Creighton Prep's Best Times Anthology 1992-2017

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Memories, Stories and Anecdotes from the Creighton Prep Class of 1957

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On the cover is the Prep ’57 Board of Memories created in 1982 for the Class of 1957s 25th Reunion by class member Tom Mahoney.

The collage board honors every member and teacher in the class and includes many memories from their time at Prep.

The board is now a fixture at every reunion.

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The Best Times class newsletter started with the class of 1957s 35th reunion.

Pictured at the 35th reunion in 1992 are: First Row Kneeling (from left): Young, Kawa, Mahoney, Karnish, Tvrdik, Hoctor.

Second Row (from left): Dolan, McCarthy, Jim Martin, Stryker, Kuhry, Kutilek, Kielty, Trout, Dunning, Williams, Heim.

Third Row (from left): Rucker, Werner, Speer, Raynor, Allison, Morrison, McCormack, Merrick, Joern, Luetticke, Sobetski, Daeges, Fr. Lannon S.J. Back Row (from left): Fr. Mullin S.J., Fontenelle, Marousek, Schmit, Scherr, Fogarty, Leightley, Norris, Wessling, Harrington, Cooney, Chladek, Rannells, Fr. L. E. Lubbers S.J.

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“Old School.”

The use of the words old school started with the class of 1957s 35th reunion in September 1992. The words are important in two ways: first, the 35th reunion took place on the campus of the old school —meaning St. John’s church. Cocktails were hosted in the Jesuit gardens, in the shadow of the old observatory, and dinner was enjoyed at a Creighton University residence hall dining room. Second, the first issue of Best Times was created by me, a/k/a old school, Jay Harrington.

By old school I mean that 100+ copies of this first issue were pasted and clipped together, copied on a machine that was easily 20 years old, envelopes hand addressed, sealed with moist lips and affixed with a 29 cent postage stamp. No computers, no email, just simply, “old school.”

What did I learn from this archaic process? I learned the level of appreciation that our classmates held and still hold for the old school.

The following quotes are from letters I received from classmates about my efforts and are reflective of the types of appreciation I’m describing.

“I appreciate being kept up to date. Keep up the good work.” Bob Werner in 1995

“I have been brooding ever since I received the Best Times announcing a 45th reunion. I can’t possibly be that old.” Jim McAllister in 2001

“Having devoured the most recent Best Times, I can’t merely read it—I was distressed to learn that it might not survive past this September.” Ed Murphy in 1999

“No other class can boast a newsletter of this kind.” Bob Gunia, Prep Alumni Director in 1995, and son of George Gunia, ‘57

“Thanks, Jay, for the newsletter. I know it takes time and energy, to say nothing of the know-how.”

Bill Rucker in 1994

“Thanks for keeping us up to date on the Ole Prep Crew.” Dave Yates in 1998

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“Just a note to let you know that I received your newsletter and enjoyed it. It is always pleasant to catch up on news of old friends even though on some occasions it isn’t all that pleasant.”

Bud Williams in 1993

In retrospect, comments like these from my classmates, made every bit of effort worthwhile.

Jay Harrington

“New School.”

I dovetail my remarks with Jay’s comments and choose a similar phrase—”new school” to describe my involvement. I allied my good intentions with Jay’s old school creative ethic 10 years ago, by assuming the editor’s responsibilities. At that time, Best Times had matured and Jay and I consulted regularly about the content, direction, and production specifics for the publication.

The developing use of the electronic media offered a new school feel to our efforts—until the computers refused to talk with one another. At times, not the best of times, the old school way of doing things worked much better.

Nonetheless, our history together was based on a comfortable blending of intentions. We worked together well and the Best Times issues seemed to generally please our classmates. What have we both learned in our shared publication experiences?

The two of us often comment that we never really knew each other very well during the Prep years, but working together on this project has created a deepening appreciation for each others’ gifts. The blending of rich and challenging experiences in our personal stories has created a deeper friendship than was possible in our earlier encounters.

What we have experienced has also invited us to take great pride in what we see evolving among some classmates. The unfolding discovery of the deep themes of life, real stories of successes and failures, have enriched our classmates and sound quite similar to our own experience. In brief, a real

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spinoff of the Best Times legacy is a genuine reconfiguration of deep and lasting friendships.

We are still the only class within the Jesuit school system that publishes its own newsletter. We’ve had a lot of inquiries about how to create similar newsletters, but no other class anywhere has taken the risk to create its own.

Our stories incarnate our diverse realities. While it often took lots of prompting to get classmates to contribute readable stories about real life experiences, the rewards have been great. From Pamplona to Hanoi, from Alaska to Wyoming reenactments, from the Ohio River to Lake of the Woods, the stories invited us to enrich our lives. The stories brought laughter, tears, and believability to an intricate tapestry of life that has unfolded since 1957.

At the prompting of several classmates, Jay and I decided that we can’t allow 25 years of hard work to die. Kristine Gerber has been monumental in her efforts to help us stay alive. We explored with her the relative costs of a paper hardbound copy of all our past issues. The costs were significant.

The logistics of ordering and shipping were staggering.

Kristine explored the viability of electronic publishing for us and we opted for this mode. She absorbed the costs of copying old paper issues to the digital format. She did so as a memorial to her dad and our classmate Dave Tynan. We thank Kristine for her generosity and her expertise.

Our combined efforts allow Best Times to not only survive, but to leave behind a rich legacy of stories, experiences, observations about life and lots of laughter and tears for grandkids, great grandkids, and anyone who might be interested in our stories. In the new electronic mode, history is made real for us at new school speeds—assuming the computers can talk with each other.

Patrick J. McDonald

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St. John’s Church in 1958

From the Creighton University Archives

Contents

1 5

Introduction High School Years - 1953 through 1957

6 Freshman

12 Sophomore 19 Junior 28 Senior

34 1957 Creighton Prep Graduating Seniors 35 Omaha in the 1950s and early 1960s 38 The Best Times Newsletters 377 High School Reunions

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High School Years

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Freshman

Unless indicated all photos from the Junior Jays 1954 Yearbook

Freshman Football Team FRONT ROW: Ralph Santi, Jim Herek, Steve Cannon, Joe Badami, Steve Sturek, Leo McCarthy,

Bill Stuben, Mike Daeges, Fred Blake, Tom Mahoney.

SECOND ROW: Bill Joern, Tim Tvrdik, Tom Kutilek, Tom Kawa, George Stryker, Bill Hersh,

Denny Dugan, Lou Sirian, Dave Tynan, Ronald Allison.

THIRD ROW: Tony Lassek, Jim Duffy, John Sopinski, Ed Haley, Tom Moran, Ed Patterson,

Harold Harrison, Rusty Swanson, Jack Schmit.

FOURTH ROW: Walter Raynor, Tom Kielty, Tom Rauterkus, Brad Speer, Clarence Stessman,

Jack Keating, Leo Luetticke, Bart Rice.

FIFTH ROW: Dave Yates, John Marasco, Tom Clements, Jim Shanahan, Jesse Grasso,

Coach Dick Roth, Bill Dasovic, Dennis Dunning.

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Freshman Basketball Team FIRST ROW: Coach L. G. Friedrichs, Bob Coughlin, Ed Haley, Terry O’Neil, John Heenan,

Bill Tighe, Steve Sturek, Pat Dolan.

SECOND ROW: Tony Raynor, Chick Stessman, Tom Rauterkus, Tony Lazzaretti,

Steve Scherr, George Stryker, John Kuhry, Jim Shanahan.

LAST ROW: Phil Riley, Frank Smith, Bud Williams, Tracy Osborne, Logan Fontenelle,

Joe Badami, Denny Dugan, Coach Jerry Dugan.

Freshman Sodality Representatives STANDING: Charles Beaton, Dennis Dunning, Harold Harrison, John Lux, Robert Monaco,

Joe Badami, Ed Gilroy.

SEATED: Bradley Speer, Dennis Dugan, Terry O’Neil, George Stryker, LeRoy Foreman.

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Freshman A

FIRST ROW: Darrell Beck, William Tighe, Ralph Santi, Jerry Hoctor, Henry Williams,

William Rucker, Edward Gilroy.

SECOND ROW: Michael Dorcy, Stephen Cannon, Paul Jeannot, James Herek,

Robert Rayer, Theodore Kowalski, LeRoy Foreman.

THIRD ROW: Patrick Dolan, Leo McCarthy, Tom Merrick, Timothy Tvrdik, George Stryker.

FOURTH ROW: James Shanahan, James Duffy, Dennis Dugan, Michael Coughlin,

Rusty Swanson, James Phalen.

FIRST ROW: Robert Epsen,

Patrick Moylan, Terry O’Neil, Tracy Osborne, John Rakowski.

SECOND ROW: John Ladenburger,

William Shomaker, Francis Fogarty, Stephen Scherr, Leo Rauterkus.

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Freshman B

FIRST ROW: Gary Chladek, Thomas Clements, Logan Fontenelle, David Martin,

Francis Munch, Francis Paulus.

SECOND ROW: James McAllister, Gerald Harrington, Thomas Moran, Robert Ternus,

Marcelino Delgado.

THIRD ROW: Leo Luetticke, Tracy Osborne, David Yates, John Keating,

Thomas Kutilek, Anthony Lassek.

FIRST ROW: Richard Cornwall,

William Huffman, John Lynch, Ronald Rannells, Michael Bresnahan, Lawrence Corrigan.

SECOND ROW: William Norris,

Charles Beaton, John Chaplik, Edward Murphy, James Martin, Robert McFarland.

THIRD ROW: Joseph Badami,

Stephen Sturek, William Stuben, John Heenan, Edward Patterson.

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Freshman C

FIRST ROW: Joseph Blaylock, Edward Trout, Leo Welsh, Larry Lanphier, William Epsen,

Conrad Bayerl.

SECOND ROW: Thomas Langan, John Schmidt, Thomas Pluhacek, Bart Rice,

George Hengen, James VaVerka, Anthony Lazzaretti.

FIRST ROW: Fred Blake, Thomas Haney, Michael McCormack, Theodore Hogya,

Charles Heim.

SECOND ROW: Ronald Allison, Jesse Grasso, Philip Browning, Philip Riley,

Robert Monaco, David Tynan.

THIRD ROW: Ronald Fennell, Michael Cooney, Anthony Greise, Bernard Conway,

Edward L. Haley, John Lux. FOURTH ROW: William Joern, John Booth, Robert Metzler, Leonard Marousek,

Joseph Ferro, James Ortman.

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Freshman D

FIRST ROW: Thomas Mahoney, Dennis Dunning, Frank Smith,

Michael Quinlan, Richard Sudyka, Clarence Stessman.

SECOND ROW: Kenneth Wessling, Lew Sirian, William Hersh,

Patrick McDonald, Thomas Kawa, Ronald Haney, William Dasovic, George Gunia.

THIRD ROW: Michael Daeges, Innocente DeMarco,

Walter Raynor, John Egenberger, Harold Harrison, John Sopinski.

FIRST ROW: George Ryan, Robert Novak, Charles Hermanek,

Louis Sobetski, Richard Barclift, Webster Young, John Marasco.

SECOND ROW: Thomas Kielty, James Griffin, James Masilko,

Bradley Speer, Fred Munch, Jerry Morrison.

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In the Fall of 1953, Jim Schwee, a member of the 1D class, was injured playing freshman football and died shortly after. Jim had his whole life before him but God saw fit to call him to his reward.

To his family, friends and classmates, Jim’s death was a great sorrow.

The graduates of 1948 commissioned a trophy in memory of Jimmie Schwee.

Sophomore

Unless indicated all photos from the Junior Jays 1955 Yearbook

Football Second Team FIRST ROW: Bob Semin, Lou Sirian, Leo Rauterkus, Bob Circo, Larry Moran, Steve Scherr,

John Marasco, John Sopinski, Chick Stessman.

SECOND ROW: Bill Joern, Clarke Swanson, Dan Johnston, Harry Harrison, Denny Dugan,

Tom Kielty, Tom Gill, Tony Lazzaretti, Bill Hersh, Steve Sturek.

THIRD ROW: John Kuhry, Tim Tvrdik, Dave Tynan, John Woodbury, Fred Munch,

Denny Dunning, Leo McCarthy, Jim Merrick, Tom Mahoney.

FOURTH ROW: Manager Dick Cornwall, Coach Robert Miller, Tom Kutilek, George Stryker,

Jim Herek, Fred Blake, Kerry Fosse, Bill Stuben, Paul Floersch, John Schmit, Assistant Coach Tom Brosnihan.

SECOND TEAM: Harry Harrison,

George Stryker, Frank Mestecky, Chick Stessman, Francis Lang, Tony Lazzaretti, Jim Pucilek, Steve Scherr, Terry O’Neil, Steve Sturek.

REAR: Coach Don Leahy, Joe Badami,

John Heenan, Mike Coughlin, Tracy Osborne, Leo Rauterkus, George Whitney, Bill Joern, John Kuhry, Bill Tighe, Steve Cannon.

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Sophomore Classes

Gallia Est Omni Divisa FIRST ROW: Richard Cornwall, William Tighe, Ralph Santi, Bud Williams, Edward Gilroy,

Michael Dorey, LeRoy Forman, James Herek.

SECOND ROW: James Duffy, George Stryker, Patrick Dolan, Stephen Sturek, Leo McCarthy,

Timothy Tvrdik, John Heenan.

THIRD ROW: Theodore Kowalski, Thomas Merrick, John Rakowski, Robert Ternus,

Denny Dugan, Robert Epsen, Michael Coughlin.

FOURTH ROW: John Keating, Russell Swanson, John Kuhry, Thomas Moran,

James Shanahan, Patrick Moylan.

FIFTH ROW: Anthony Lazzaretti, Leo Rauterkus, William Shomaker, John Ladenberger,

Tracy Osborne, Stephen Scherr, James Phalen, Terrence O’Neil.

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Caesare Duce FIRST ROW: Darrell Beck, John Lynch, Edward Murphy, Stephen Cannon, James Martin,

John Chaplik, Robert Rayer, William Rucker.

SECOND ROW: William Norris, Charles Beaton, George Gunia, Robert McFarland,

Joseph Badami, Michael Bresnahan, Ronald Rannells.

THIRD ROW: Lawrence Corrigan, Michael Cooney, John Lux, David Martin, Francis Munch,

Gary Chladek.

FOURTH ROW: Thomas Clements, Marcelino Delgado, David Yates, Francis Paulus,

Gerald Harrington, Michael Osborn.

FIFTH ROW: Logan Fontenelle, Robert Karnish, Anthony Lassek, James McAllister,

William Stuben, Francis Fogarty, James VaVerka.

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Horum Omnium Fortissimi Sunt FIRST ROW: William Huffman, Edward Trout, Gerald Hoctor, William Epsen, Jesse Grasso,

Bernard Conway, Michael McCormack, Fred Blake.

SECOND ROW: Anthony Greise, David Tynan, Webster Young, Michael Daeges,

Thomas Haney, Richard Sudyka, Terrence Connor.

THIRD ROW: James Ortman, Innocente DeMarco, John Sopinski, Thomas Mahoney,

Ronald Allison, Thomas Kutilek.

FOURTH ROW: Edward Haley, Ronald Fennell, William Joern, Thomas Langan,

Leo Luetticke, Edward Patterson, Bart Rice.

FIFTH ROW: Robert Metzler, Leonard Marousek.

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Incitati Aventu Caesaris FIRST ROW: Conrad Bayerl, Robert Novak, Richard Barclift, Charles Heim,

Theodore Hogya, Kerry Fosse, Louis Sobetski, Charles Hermanek, Philip Riley.

SECOND ROW: Thomas Kawa, William Dasovic, Harold Harrison, John Booth,

Kenneth Wessling, Anthony Raynor, George Ryan, Lawrence Lanphier.

THIRD ROW: Frank Smith, Ronald Haney, Dennis Dunning, John Marasco,

Clarence Stessman, William Hersh, John Egenberger, Anthony Seina.

FOURTH ROW: John Schmit, Patrick McDonald, Bradley Speer, Joseph Ferro,

Gerald Morrison, James Griffin, James Masilko, Fred Munch, Louis Sirian.

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Creighton Prep Pep Rally on the Quad.

From the Creighton Prep Archives

Creighton Administration Building, May 1958.

From the Creighton University Archives

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Eating Options at Creighton Prep While Prep students were encouraged to eat at the school for lunch, there were other options. There was the candy store run by history teacher Norbert Freitag SJ. P.J. McDonald worked there as a student and wrote in a March 2016 Best Times article the store featured “piping hot Hormel hot dogs ensconced in Wonder Bread white buns, ice cold Cola Cola, Seven Up, Dr. Pepper, individual sized bags of Kitty Clover Potato chips, Pearson’s Salted Peanut Rolls, Baby Ruth and Butter Finger candy bars, chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry Dixie Cups flanked by a flat wooden spoon, and assorted adolescent essentials that would create a panic attack in a contemporary dietician.”

There was Beal’s Grill, inside a home on the southeast corner of 24th and California. It drew Prep students despite administrators forbidding them not to go to “protect them from the smoking, language and the possibility of being corrupted by older, college students,” according to Jay Harrington. On the weekends it was LaCasa Pizza at 45th and Leavenworth Streets or on the Dodge Street cruising circuit, Tiner’s Drive-In at 44th and Dodge Streets.

Beals Grill.

Photo from the late Burnice Fiedler, Walt’s daughter

Creighton Prep Candy Store.

Pictured are C.K Winston S.J., N.M. Freitag S.J., Frank Bemis, Joe Ward, Dick McVaney, Frank Distefano, Paul Saggau, Floyd Virant. Photo from the 1954 Jay Junior Yearbook.

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LaCasa Pizza Menu Cover.

From the Joe Villella menu collection at the Douglas County Historical Society

Tiner’s Drive-In. From the Omaha World-Herald/ John Savage Photography Collection at The Durham Museum

Junior

Unless indicated all photos from the Junior Jays 1956 Yearbook

Undisputed State Football Champions FRONT CENTER: Ed Patterson.

FIRST ROW: Bernie Meurrens, Steve Sturek, Lew Sirian, Bob Semin, Harry Harrison,

Bill Connolly, Leo Von Tersch, Frank Zitka, Bob Springer, Bob Kearns, Jim Duffy, Leo McCarthy, Mike Tassian.

SECOND ROW: Dr. Harley Hotz, John Sopinski, Terry O’ Neil, Tom Mahoney, Bill Joern,

Jack Kudrna, Jim Watsabaugh, Ron Allison, Tony Raynor, Ray Rehmeier, Denny Dugan, Dave Frenzer, Head Coach Don Leahy.

THIRD ROW: Assistant Coach Dudley Allen, Paul Saggau, Bob Circo, Ted Clements,

Tom Rauterkus, Steve Scherr, Tom Komarek, Jack Kasher, Clarke Swanson, John Marasco, Assistant Coach Bernie Berigan.

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Basketball SEATED: Paul Saggau, Jim Belitz, Mike Coughlin, Dick Harvey, Jack Kasher, Mike Tassian,

Steve Sturek.

STANDING: Manager Steve Cannon, Paul Baker, Chick Stessman, Tony Lazzaretti,

Steve Scherr, Leo Von Tersch, Coach Bob Miller.

Junior Jay Staff TOP TO BOTTOM: Bud Williams,

Ted Kowalski, Tom Merrick, Jim Shanahan. Pat Dolan, Mike Dorcy.

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Junior Class 3A FIRST ROW: Leo Rauterkus, James Shanahan, Tracy Osborne, John Ladenberger, Steve Scherr,

Larry Tabacchi, Bill Shomaker, Anthony Lazzaretti.

SECOND ROW: Michael Dorcy, James Phalen, Thomas Merrick, Theodore Kowalski, Terry O’Nell,

John Kuhry, Robert Ternus, Francis Paulus, Michael Coughlin.

THIRD ROW: James VaVerka, Henry Williams, Patrick Moylan, Patrick Dolan, George Stryker,

John Rakowski, John Heenan, Timothy Tvrdik, James Duffy, Dennis Dugan.

FOURTH ROW: Stephen Sturek, Robert Novak, Robert McFarland, Richard Cornwall, Edward Gilroy,

LeRoy Foreman, Ralph Santi, William Rucker.

Junior Class 3B FIRST ROW: Logan Fontenelle, Gerald Harrington, Leonard Marousek, Francis Munch, David Yates,

David Martin, William Norris, Robert Karnish, James Masilko.

SECOND ROW: Thomas Moran, Ronald Rannells, Anthony Seina, Marcelino Delgado, Webster Young,

Walter Raynor, Russell Swanson, Francis Fogarty.

THIRD ROW: William Joern, James Ortman, Innocente DeMarco, Terrence Connor, Gary Chladek,

John Lux, James McAllister, Michael Cooney, Thomas Kielty.

FOURTH ROW: James Herek, Leo McCarthy, John Chaplik, Steven Cannon, William Tighe,

Edward Murphy, James Martin, Darrell Beck.

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Junior Class 3C FIRST ROW: Thomas Clements, Thomas Pluhacek, Ronald Allison, John Sopinski, Thomas Langan,

Robert Metzler, Ed Patterson, John Schmit.

SECOND ROW: Michael McCormack, William Dasovic, Michael Osborn, Anthony Lassek,

Thomas Kutilek, Philip Riley, Anthony Greise.

THIRD ROW: William Huffman, Fred Blake, David Tynan, Thomas Haney, Jerry Kuhn, James Brown,

Michael Daegas, Charles Beaton.

FOURTH ROW: Robert Rayer, William Stuben, Michael Bresnahan, Edward Trout, Richard Sudyka,

Jesse Grasso.

Junior Class 3D FIRST ROW: Thomas Kawa, Dennis Dunning, Gordon Welsh, Bradley Speer, Ronald Haney,

Gerald Morrison, Edward Haley, Clarence Stessman.

SECOND ROW: Leo Luetticke, Lawrence Lanphier, Joseph Ferro, Joseph Badami, Kerry Fosse,

Lew Sirian, Harold Harrison, Kenneth Wessling.

THIRD ROW: Fred Munch, John Egenberger, Conrad Bayerl, Patrick McDonald, Charles Hermanek,

George Gunia.

FOURTH ROW: Louis Sobetski, Richard Barclift, Charles Heim, Bernard Conway, Theodore Hogya,

George Ryan.

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Fr. Reinhart, October 1955.

From the Creighton University Archives

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Creighton Prep Olympic Day May 10, 1956 Omaha World-Herald photographer Robert Paskach captured the Creighton Prep Olympic Day May 10, 1956. L. E. Lubbers S.J., head of intra-mural athletics, organized the day featuring everything from chariot races using red coaster wagons to a tug-o-war where both the winning and losing teams took a mud bath. The event was shared with a national audience when a new magazine called Sports Illustrated published one of the tug-o-war photos in its May 21, 1956 issue. See the Sports Illustated article by clicking on this link: https://www. si.com/vault/issue/43221/26/2

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Creighton Prep Olympic Day

Photos from the Omaha World-Herald Photography Collection at The Durham Museum

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Creighton Prep Olympic Day

Photos from the Omaha World-Herald Photography Collection at The Durham Museum

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Senior

Unless indicated all photos from the Junior Jays 1957 Yearbook

Not that school was uninteresting or anything, but when the World Series and Terry O’Neil’s portable TV (his prize for top magazine sales) were coupled, it was just too good to pass up. Spending a leisurely noon hour from left to right are George Stryker, Tony Lazzaretti, John Heenan, Jim Phalen, Jim Shanahan, Tracy Osborne, Tim Tvrdik, and John Kuhry.

Football FIRST ROW: Manager Dick Tanner, Jim Watsabaugh, Dennis Dugan, Ron Allison,

Lou Sirian, Ray Rehmeier, Steve Sturek, Jim Duffy, Bill Joern, Harry Harrison, Joe Neuberger, Jack Kudrna, Tom Mahoney, Manager Ed Patterson.

SECOND ROW: Coach Dudley Allen, Terry O’Neil, Mike Mason, John Sopinski,

John Marasco, Joe Hertzig, Carl Meyers, John Swanson, Bill Stuben, Leo Luetticke, Vince Byrne, Dan Roth, Kerry Fosse.

THIRD ROW: Bernie Berigan, Tony Raynor, Fred Munch, Terry Griffey, Ted Clements, John

Ainsworth, Tom Rauterkus, Steve Scherr, Tom Clements, Tom Komarek, Bob McCormack, Jack Ryan, John Fournier, Coach Don Leahy.

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Basketball SEATED: Mike Coughlin, Steve Scherr, Tony Lazzaretti, Boyd Hayden, Chick Stessman,

Steve Sturek.

STANDING: Steve Cannon, George Stryker, Don Tedesco, Bill

Schumacher, Tom Komarek,

Joe Neuberger, Bob McCabe and Coach Bob Miller.

The two mile relay team Tom Komarek, Bill Joern, Leo McCarthy and Bob McFarland.

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The Swimming Team FIRST ROW: Don Homan, Louis Mitera, Jack Diesing, Bob Novak.

SECOND ROW: Tom Murphy, Mike Crofoot, Mike Growney, John McMakon, Bob Conklin.

THIRD ROW: Rev. M. E. Niemann, S.J., coach, John Hughes, Jim Woodbury, Bill Myers.

FOURTH ROW: Bob Rayer, Frank Fogarty, Bill Shomaker, John Harding, George Payne,

Craig Barton.

Track Team The letterman on the ‘57 squad: FIRST ROW: Bob McFarland, Dave Tynan, Leo McCarthy, Jack Delaney.

SECOND ROW: Gary Byrne, Denning Dunning, Bill Joern, Len Marousek, Mike Tomanio,

Ed Patterson.

THIRD ROW: Denny Dugan, Frank Fogarty, Tom Clements, Tom Komarek.

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Bob Conklin, Denny Dunning and Robert McFarland in 2017.

Photo by Susan Prenatt

State Cross Country Champions Denny Dunning, Bob McFarland, Bob Williams, Bob Conklin.

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Building of the New Creighton Prep In 1950, 40 acres of cornfield were purchased at 72nd Street and Western Avenue for $50,000 to build a new high school for Creighton Prep. By 1956, $1 million was raised and ground was broken and in June 1957 the cornerstone was laid. The Class of 1957 had hoped to be the last class to graduate from the old high school but that honor went to the Class of 1958, which to this day members wear caps and shirts proclaiming, “Last on the Hill.” For the Class of 1957 they would have the honor of being one of the last graduating classes to attend four years of high school inside Creighton University’s administration building.

From Creighton Prep High School Archives

An aerial view looking north of 72nd and Dodge Streets in 1954.

Photo from the late Bill Kratville

Old Creighton Prep High School Entrance in 1956.

From the Jay Junior 1956 Yearbook

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Building of the New Creighton Prep

Creighton University Campus Aerial, September 1960.

From the Creighton University Archives

New Creighton Prep High School in August 1958.

From the Creighton University Archives

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1957 Creighton Prep Graduating Seniors Ronald “Ron” Allison Richard “Rich” Barclift Conrad “Con” Bayerl Charles “Joe” Beaton Andrew “Andy” Bjelland Fredrick “Fred” Blake Michael Bresnahan James “Jim” Brown Stephen “Steve” Cannon John “Jack” Chaplik Gary Chladek S. Thomas “Clem” Clements Robert “Bob” Conklin Bernard “Bernie” Conway Michael Cooney Richard Cornwall Michael Coughlin Michael “Mike” Daeges William “Bill” Dasovic Marcelino “Del” Delgado Innocente “Inn” De Marco William “Bill” Dolan Michael “Mickey” Dorcy James Duffy Dennis “Denny” Dugan Dennis “Bones” Dunning John Egenberger Joseph “Joe” Ferro Francis “Frank” Fogarty Logan Fontenelle LeRoy Foreman Kerry Fosse Edward “Ed” Gilroy Jesse “Jess” Grasso Anthony “Tony” Greise George Gunia Edward “Ed” Haley Ronald “Ron” Haney Thomas “Tom” Haney Gerald “Jay” Harrington Harold “Harry” Harrison John Heenan Charles Heim James Herek

Charles “Carl” Hermanek Gerald “Jerrie” Hoctor Theodore “Ted” Hogya William “Bill” Huffman William Joern Robert “Bob” Karnish Thomas “Tom” Kawa Thomas “Tom” Kielty Theodore Kowalski Jerry Kuhn John Kuhry Thomas “Kirk” Kutilek John Ladenburger Thomas “Tommy” Langan Larry “Lar” Lanphier Anthony “Tony” Lassek Anthong Lazzaretti Albert “Dash” Leightley Leo Luetticke John “Jack” Lux James “Mac” McAllister Leo McCarthy Michael “Mike” McCormack Patrick “P.J.” McDonald Robert McFarland Thomas “Tucker Mahoney John Marasco Leonard “Len” Marousek David “Dave” Martin James Martin James Masilko Michael “Mike” Mason Thomas “Tom” Merrick Robert Metzler Thomas Moran Gerald Morrison Patrick Moylan Francis Munch Frederick “Fred” Munch Edward “Ed” Murphy Williams Norris Robert Novak Terance “Terry” O’Neil James “Jim” Ortman

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Tracy Osborne III Edward “Pat” Patterson Francis “Frankie” Paulus James Phalen Thomas Pluhacek John Rakowski Ronald Rannells L. Thomas Rauterkus Robert Rayer Walter “Tony” Raynor Philip “Phil” Riley William “Ivan” Rucker George Ryan Ralph Santi Stephen “Steve” Scherr John Schmit Anthony “Tony” Seina James “Jim” Shanahan William “Bill” Shomaker Lewis “Mercy” Sirian Louis “Lou” Sobetski John Sopinski Bradley “Brad” Speer Clarence “Chick” Stessman George Stryker William “Bill” Stuben Stephen “Steve” Sturek Richard “Dick” Sudyka Lawrence “Tony” Tabacchi Robert “Bob” Ternus William “Bill” Tighe Edward “Ed” Trout Timothy “T.V.” Tvrdik David “Thumbs” Tynan John “Jay” Tyrcha James “Jim” VaVerka Gordon Welch Robert Werner Kenneth “Ken” Wessling Henry “Bud” Williams III David “Dave” Yates Webster Young

Omaha in the 1950s and Early 1960s

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Downtown Christmas in 1957.

Elvis Presley performed at the Civic Auditorium in 1956. Omaha Police Lt. Magnus Christensen (far left) was in charge of security at the concert. Christensen served 30 years as a police officer and said the concert was his “wildest time on the force.�

Photo from the Creighton University Archives

Photo from Richard Christensen, son of Marcus

Fontenelle Hotel.

Photo from the Creighton University Archives

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Sock hops at the Peony Park’s Royal Grove in 1956.

Photo from Jack Pepitone

South Omaha business district, 24th and L Streets, looking south in December 1957. Photo from John Payne

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Best Times Newsletters

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Standing - Tynan, Joern, Lazzaretti, Martin, Speer.

Seated - Fontenelle.

Standing Tynan, Joern, Harrison, Martin, Speer.

Seated - Fontenelle.

After the game, a pizza stag catered by LaCasa (no nationally known due to an answer on JEOPARDY) was held a Prep. The conversation flowed far freer than the beer and lasted well pas the bed time of the partiers. Jeff Hausman and Mike Czyz gave us a grand tour of the school, which opened more than a few eyes. The comparisons between 24th and California and 73rd and Western will be continued in the March 2003 newsletter.

In July, out-of-towners Webb Young and Tom Haney arrived at lunch bunch and brought new life to the gossip table. This was the first luncheon for Tom Haney and his presence pushed the percentage of graduates from ’57 to over 40%, which I think is a remarkable statistic.

Coach Fontenelle, pulling himself to the field of play from his hospital bed, inspired his men to great deeds.

After five, the score was knotted at five apiece. It was crunch time. In the sixth, Scheer and Stryker walked; a single followed to load the bases. Daeges, our power hitter with a two-run homer in the third, unloaded a triple to score three. Mahoney drove in Mike with a single. Harrington and Fontenelle singled, with Mahoney sliding into home safely in a bang-bang play. We padded our lead with a run in the top of the seventh on another Daeges triple. Fontenelle pitched a three-up, three-down bottom half to run his record as manager 3-0.

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High School Reunions

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Class of 1957 – 10 Year Class Reunion at Creighton Prep High School FRONT ROW: Lou Sobetski, Fred Blake, Pat Moylan, Ron Allison, Tom Clements,

George Stryker, Dennis Dunning, Bill Stuben, Ted Hogya, Harry Harrison.

SECOND ROW: Jerry Morrison, Joe Beaton, Tony Siena, Ken Wessling, Mike McCormick,

Fr. Sullivan, Fr. Decker, Larry Corrigan, Jay Harrington, Tony Griese, Logan Fontenelle.

THIRD ROW: Buck Miller, Jim VaVerka, Tracy Osborne, Jim Shanahan, Bill Huffman,

Jim Martin, Tom Kielty, Tom Kutilek, Ed Trout, Jim Ortman, Bill Norris, Dudley Allen, Tom Mahoney.

FOURTH ROW: Webb Young, Dave Tynan, Ted Kowalski, Mike Cooney, Bob Rayer, Steve Scherr,

Len Marousek, Dave Yates, Inn De Marco, Mike Daeges, Tony Raynor, Jack Schmit, Bill Tighe.

BACK ROW: Bill Rucker, Bill Dasovic, John Heenan, Lew Sirian, Jesse Grasso, Charlie Heim,

Steve Cannon, Leo Leutticke, Joe Badami, Steve Sturek, Tim Tvrdik.

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Class of 1957 - 60 Year Class Reunion FIRST ROW: Denny Dunning, Bob Conklin, John Kuhry, Steve Sturek, Fred Blake, Tom Kielty,

Tony Raynor, Mike Osborn, Ron Allison, Gary Chladek.

SECOND ROW: Denny Dugan, George Stryker, Ken Wessling, Leo McCarthy, Bob McFarland,

Tom Kawa, Conrad Bayerl, Ed Murphy, P.J. McDonald, Rev. Richard Barclift, Tom Kutilek, Mike Dorcy.

BACK ROW: Jim Shanahan, Webster Young, Bill Shomaker, Frank Fogarty, Mike McCormack,

Jay Harrington, Tom Merrick, Brad Speer, Steve Scherr, Al Leightley .

Mrs. Ron Allison and Leo McCarthy

Bill and Barbara Shomaker

Bob Conklin

Frank Fogarty and Connie Wimer

Steve Sturek

Jay Harrington

Fred Blake and Tom Kawa

Denny Dunning and Jay Harrington

Jay Harrington and Leo McCarthy

Denny and Diane Dunning

60 year Class Reunion photos by Susan Prenatt

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