The Official History Of The Father Ryan Class of 1969--Sophomore Year

The wooden front doors of the old Father Ryan High School on Elliston Place welcomed back many students over the years, as they did for our class in the Fall of 1966 when we became sophomores.

Here again is the official history of the Graduating Class of 1969, Part 2.

II. The Sophomore Year

After returning from summer vacation we found that we were confident of our abilities as upper classmen. A new Assistant Principal had been appointed who would be in charge of discipline. The work crew was made stronger. Students were made to do an hour's labor after school for any number of violations.

The class nominated and elected its officers for the year: Gino Marchetti, President, Jerry Burns, Vice-President, Terry Shelton, Secretary and Hardy Lavender, Treasurer. Again, we chose Father Maxwell as our class moderator.

For the first time in many years, a Student Council was inaugurated at Ryan. This would put more responsibility into the hands of the students. Members of the sophomore class who served as representatives were: Gino Marchetti, Terry Shelton, Hardy Lavender, Jerry Burns, Rick Sinnott and John Hosey.

The wrestling team enjoyed a most successful season this year by capturing the N.I.L. crown and placing third in the state tournament. Ryan had five wrestlers place in the top four in the state, with one state champ. Although the football team had a losing season, the spirit was always high.

Before we left for the summer the officers for next year's student council were elected. Gino Marchetti was elected Vice-President and Jerry Burns was elected Secretary.

The end of our second year was quickly approaching with the next year appearing to be more difficult than the previous two.


COMING NEXT: III. The Junior Year

By the way, those entrance doors from the Elliston Place campus,pitured above, are still in service at the new Father Ryan on Norwood Drive in Oak Hill. They have been lovingly preserved and are now used as the entrance and exit from the new Neuhoff Library building. They have also been dedicated in memory of Fathers Hitchcock and Arnold.

You can see all this for yourself (as well as the ongoing construction of the school's first on-campus football stadium and Athletic Complex) if you come by the All-Class Reception to be held at Ryan on the evening of Friday, June 5 from 6-8 PM. It will be a great way to kick off our Reunion Weekend together. See you there!