1964 Yearbook
Source URL
Title
1964 Yearbook
Description
From Ambrosian To Oaks - Volume I-XXX
This being the thirtieth volume of
our yearbook, THE OAKS Staff has
striven to make it a true pearl. We
also hope that the experience gained
in working on this book will be as
valuable as a gem among the pebbles of knowledge which we have
acquired thus far.
St. Ambrose College in its 1913
catalog states, "The general aim of
the institution is to impart to its
students a thorough mental and
moral culture. It strives to develop
in them a love of truth and an eagerness to advance in virtue and in
knowledge." In this climate yearbook history began. After appearing
as THE AMBROSIAN, from 1913
through 1923, publication was suspended until 1940. Renewed as
THE OAKS this span of life was to
be short, only 1940 and 1941, due to
the war. As the G.I.'s became students they renewed the publication
in 1948.
In order to produce an accurate
history of volumes 1 - 29 and to help
us realize the advantages of working
on a yearbook, the editors thought
it appropriate and proper to contact
the previous staffs. Many graciously
responded to our inquiry with enlightening letters.
Mr. David D. Klise, Peoria, a
member of the 1913 staff, writes of
the beginning of THE AMBROSIAN.
"It may well appear presumptuous to attempt to recall events
of fifty years ago. Outlines of
shadows fifty years in length become vague. Of course, no length
of time is too long to dim the
memory of professors and schoolmates of those days. You can
see and hear them yet. And
through the years, as well as
now, you continue to enjoy the
pleasant associations of that happy year of 1913 at St. Ambrose
College.
Conversation was started on
the campus in early 1913 about
the idea and desirability of a
Mr. David Klise
yearbook'or annual for St. Ambrose. None had been produced
before that time. Just who was
first to originate the idea is not
remembered. Perhaps it was
Cletus Portel, or Art Fitzpatrick,
or Ambrose Burke, or Tom Law-
lor, or Jim Welsh or Bill Hynes.
It could have been any one of
them, or in fact some other student. But the idea for such a
project was developed and grew
with enthusiasm. Students were
saying that most high schools in
their home towns had annuals,
which recorded the events of the
school year, and here was a college without any written record
of students and their activities.
After deciding to go ahead
with the project and having secured faculty approval, the students held a meeting in late
February of 1913 for the purpose
of electing an editor-in-chief and
associate editors.
Cletus Portel, later Father Portel and now deceased, was chosen
editor-in-chief and his associate
editor was William Hynes, now
of Des Moines. Their work, even
today, stands out as commendable. It had none of the marks
of a first time effort. Art Fitzpatrick, later Father Fitzpatrick
who died too young, was appointed business manager. His
associates were Harry Shields,
Leonard Evans and William Cal-
ahan. The generosity of the Tri-
Cities business friends of the College in their purchases of advertising in this issue was truly
noteworthy, and their friendship
for and support of the College
has continued throughout the
years.
Harry Crimmins, later Father
Crimmins, a noted Jesuit, now
deceased, handled the Literary
Department and none was better
qualified in this endeavor. Jim
Welsh, now Monsignor Welsh,
Dean and pastor of St. Matthias
parish in Muscatine, supplied the
humor on the pages of the first
annual. Even a half century later, his lines still provoke smiles
and the years have not diminished his sense of humor.
Tom Lawlor, now Monsignor
Lawlor, Chaplain of Mary crest
College, was the Athletic Editor
and athletics flourished in those
days. His accounts of the activities read like those of a professional sports writer. Marvin Her-
rington, of Ottumwa, did the art
work in the book and his talent
in that field is evident.
Bernard Meyer, later Father
Meyer of the Maryknoll Fathers
who did such heroic missionary
work in China for so many years,
wrote the Class Prophecy in
verse. Neal Gallagher, later president of a washing machine manufacturing company at Newton,
and now deceased, wrote a Senior Academic Poem, and Leon
Barter contributed the Academic
Class History. John Cash, later
Father Cash and now deceased,
supplied the Junior Collegiate
Prophecy in well written poetry.
This writer was Alumni Editor. The Alumni of that era were
just as loyal and devoted to St.
8
This being the thirtieth volume of
our yearbook, THE OAKS Staff has
striven to make it a true pearl. We
also hope that the experience gained
in working on this book will be as
valuable as a gem among the pebbles of knowledge which we have
acquired thus far.
St. Ambrose College in its 1913
catalog states, "The general aim of
the institution is to impart to its
students a thorough mental and
moral culture. It strives to develop
in them a love of truth and an eagerness to advance in virtue and in
knowledge." In this climate yearbook history began. After appearing
as THE AMBROSIAN, from 1913
through 1923, publication was suspended until 1940. Renewed as
THE OAKS this span of life was to
be short, only 1940 and 1941, due to
the war. As the G.I.'s became students they renewed the publication
in 1948.
In order to produce an accurate
history of volumes 1 - 29 and to help
us realize the advantages of working
on a yearbook, the editors thought
it appropriate and proper to contact
the previous staffs. Many graciously
responded to our inquiry with enlightening letters.
Mr. David D. Klise, Peoria, a
member of the 1913 staff, writes of
the beginning of THE AMBROSIAN.
"It may well appear presumptuous to attempt to recall events
of fifty years ago. Outlines of
shadows fifty years in length become vague. Of course, no length
of time is too long to dim the
memory of professors and schoolmates of those days. You can
see and hear them yet. And
through the years, as well as
now, you continue to enjoy the
pleasant associations of that happy year of 1913 at St. Ambrose
College.
Conversation was started on
the campus in early 1913 about
the idea and desirability of a
Mr. David Klise
yearbook'or annual for St. Ambrose. None had been produced
before that time. Just who was
first to originate the idea is not
remembered. Perhaps it was
Cletus Portel, or Art Fitzpatrick,
or Ambrose Burke, or Tom Law-
lor, or Jim Welsh or Bill Hynes.
It could have been any one of
them, or in fact some other student. But the idea for such a
project was developed and grew
with enthusiasm. Students were
saying that most high schools in
their home towns had annuals,
which recorded the events of the
school year, and here was a college without any written record
of students and their activities.
After deciding to go ahead
with the project and having secured faculty approval, the students held a meeting in late
February of 1913 for the purpose
of electing an editor-in-chief and
associate editors.
Cletus Portel, later Father Portel and now deceased, was chosen
editor-in-chief and his associate
editor was William Hynes, now
of Des Moines. Their work, even
today, stands out as commendable. It had none of the marks
of a first time effort. Art Fitzpatrick, later Father Fitzpatrick
who died too young, was appointed business manager. His
associates were Harry Shields,
Leonard Evans and William Cal-
ahan. The generosity of the Tri-
Cities business friends of the College in their purchases of advertising in this issue was truly
noteworthy, and their friendship
for and support of the College
has continued throughout the
years.
Harry Crimmins, later Father
Crimmins, a noted Jesuit, now
deceased, handled the Literary
Department and none was better
qualified in this endeavor. Jim
Welsh, now Monsignor Welsh,
Dean and pastor of St. Matthias
parish in Muscatine, supplied the
humor on the pages of the first
annual. Even a half century later, his lines still provoke smiles
and the years have not diminished his sense of humor.
Tom Lawlor, now Monsignor
Lawlor, Chaplain of Mary crest
College, was the Athletic Editor
and athletics flourished in those
days. His accounts of the activities read like those of a professional sports writer. Marvin Her-
rington, of Ottumwa, did the art
work in the book and his talent
in that field is evident.
Bernard Meyer, later Father
Meyer of the Maryknoll Fathers
who did such heroic missionary
work in China for so many years,
wrote the Class Prophecy in
verse. Neal Gallagher, later president of a washing machine manufacturing company at Newton,
and now deceased, wrote a Senior Academic Poem, and Leon
Barter contributed the Academic
Class History. John Cash, later
Father Cash and now deceased,
supplied the Junior Collegiate
Prophecy in well written poetry.
This writer was Alumni Editor. The Alumni of that era were
just as loyal and devoted to St.
8
Date
1964
Rights
St. Ambrose University, 518 W. Locust St., Davenport, IA 52803
Identifier
http://cdm16810.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16810coll2/id/7844