1950 - 51
Class Leaders
Senior Class Officers: Don Cecala, president; Ann McMurray, vice president; Marie McDonough, secretary.
Junior Class Officers: Edward Keiser, president; Clara Fuoco, vice president; Mary Durning, secretary; Dick Reading, treasurer.
Sophomore Class Officers: Bill Allen, president; Ted Raterman, vice president; Leslie Smith, secretary; Bob Moore, treasurer.
Freshman Class Officers: Joe Rotzler, president; Bill Liston, vice president; Annette Butters, secretary; Jim Clement, treasurer.
During the Summer
Alumnus Genevieve Anne Howa joined the Sisters of the Holy Cross, assuming the name Sr. Mary Alice Michele.
At a faculty meeting before the school year began, elementary school principal Sr. Agnetis made clear that “Fr. Benvegnu acts in the capacity of advisory and is administrator of the school; that is, he has charge of the plant of the school. He must submit to our judgment.”
Three former Judge football players – Bob Hill, Len Anderson and Dick Allam – played for the North team while their former coach, Tom Mares, helped direct the South team in the Utah Shrine All-Star football game at the University of Utah on Aug. 19.
The Year
For the school year, tuition was $35 for Catholics, $75 for non-Catholics. The fee for books was $7.50.
After seven years of teaching at Judge, Holy Cross Sr. Claire Antoine Rozier became principal, a post she held for five years. “Our emphasis was always on education,” she told the Intermountain Catholic Register at the 75th anniversary celebration in 1996. “We wanted each of our students to have not just a good education, but the very best we could offer. We insisted they work hard, and if they didn’t get their work finished during the week, they were expected to be in school on Saturday. I and the other teachers spent many a Saturday teaching.” She started in 1943, teaching aeronautics to senior boys who would be facing the World War II draft after graduation. Sr. Claire Antoine previously had studied aeronautics and had pre-flight training with the U.S. Navy and Army Air Corps. “The school has always had a hard-working faculty,” she told the paper. “They wanted to see their students succeed. We tried hard to keep our juniors and seniors in accelerated classes so when they graduate, they would automatically go to college and not to war. I could see no good reason for wasting those good heads.”
Sr. Rozier played a vital role in improving the football program. She started clearing the field of rocks and acquired equipment from a Christian Brothers school in California that was getting new equipment. “They sent us everything they had. We finally had football uniforms. Of course, nothing matched and many of them were poorly fitted, but it still made our players feel good that at least they had something. . . . [Before then], they would practice every day running between the rocks. We never could have a home game and we were always dead last in our league.”
Faculty: Fr. Mark Benvegnu, director; Fr. James Kenny, Latin and religion; Sr. Anna Regina, library; Sr. Miriam Rose, Glee Club; Sr. Theresa Clare, religion and social studies; Tom Mares, coach and geometry; Sr. Franzita, English and speech; Sr. Jose Maria, commerce and Spanish; Sr. Anne Marie, math and English; Sr. Therese, eight grade sponsor. The homeroom moderators were Sr. Claire Antoine, seniors; Sr. Franzita, juniors; Sr. Theresa Clare, sophomores; Sr. Anne Marie and Sr. Jose Maria, freshmen.
Sewing was added to the curriculum, taught once a week by lay instructor Vesta Seidel. Students Mary Vitzthum, Beverly Anne Reed, Marilyn McCarville, Mary Ellen Burns and Celeste Gourley helped put on a display of their creations in May.
Margie Gonzales was crowned Homecoming Queen. Clara Fuoco and Marie McDonough were her attendants. “Stardust” was the theme of the dance, held after a 44-6 football victory over North Summit. In charge of the dance were Clara Fuoco, Joan Ann Phelan, Frances Moran, Jack Pagnanelli, Angelo Calfo, Lorraine Chiodo, Mike Whaley and Anne Marie Whelan.
The Cheerleaders were seniors Joan Ann Phelan, Theresa Garceau and Margie Gonzales and juniors Frances Moran, Colleen Rumel and Josephine Maher. The Pep Club was directed by Sr. Jose Maria.
More than 1,200 Catholics, including students from all Diocesan schools and St. Ann’s Orphanage, attended a Mass at the Cathedral of the Madeleine to pray for peace. “This was the first time in many years that the entire Catholic school population of the city will join in a religious service, and it will be visible evidence of the growth of the local school system,” the Intermountain Catholic reported.
The Judge Bulletin newspaper was edited by Nancy Webb and Gerry Fitzgerald. The reporters were Joan Ann Phelan, Bill Manca and Colleen Rumel.
At the Nov. 12 faculty meeting, the minutes noted that “each week some point on courtesy was to be stressed. This week the children should practice saying ‘Yes, Sister’ and ‘No, Sister.’ ”
In mid-December, Fr. Robert Dwyer and Fr. William Vaughan (Class of 1927) were both elevated to monsignor. Dwyer entered Judge when it first opened and was ordained in 1932, the first Utah native to become a member of the Diocesan clergy. Vaughan’s classmate, William McDougall, was a speaker at an alumni celebration at the Hotel Newhouse. After the war, McDougall went to work for the National Catholic Welfare Conference press department, writing about shrines to Mary. He was studying for the priesthood at the Sulpician seminary in Washington, D.C.
The Senior Ball, held at Fort Douglas Country Club, was built around the theme “Dream Awhile” and featured music by Ray Bradford’s orchestra. The event was organized by Don Cecala, Marie McDonough, Ann McMurray and Bob Cavill.
Making the first semester honor roll were Leah Abbott, Bill Allen, Sally Allen, Valerie Bannon, John Benvegnu, Alfred Caputo, James Clement, Phyllis Dent, Margaret Eklund, Ellen Falsetti, Charles and Edward Grose, Margaret Heddereman, Jack Keane, Jack Martin, Carol Menotti, Roger McDonough, Robert Owen, Joan Anne Phelan, Barbara Pratini, Glen Shrope, Leslie Smith, Mary Catherine Smith, Mary Ellen Taylor, Edward Vitzthum and Anne Marie Whelan.
An agreement with the Bamberger Co. provided for Judge students to ride its trains to and from Lagoon Day for 36 cents round trip.
A Saturday Evening Post article about the Korean War, headlined “The Epic of Bloody Hill,” included a reference to Judge graduate William Sweeney, a member of the Fifth Regiment, First Provincial Marine Brigade. After graduating from Judge, Sweeney went to the University of Utah before joining the Marines in 1943, fighting at Okinawa during World War II.
The Boys Sodality organization held a book fair stressing the importance of Catholic education. Organizing the fair were Jack Keane, chairman of Sodality’s “Catholic Truth” committee, Roger McDonough and Michael Whaley. The prefect was Kelly Moffitt. Bob McLeese was secretary, Ken Carter was treasurer and the committee heads were Bob Cavill, Jack Keane, John Keiser, Don Cecala, Jerry Fitzgerald, Moffitt and McLeese.
Leading the Girls Sodality were prefect Ann McMurray, vice prefect Nancy Webb, secretary Catherine Eidler and treasurer Leah Abbott. The committee heads were Clara Fuoco, Linda Gourley, Barbara Peake, Nancy Webb and Theresa Garceau. At the May procession, prefect Ann McMurray crowned Mary.
Joseph Lennox Federal was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Salt Lake Diocese in February. The North Carolina native was consecrated in April.
Football coach Tom Mares became engaged in the spring to a Judge graduate, Patricia Peake.
As part of Boys and Girls Week in Salt Lake City, Mayor J. Bracken Lee turned over the reins of city government for one day to high school students, including two from Judge – Kelly Moffitt, chief of police, and Ann McMurray, recorder.
Gay Kearn and Leah Abbott were co-editors of the Basilean yearbook. They were assisted by fellow editors Nancy Webb and Bob McLeese (art), Bill Manca (photography), Don Cecala (sports), Bob Cavill (business manager), Barbara Peak (typist), Margie Gonzales (society) and Ann McMurray (organization). Fr. Mark Benvegnu was the adviser.
Marie Bennett performed a recital in the Judge auditorium, playing pieces by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy and Lecuona.
“A Musicale” presented May 25 in the auditorium featured piano performances by James Hamilton, Mary Barbara Welsh, Billie Liston, Alfred Caputo, Mary Ann Liston, John Welsh, Moonyeen Sawyer and Phyllis Dent plus songs by the Glee Club, accompanied by Phyllis Dent and Mary Barbara Welsh. Another recital two days later included performances by Mary Ellen Brennan, Judy Maher, Joseph Mansuy, Ted Mika, Helen Frances Welsh, Sally Ann Pratt, Joyce Sawaya, Mary Patricia Rogers, Patricia Niland, Nancy Allen and Mary Alice Vitzthum.
Competing in the annual Oratorical Contest were Francis Sullivan, Andrew Skikos, Linda Gourley, Bart McDonough, William Manca, Nancy Webb and Jack Keane. The speakers focused on various aspects of “The Christopher Movement: The Power of the Individual in a Crucial Hour.”
Plays
“The Perfect Idiot,” starring Don Cecala, Linda Gourley, Andy Skikos, Lois Bell, Nancy Webb, Francis Sullivan, William Manca, Bart McDonough, Leah Abbott, Nancy Webb, Barbara Peake, John Dailey, Theresa Garceau, Margie Gonzales, Gerald Fitzgerald and John Keane. Joan Hurley was the stage manager, Marie McDonald oversaw property management, John Sadler was house manager. Handling makeup were John Brocklebank, Colleen Cronin, Catherine Eidler, Ann McMurray and Pat Kilkenny.
Sports
Hurt by graduation and injuries, the football team struggled to a 2-6 record under Coach Thomas Mares. Jim Brennan was the quarterback, joined in the backfield by Kelly Moffitt, Bob McLeese, sophomore Bob Moore, Ted Raterman and Jack Pagnanelli. Paul Brennan and Bill Allen were ends. Considerable playing time also was seen by Don Cecala, Jerry Fitzgerald, Alex Hurtado, John Dailey, Halo Carona, Roger McDonough, Fred Politowicz, Andy Skikos, Dick Reading, Jim Stewart, Gerald Fitzgerald and Bob Cavill. One season highlight was Moffitt’s four-touchdown performance for Homecoming. He had touchdown runs of 90, 55, 11 and 15 yards. Bishop Hunt sent senior football players to the Rose Bowl, chaperoned by Frs. Benvegnu and Kenny. The same trip took place the next year.
The basketball team also had a rough season, finishing 2-9, under Coach Thomas Mares.
Thomas Mares also coached the baseball team, which finished 4-6. Players included Bob Cavill, John Dailey, Don Cecala, Ted Raterman, Kelly Moffitt, John Sadler, Ken Lager, Norm Turner, Mike Whaley, Paul Brennan and Tom Paulus. Fr. James Kenny was the assistant coach.
Paul Brennan, Bob Cavill and Don Cecala played on all three teams.
Graduation
29 graduates, 17 girls and 12 boys, on June 7 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine.
General Excellence Award: Leah Helen Abbott
McGean Award: Bob Cavill
Moran Award: Kelly Moffitt.
Bob McLeese, Moffitt and John Daily also were McGean Award candidates
Science Award: Jack Keane
Holy Cross scholarship to St. Mary-of-the-Wasatch: Leah Abbott
McHugh Award for religion and a scholarship to St. Mary’s: Gay Kearn; Another St. Mary’s scholarship: Evelyn Olsen.
