IN SERVICE TO SLUH View a tribute video honoring Backer Awardee Judge Pollard.
John Schaefer '70 BY JUSTIN SEATON '13
were two main things that we did in black and white pairs. First, speak to our peers about racial justice. Second, attend Sunday mass in white parishes. Denny Cummins was a major force in the JCIC’s work while we were students at SLUH. There were enlightened people in St. Louis, but as I said a moment ago, in the early and mid-1960s, it was a southern city, with southern values and prejudices. This is to further say, Denny took stands that were not popular with everyone, including some within our high school. That did not deter him. Moral clarity and moral courage were in his DNA. This impressed me then, and impresses me now. Why? As a young black teenager, I saw a white person who was my peer and my friend publicly stand up for my right to be treated and respected as he was. We spoke together at other Catholic high schools. We went to Sunday Mass at white parishes. The Archdiocese received some complaints about our Mass visits, and called SLUH. The Jesuits’ response, basically, was pound sand. Denny continued his activism after we graduated. This included protesting the war. He was charged and convicted of openly violating the draft laws. His conviction was overturned by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals with one judge dissenting. The dissent described my friend, saying, 18 | SLUH
Cummins' entire career and attitude can be summarized from his letters and material he supplied to his Local [Draft] Board. These and his actions reflect that he was continually involved in efforts to effect political and sociological changes. In his high school days he became quite active in the civil rights movement, engaging in panel discussions, interracial home visitations, etc. He graduated from high school with high marks and entered college where he immediately became actively involved in various resistance movements. He joined a newly organized student peace union, volunteered for its steering committee, and, to use his own words, he 'became rather heavily involved in planning and participating in the activities of the organization: weekly peace vigils, Meals of Reconciliation, speakouts, literature tables, anti-war films, leafleting, etc.' Recounting his experiences, he said, 'Of course, I went up to New York City last April to take part in the National Mobilization against the Vietnam War.' In later times, Denny became involved in workers’ rights. As I said, Denny could have been whatever he wanted. But, he marched to the drum major of moral clarity and moral courage. His life’s work can be summed up in our school’s motto: Men for Others. John Doyle. Dennis Cummins. What I saw in and of them has helped me in trying to be a good citizen and to live a Christian life. For this, I will always be grateful for the opportunity to attend and graduate from this Jesuit high school.
“Everybody’s got an ego, but I need this like I need a hole in the head.” John Schaefer ‘70 delivered the line with a glint in his eye, like he had practiced for hours and was proud of his delivery. Beneath his sardonic candor, there was bashfulness. All John knew was that he was to be featured in the upcoming SLUH Gratitude Report from the President. He had recently been honored with the Divine Award — the fifth member of the SLUH Class of 1970 to do so. He had also just concluded nine years of service on the SLUH Board of Trustees. By all accounts, John would be the quintessential alumni feature. Still, he insisted, “I think this is the most uninteresting story you could tell.” This man had single-handedly funded scholarships for students in need; had created numerous annual challenge gifts to drive fundraising results;