handley, Jim McCarthy, Kathryn Kilkenny, Roy McLeese, Ursula Cilensek, Patricia Maher, Marilyn Smith, Julia Maher, Beverly Pavela and Jerome Moffitt. Marilyn Smith was stage manager, Beverly Pavela was property manager and Julia Maher handled publicity.

Sports

Coach William Moran’s football team went 1-3-1, wearing new uniforms provided by the school’s Parent Teacher Association. Co-captain Roy McLeese, a guard, made first team All-State in The Salt Lake Tribune. Second-team honors went to center Barney Dargan, a junior. Jerry Buller was the other co-captain of the 23-member team, which suffered key injuries during the season to Brian Mooney, Jim Hill and Clive Thompson. Fr. James Kenny was assistant coach.

Burke Raleigh was captain of William Moran’s basketball team, which went 8-8.

William Moran coached the baseball team, which compiled a 3-6 record, including a 21-8 win over Morgan. Players were Milan Stimatz, John Brkljacich, Don Nelson, Dick Park, Bill Raterman, Bob and Jim Hill, Clive Thompson, Bob Bero, Tom George, Tony Martinez, Mike Smith, Don Cecala, Dick Allam and Jerry Buller.

Graduation

25 graduates, 11 boys and 14 girls on June 6 in the Judge Memorial Auditorium. General Excellence Award: Mary Patricia Peake. McGean Award: Joseph O’Meara; Cosgriff scholarship to St. Mary’s: Julia Maher; McHugh Award for excellence in religion: Roy McLeese; Science Award: William Handley.

The graduates were Gerald Buller, Mary Patricia Peake, Paula Carter, William Handley, Sarah Louise Page, Charles Robinson, Ursula Cilensek, Dennis McKenna, Patricia Sherren, Robert Holland, Kathryn Kilkenny, Theresa O’Reilly, James McCarthy, Jr., Marilyn Smith, Philip Raleigh, Beverly Brewer, Francis Regan, Beverly Pavela, John Gourley, Jr., Leola Garceau, Patricia Maher, Joseph O’Meara, Julia Maher, Colleen Sylvester and Roy McLeese.