The Great Class of 1969: A History

1963-1964 7th Grade

The Holy Cross experience for The Great Class of 1969 began in September, 1963. Some came as legacies, some for a more challenging curriculum and some for the structure and discipline for which The Brothers of Holy Cross were known. Holy Cross is a football school and the 1963 team was highly rated in the preseason. Ray Cullota, Glenn Smith, Allen Rappold, Barry Wilson and Vic Eumont formed a strong nucleus of players. The Tigers went undefeated in district play . President John F Kennedy was assassinated November 22. The playoff game against Istrouma went on as scheduled despite the national tragedy. The Tigers defeated Jesuit for the second time in the State Championship Game played at Tulane Stadium. With the performance of the varsity football team, spirit ribbons, pep rallies, intramurals, group liturgies and The Huddle it did not take long for the seventh graders to embrace being a Holy Cross Tiger. In December 1963, The Beatles were first being aired on am pop stations. She loves you and I want to hold your hand were their first releases and top sellers. 1963 ended with a heavy snowfall the first in New Orleans, in many years. The early 1960‘s brought Cuban students to Holy Cross. They were part of the Pedro Pan youth evacuation, as families fled the Castro led communist regime. Some came as seventh graders and were housed in the Junior Dorm. Other dormitories on campus were Senior Dorm, Holy Cross Hall, St. Benedict and St Joseph Halls. Other popular landmarks of the campus were the Grotto and the Gazebo both located at the rear of the campus and near the Mississippi River levee. Popular sports teams were The New York Yankees, Green Bay Packers, and Boston Celtics. Cassius Clay was the heavyweight boxing champion. In February 1964, The Beatles came to the US and made 3 consecutive Sunday night appearances on The Ed Sullivan show. The group displaced Elvis Presley as the most popular rock and roll recording artist. In the spring, the track team won the district championship and the wrestling team won the state championship.

1964-1965 8th Grade

New students entering 8th grade included 5 day and 7 day boarders from Norco, Reserve, Port Sulfur, and Baton Rouge. Brother Robert Hampton was the assigned the Headmaster post replacing Brother Reinald Duran, who had been Headmaster since 1955, and on the faculty since 1942. In 1945 Brother Reinald wrote the lyrics of the Alma Mater. The lyrics and music were adapted from the Notre Dame Alma Mater. Holy Cross shared the school colors, Alma Mater, and Fight Song. Quality band and glee clubs were also common to both institutions. In 1964 the LHSAA and added Terrebonne, South Terrebonne and Thibodeaux to the district, also known as the Catholic League. With the 1963 State Championship trophy on display in the Student Center, there was much excitement for the prospects of the 1964 football team. After losses to Terrebonne and Jesuit, the Tigers returned to the playoffs prevailing in a complicated 4 school tie breaker formula, but lost to Baton Rouge High in the opening round. The wrestling team sustained its first loss ever in a dual meet to East Jefferson but won the 1965 state championship. The Huddle located in an older wooden building behind the old gym and in front of the basketball courts was the meeting place for all grade levels. Before and after school students could walk up the levee and enjoy the best view of the City of New Orleans . The campus was just down river from the Industrial Canal, which connects the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain.The New Orleans mission outpost of the Congregation of The Holy Cross was established in 1849, it’s second. Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana having been founded in 1841. In 1859, The Congregation purchased The Reynes plantation on the Mississippi River. By 1879 the mission to orphans evolved into education and St Isidore’s College was founded. In 1895 the Administration Building was erected and the School was renamed Holy Cross College. The Brothers were a part of the Congregation of Holy Cross and the governance or province was based at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. In 1945 the Brothers gained independence and were based out of the Province of Brothers at the University of Notre Dame. In 1956 the number of Brothers had grown and the ministry expanded in California and Texas. A Vice Province was split off and named Southwest Province and based in Austin Texas. The flagship University was St Edward’s University. Brothers Timothy, Melchior, Fisher, Romuald and the other older Brothers were from the original province, having taken their vows in the late 1930‘s. The school and Brothers governance accordingly was transferred to the new Southwest Province. The Brother‘s Residence and Chapel were erected in 1964 replacing one of the original pre Civil War buildings when the land was purchased. The Sisters of Presentation sent to Holy Cross from France in 1905, due to laws restricting religions, had lived in one of the structures until the early 1950‘s when they were recalled by their order. More Brothers were sent to Holy Cross and would be housed in another of the buildings. It was customary for the buildings to be referred to as slave quarters. It is not known whether slaves actually ever worked and and or lived on the land. For the Brothers who arrived in New Orleans in 1849 life was difficult due to the climate, the swampy terrain, poor sanitation practices and related diseased. During the Civil War life was quite difficult. The Brothers were all from the North or foreign countries. Communication with Notre Dame was essentially cut off. Replacements were hard to obtain as was financial support. The Brothers and St Mary’s depended on the benevolence of the State of Louisiana, City of New Orleans, the firemen of Engine 24 on Dauphine St in the Marigny, St Vincent de Paul Church and Madame Forstall. Most students came to school via New Orleans Public Service bus lines from the entire metropolitan area. Gentilly, Mid City, Lakeview, Algiers, Gretna, Metairie, Arabi and Chalmette were just some of the neighborhoods . Other schools on the St Claude route were Francis T Nicholls, Academy of the Holy Angels, and Annunciation High Schools. Busses were usually over crowded and standing room only. The busses were frequently delayed by the bridge over the Industrial Canal or the train at Port and St Claude. In August 1964, just weeks before the school year commenced, The Civil Rights Act was enacted and The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was passed by Congress . President Johnson was authorized to escalate the military presence and actions in Vietnam Nam. These two events were of great historical significance with long term repercussions. In September, The Beatles performed live at City Park Stadium. Popular sports teams were the St Louis Cardinals and the Cleveland Browns. The Addams Family, Bewitched and The Dick Van Dyke Show were popular programs viewed on black and white television sets. Besides The Beatles, there were other British groups collectively known as The British Invasion. The Supremes and other Motown artists expanded our cultural horizons not just music enjoyment.

1965-1966 9th Grade

The new school year started with many more students that completed our class rolls. We were told that the faculty had a strongly favorable impression of the quality of the class. Roland Constantin taught civics and Milton Walsh reading. Later we were to learn that Milton Walsh hoped to teach the honors class all four years. Mr. Constantin broke HC Tradition by not using a textbook. His first 6 weeks Class consisted of reading The Making of The President 1960. Additional topics were political science concepts of liberalism and conservatism, activism, the Cold War, and civil rights. His unconventional methods were in conflict with the Headmaster Brother Robert. After one more year at HC Prof moved on to Abramson High, a new School in New Orleans East. He taught there many more years. Dominick Gullota and Br. Stephen Titzer, taught Latin. Br James Weston taught Spanish. Jerrold Schubel HC‘61 taught English and Bulfinch ́s mythology. Brother Keric Dever taught Algebra 1. His teaching was notable for its low key style, humor and patience. The religion curriculum was revised into 6 separate mini-courses with 6 different teachers, one of which was New Liturgy taught by Richard Crosby, who also taught French and was Glee Club Director. Mr Frank Mannino, father of classmate Marco Mannino, was hired as band director in 1964. Several classmates accomplished in performing arts, namely Anthony Laciura, Santiago Rodriguez, and Dennis Assaf were influenced by Mr Crosby and Mr Mannino. Brother Vincent Hindershied, who came to Holy Cross in 1915 and taught Mathematics, served as Director of Studies, Prefect of Discipline, Athletic Director and Dormitory Prefect and Waveland Camp Director, retired from teaching at the end of the 1965-1966 school year. His only other school assignment was at Cathedral High in Indianapolis 1921-1926. He remained at Holy Cross performing administrative assignments and spending his summers at the Waveland Camp, which was destroyed by Hurricane Camille in 1969. Brother Vincent was preparing for his 60th jubilee but became ill and died in 1970. Even after Brothers were allowed to wear more casual clerical garb, Brother Vincent roamed the campus in the traditional habit and sash of the Congregation of Holy Cross, representing both tradition, continuity and change. The new school term had just started when Hurricane Betsy struck the city. Due to breaches in the Industrial Canal levees, St Bernard Parish, New Orleans East and parts of Gentilly were inundated and devastated. The campus sustained serious damage but classes resumed after a one week loss of school days. The front of the old gym sustained irreparable damage, and ultimately demolished, making room for a much needed parking lot. The grotto was also damaged beyond repair. The dormitories in the old wooden buildings were St Benedict, Vincent, Aquinas and St James Halls. Eventually they all would be demolished as a new boarding facility was planned for the rear of the campus. The Olympic swimming pool was completed in 1965 and used by the swim team and PE classes. The football team beat Jesuit but forfeited 3 games due to an ineligible player. The basketball program was mediocre and the LHSAA suspended the state championship tournament for baseball. The wrestling team did not win the 1966 state championship for the first time since wrestling was introduced in 1945, except the one year Coach Brother Melchior did not coach, due to an extended illness. The Beatles released 4 albums in 1965 and stopped playing live events in 1966. The Rolling Stones big hit was I cant get no Satisfaction. The Animals had what became the class theme song, We gotta get out of this place. Sal Anselmo provided the WTIX weekly top 69 hit list, courtesy of his father, who was the proprietor of Johnny‘s Music. Sandy Koufax pitched a perfect game in Chicago, Batman was the most popular television program. The NFL awarded a franchise to New Orleans November 1, 1966. The team would be named The Saints.

1966-1967 Tenth Grade

There was a major change in curriculum by offering an elective, Air Force Junior ROTC, in lieu of PE. John Arms joined the faculty as Geometry teacher, guidance counselor, assistant football and head Basketball Coach. He had presentations of computer programming language, data management, data bases and interconnectivity. It was impossible to foresee at that time, how computer science would change every aspect of life. He came from St Aloysius where he was an assistant football and junior varsity basketball coach. He was a former four star athlete at Fortier and served in the United States Marine Corp. August Caboni HC 62 began his long teaching career in the science department. Jon Craig and Caboni taught biology to the sophomores. Milton Walsh and Edward Deprezio taught English. The football team entered the season as the strong favorite to win the district and be in the state playoffs. Butch Duhe returned as quarterback. The defense was strong with Jesse Truax, Larry Arthur, Miles Casbon, Larry Gaudet and Joe Thibodeaux. Chuck Knowles played center and linebacker. Only 14 points were scored against the defense, 7 by Jesuit and 7 by Archbishop Rummel, playing in its first varsity season. Rummel joined Archbishop Shaw in the Catholic league. The Tigers defeated East Jefferson in the first round and entered the quarterfinals as the #3 nationally ranked team. The Tigers could never get untracked offensively and lost to Broadmoor of Baton Rouge. The student body was bitterly disappointed. John Arms and the basketball team struggled against De la Salle, St Aloysius, Redemptorist, and Jesuit. The baseball team was coached by Jean Faust and new assistant coach and teacher Walter Novak. The wrestling team won the 1967 state championship. The new residence hall was placed in service late in the school year. St Joseph Hall was a Hall name selected to honor the school ́s patron Saint. Other named halls were Andre, Lewis, Vincent, St James, St Benedict and Aquinas. In 1972 the long tradition of Holy Cross as a boarding school ended. Enrollment of day students, also was decreasing and 5th and 6th grades were added. The Residence Hall building was repurposed and renamed Holy Cross Middle School. Other traditions of all male cheerleaders and faculty would also follow in the 1970’s. The central service building also was completed. The rear part of the campus configuration was changed in layout , as the wooden buildings were scheduled for demolition and to be replaced by a paved road, parking and green space. The Southern Repertory Theate Company offered attendance at 4 plays, the free use of play texts and transportation to the Civic theatre for all High School students in New Orleans. Theater was added to the English curriculum. The students of Milton Walsh were required to complete a research paper. It was a major part of the second half year course work. It required submission of an outline, table of contents and bibliography. The format and techniques were that of Brother James McDonnell, a long time and popular faculty member. It would be the intellectual process completing college research projects and organized thinking in one‘s life. Mr. Walsh‘s a demanding and gifted teacher died in an automobile accident during the summer of 1967. The loss of Mr‘s Walsh and Constantin was deeply felt by their students. The summer of 1967 was known as the summer of love. The hippie movement on the west coast was spreading across the country. The Doors released Light my Fire. The Beatles released their iconic masterpiece Sgt. Pepper‘s Lonely Hearts Club Band. In January the first Super Bowl was played. It was not the popular event it is today. In February 1967 the Krewe of Endymion held it’s first parade in Gentilly. In September 1967, The New Orleans Saints played their first game against the Los Angeles Rams at Tulane Stadium. Despite John Gilliam running back the opening kickoff, The Saints lost the game. The Tiger Yearbook became a full year publication including the notable events of the second semester of the school year. Unfortunately, 1966 second semester athletics, extracurricular activities and events would never be published or memorialized.

1967-1968 Junior Year

Junior year curriculum was based on American History and American Literature. We were maturing and becoming more knowledgeable and interested interested in current affairs namely, the Cold War, Viet Nam, and Human Rights. Unfortunately, we lost two great thought leaders and life mentors, Milton Walsh and Roland Constantin who may have been better able to humanize the course work with societal change. But as in everything else, we pressed on. Mr Jack McCollum was a new HC English teacher. He was from New York and his patience was quickly tested by the students. He had a long influential career at HC then Brother Martin. Jean Faust was the American History teacher. Earl Schneider taught algebra 2. Brother Harold Ehlinger taught chemistry but mid year became the director of the huddle. Mr Al Wilhelm HC 73 and Mr Sidney Hebert HC 62 were the other chemistry teachers. The football team was again highly rated with a strong senior and junior classes. Nick Cusimano, Greg Fischer, Chuck Knowles, Ed Christensen, Ray Marchand, Leon Negrotto, Lloyd Dalier, Eugene Garcia, Robert Tretola, Tim Smith, Ed Ludman, Malcolm Hurstell, Tom Bayard, Billy Dalton and Weldon Talley made significant contributions. The St. Augustine Purple Knights playing its second game in the LHSAA Catholic league was defeated by the Tigers at Tad Gormley with a crowd of 26000 in attendance. The Tigers defeated arch rival Jesuit and won the District Championship. In the state playoffs, Bogalusa led by Terry Davis, Chalmette led by Norris Weese and Woodlawn led by Joe Ferguson were defeated. The Tiger defense sacked Ferguson several times in the state semifinal and a return trip to Shreveport, to face Airline of Bossier City. Much of the student body boarded trains and busses for the long trip to Shreveport. The game was played at the State Fairgrounds Stadium. It was a cold misty night. Airline ran back the opening kickoff for a touchdown. The record setting Tiger offense could not get untracked and the Tigers were defeated. It was a long trip home for the team and the student body. The new residence hall was placed in full service. The handball courts were added replacing the basketball courts adjacent to Reynes St. Other than some covered walkways and the bus parking lot the campus layout remained the same until destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Holy Cross was often advertised as the School with a college campus. The baseball and basketball teams were improved over previous years. The wrestling team won the 1968 state championship. Billy Dalton was a pole vaulter for the track team and handled the kicking duties for the football team. The HC Class of 1969 witnessed many significant historical events in the years 1967-1969. In February 1968 the North Viet Namese launched a nationwide offensive during the Tet Holiday. For the first time viewers at home could see in near real time news of the intense fighting. CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite reporting from Viet Nam stated that the US could not win a conventional war against the North Viet Namese factions. Public opinion began to turn against the war. At the end of March, President Lyndon Johnson announced he would not seek re election. His social programs known as The Great Society and the war on poverty were sacrificed due to the cost of the Viet Nam war. Robert Kennedy entered the primaries and was gaining momentum to be the Democrat nominee. In April, Martin Lurther King, the Great civil rights leader, known for his non violent philosophy, was assasinated in Memphis. Riots broke out in many US cities, New Orleans was on high alert. Brother David Papen who taught religion and typing and was monitor of the levee runners, attended the memorial march and funeral in Atlanta. Robert Kennedy, after winning the California primary, was assasinated in June. Dion later wrote a song Abraham, Martin and John memorializing the historic assasinations. Richard Nixon was nominated by the Republicans and Hubert Humphrey by the Democrats. The Democrat convention was marred by the police riot against protestors who viewed Humphrey as an establishment candidate, and not likely to extract the US from the war. Nixon’s campaign promise was that he had a secret plan to end the war. Although heavily favored, Nixon had to survive a late surge by Humphrey to win the election. The protest movement against the war nevertheless, continued to grow. High School students more than ever were looking to extend their education and student deferment to avoid being drafted into the army and sent to Viet Nam.

1968- 1969 Senior Year

Charles DiGange HC 64 and Joseph Murry joined the faculty. Charlie was a member of the 1963 football State Championship Team. He taught Algebra and Trigonometry. Charlie was at HC many years both teaching and in administration. He returned to Holy Cross as Headmaster in 2005. Joseph Murry St Aloysius 64 a former USL weightlifter and Buffalo Bills strength coach, had moved on to the New Orleans Public School System but returned to Holy Cross as Principal in 2005. Together they would lead the school back after the Hurricane Katrina devastation and the move to the Gentilly Campuses. Michael Hanneman a Jesuit Alumnus came to teach Latin. Brother Michael Boyd taught Honors Mathematics and Precalculus. Brother Paul Farkas taught Directed Studies in English which focused on reading, discussion, and writing projects. Al Seither was assistant track coach and taught Economics. Taxation and the basics of filing IRS annual income tax returns was a part of the course work. Douglas Haas taught PSSC Physics Honors. Brother Stanley Repucci taught Physics from the Dr White textbook. Some classmates completed their third year in the AFJROTC program. The football team was rebuilding and lost to St Aloysius for the first time in many years. The Tigers made it four in a row against Jesuit. Cor Jesu came into the Catholic League for its first and only season. The Brothers of the Sacred Heart announced a merger of their two schools and the move of St Aloysius, to the Cor Jesu campus in Gentilly. Brother Martin High School was chosen as the school’s name. St Aloysius played their basketball home games in 1968-1969 at the Cor Jesu Gym. It meant abandoning their matchbox gym, a throwback to the 1930‘s, but a fun place to attend a game. The football team advanced to the playoffs but Ed Ludmann was ruled ineligible and Bobby Hrapmann took over at quarterback. The Tigers defeated Bogalusa, but lost to Woodlawn with Joe Ferguson again at quarterback, in the quarterfinals at Tad Gormley. Woodlawn went on to win the State Championship. The basketball team defeated De la Salle and iconic Coach John Altobello in the first round of the district season. It was the first win, anyone could remember, against a Johnny Altobello coached basketball team either at St Aloysius or De la Salle, which opened in the early 1950‘s. The wrestling team did not win the 1969 state championship, losing to De la Salle. The baseball team returned many starters from a much improved 1968 season. The LHSAA resumed the State Championship Tournament after foregoing it for 3 years. The Tigers finished district play tied with St Aloysius, each team having won a round. The two teams met in a one game playoff to represent the District in the Tournament. The Tigers were led by seniors Chuck Knowles, Cliff Myers, Richard Gautreaux, Frank Hurstell, Andrew Ravaglia, Alan Chabert and Sal Serio. The Crusaders starting pitcher was Dennis Sabrio, he was also the quarterback of their football team that beat the Tigers in the fall. He held the excellent hitting Tigers through 6 innings. The Tigers scored 5 runs off Sabrio in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game. There were no runs scored in innings 8,9 and 10. The Crusaders scored in the top of the 11th but the Tigers scored in the bottom to remain tied going into the 12th. Aloysius again scored in the top of the 12th, Dickie Gautreaux came on in relief with the bases loaded and no one out. He held the Crusaders scoreless. The Tigers were down to their last out but scored two with Gautreaux knocking in the winning run. Many think it was the greatest prep baseball game ever played in New Orleans. It was also the final athletic event for St Aloysius as they were moving from Rampart St to Elysian Fields. The Tigers went on to defeat a fine Chalmette team led by Norris Weese for the State Championship. It would be the only state Championship in a major Sport for the Class of 1969. In October, 2019 the 1969 Baseball team was inducted into The Holy Cross Athletic Hall of Fame. Classmates Chuck Knowles and Billy Dalton were inducted previously. In January 1969, Richard Nixon was inaugurated as President. He had stated that he wished the country still had a 5 Cent hamburger. The Royal Castle chain in New Orleans accommodated the new president on inauguration day. Coincidently, Holy Cross students also were scheduled for the RepertoryTheatre that day. Upper classmen were allowed to take personal transportation. It allowed a diversion to partake of some of the 5 cent Royal Castle burgers before the performance. During second semester the class began its preparation for the ACT and SAT college entrance examinations and moving on from Holy Cross. Rice, MIT, Brown, Tulane, Loyola, SMU, USL, SLU, Nicholls, Northeast and Northwestern State, LSU, LSUNO, Louisiana Tech, and Mississippi State were among schools chosen. Most classmates would be the first in their family to attend college. Some students planned to enlist in the Military Service. Most did not want to be drafted and end up in the jungles of Viet Nam. Prior to final exams a new concept , Do your own thing week was requested and granted. Students selected an activity to feature their talents. The Senior Prom was held at the Royal Orleans May 14th. The graduation ceremony featuring long winded keynote speaker George Lehleitner was held at the New Orleans Municipal Auditorium May 25, 1969. In January, 1969 Joe Namath led the New York Jets to the AFL‘s first victory in Super Bowl III. The Baltimore Colts were heavily favored to win. Frank Romano gave 20:1 odds straight up. It cost him 80.00, a small fortune in 1969 but turned him to successful career in eye care. Also in January The Beatles performed live for the final time. It has come to be known as The Roof Top Concert. The Super Krewe Bacchus, with large floats and celebrity kings, held it‘s first Mardi Gras parade. In July, Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the moon, fulfilling a national goal of President Kennedy. In October, the New York Mets previously known for ineptitude defeated the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles in the World Series. In November, LSU defeated Alabama and Coach Bear Bryant for the first time in thirty years, but lost to Ole Miss with Archie Manning at quarterback. With only one loss the highly ranked Tigers set their sites on the Cotton Bowl in Dallas and a shot at a number 1 rating. The University of Notre Dame of The Congregation of the Holy Cross, for the first time in many years accepted the Cotton Bowl invitation and LSU had no other bowl option. It was the first time Ray Lightell uttered the phrase, it is all about the money. By the end of 1969, first semester was almost completed and most had settled into college life, which included fraternities and college bars. President Nixon fulfilled his campaign promise of winding down the ground war in Viet Nam. The war dragged though on for many more years during which the country was polarized. Protests and violence were common place, Such was the setting for The Great Class of 1969 as they prepared for the new decade and beyond.

Epilogue

Young boys born in 1950, 1951, 1952 came to Holy Cross in the lower 9th Ward in 1963, 1964, and 1965. They came from many of the city‘s neighborhoods, playgrounds and church parishes They came together through athletics, academics, extracurricular activities and the Christian Faith. They were baby boomers whose parents experienced the uncertainties of The Great Depression and the fears of World War II. Father’s had sacrificed their own education to fight for freedom. Mother‘s had worked in war industries and never dreamed of college or careers. But they were determined that their sons would fulfill their individual American dream. Those same sons were challenged by parents, puberty, demanding teachers and coaches during a period of social changes and intense opposition thereof. None of this was contemplated or understood at the time. But gradually the boys became young men and their vision and their perspective changed. With the physical and emotional changes most developed a strong desire to expand their education and to become leaders at home, work and community. They would be molded by their Holy Cross experience and the principles expressed in The Holy Cross Man, written by Brother Fischer Iwasko, CSC. They would become refined gentlemen alumni of Holy Cross and the eternal brotherhood of The Great Class of 1969.