ST. JOHN'S COLLEG E VOLUME 8 BROOKLYN, N. Y., MAY 1947 NUMBER 2 ALUMNI DANCE FRIDAY, MAY 2nd LAPCHICK LEAVES W IGWAM HOTEL ROOSEVELT LOCALE After eleven successful years at the helm of St. John's University . Several h undred Alum ni couples at·e expePted fo:r the First basketball teams in which period the Redmen rose to international pro­ Alwnni Dance to be h eld Fr·iday evening, May 2nd, in the Hendtil{ inence, Joseph L. Lapchick resigned as basketball coach after his release H u dson Room o fth.e Hotel R ooseveLt, Madison A vene and 45th with regret by the Board of Athletic Control from a tive-year contract Street, at which Harry Arnold an d his orchestt·a wiU provide the which would not have expired until 1950. music. Rev. Joseph W. Browne, C.M. '37, chairman of the Board, made Chairman John L. Pollock '3 8 reports, as The Bulletin goes to press, this announcement on March 31, 194 7. Lap chick, of course, resigned that all arrangements have been completed to make the affair an out­ to accept the post1 of coach of the New York Knickerbockers, Madison standing success and to assure the Alumni Dance thereby a: permanent Square Garden entry in the professional Basketball Association of annual place on the Association's social calendar. America, at a reported annual saiary of $12,000. Undertaken finally after many suggestions by young~r alumni, the Significant of the regard and appreciation which University author­ proposed affair gained the approval and cooperation of the Association's ities held for the highly commendable job Lapchick did at St. John's Executive Committee. Thomas J. Courtney '41, vice,chairman of the is the fact that determined efforts were made to retain his services Dance Committee, is supervising the class committees cooperating for before he made his decision to join the professional game once again. In the success of the affair. his remarks to the press on the occassion of his resignation, Lapchick Many faculty members, familiar to the Alumni, will be present at said that he had turned down a St. John's offer that called for ''the the affair to renew acquaintances, including the Very Rev. William J. (continued on page 3) Mahoney, C.M., president of the University, and Rev. Cyril F. Meyer, C.M., Dean of the College. Dress is optional and bids are $6.00 per couple, including the 20 per cent Federal Admission tax. Dancing will be from 9 P.M. until TESTIMONIAL TO LA PCHICK MA Y 13 2 A .M. Reservations can still be made by writing or telephoning the Alumni Office. SEE YOU THERE! Coach Joe Lapchick on his departure to take over the professional New York Knickerbockers will be honored with a testimonial dinner in conjunction with the 1947 Block S-J Dinner to be held on Tuesday evening, May 13th, commencing at 7 :00 p .m. The Block S-J Dinner is being revived by a committee of former FRAN K McGUIRE '36 N A MED COACH varsity athletes, managers, and sports enthusiasts. Rickard F. McSwiney '28, committee chairman, reports that a fine program is being planned Appoict 1~1ent of Frank J. McGuire '36, varsity basketball and base, to pay tribute to Joe by Redmen players of yore. In addition, award of ball captain in the season of 1935,36, as head coach of basketball and the H aggerty trophy to the outstanding St. John's player of the past year baseball :ct the Uni':ersity was announced recently by the Board of will be made, as well as the varsity awards for the year 1946-4 7 in all Athletic Control, through its chairman, Rev. Joseph W. Browne, C.M. sports. '37. T ickets for the dinner are $4.00. The Committee invites Alumni McGuire returns to St. John's on a three-year contract after eight to attend the Dinner and help them in honoring a great St. John's years of coaching experience at Xavier H. S. in Manhattan, where he coach. Just send back the card attached to THE BULLETIN, by May went as basketball coach on his gradu;:,tion from the College. He spent 6th, together with your $4.00, to the Block S-J Dinner Committee, 7 5 three years as as Lieutenant in the Naval Aviation Cadet Pre-Flight Lewis Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. program, during which time he coached Naval service teams, acting as assistant coach at North Carolina University at one time to present Navy mentor, Ben Carnevale. His coaching record at Xavier includes 126 wins and 39 defeats for REV. EDWARD J. WALSH, C.M. '95 a .764 percentage. His play at St. John's from 1933 through 1936 was Saddening was the news on March 22nd that Father Edward outstanding with clubs that included Jack McGuiness, Rip Kaplinsky, J. Walsh, C. M., '95, president of the University from 1935 Java Gotkin on their roster. until ill health forced his retirement in December 1942, had died Now a resident of Brooklyn, McGuire played for four seasons with in Providence Hospital, Mobile, Ala. Father Walsh was spending the Brooklyn Visitation Triangles after his graduation in 1936. McGuire, the winte1.7 at Biloxi, Miss., when he was stricken with the heart of course, succeeds Joe Lapchick as Redmen mentor. All but Captain ailment on February 23rd. H arry Boykoff, Frank Frascella and Ken Pressman of the 1946,4 7 A member of the Class of 1895, Father Walsh left St. John's varsity will be back to form the nucleus of next year's club for him. before his graduation to enter the Vincentian preparatory seminary He will also have available for varsity posts members of the 1946-4 7 in Germantown, P a. It was a source of great delight to Father junior varsity. Walsh to receive the Golden Jubilee Medal of the Alumni Asso­ Alfred (Dusty) DeStefano '40 will continue as freshman basketball ciation in 1945. Illness prevented his attendance at the 1945 and baseball mentor next season. Banquet to receive it. H owever, it was later awarded to him in a private ceremony during a meeting of the Executive Committee, when he took the opportunity of addressing an Alumni group for what proved to be the last time. ALUMNI SILVER JUBILARIANS The youngest college president in the United States at thirty, one in 1908 when he assumed that post at Niagara University, Seven Alumni of the College and' Seminary celebrated the twenty­ Father Walsh in 1912 left Niagara for a distinguished career as a fifth anniversary of their ordination to the priesthood on April 1st. missioner, preacher, and lecturer, until his return to St. John's in They are: Rt. Rev. Edmund J. Reilly '22Sem, Rev. Joseph A. Fanan '18, . 926 as vice, president. From 1926 until 19 3 5 he was also pre '22Sem, Rev. Joseph I. Foley '22Sem., Rev. Otto J. Froehlich '22Sem., feet of religion at the college and came to know many of the col, Rev. Francis H. Liller '18, '22Sem., Rev. Maurice ]. Rochford '22Sem. lege students personally and itimately. and Rev. William Walsh '22Sem. (continued on page 6) Our congratulations and best wishes for many more fruitful years in the priesthood go to them! 2 ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE 19~7 NINETEEN GAME BASEBALL SEASON 1947 Baseball Schedule Spring has brought baseball to St. John's. Although the season was expected to open the day this is being written, the game with the April 8 Tues. 2-3 *Hofstra College Dexter P ark Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy was washed out and resched­ 11 Fri. 19-3 *Brooklyn College Brooklyn uled for May 24th at Dexter Park, Coarch Walter T. McLaughlin '28 14 Mon. Rain *Manhattan College Van Co d andt Pa-k announced. Previou sly the opener with the University of Vermont on 17 Thurs. 3-4 *New York University Dexter P ark March 27th had to be cancelled because of cold weather. 19 Sat. 5,1 Kings Point M .M .A. Great N eck Barring rain, the Redmen wil have opened their schedule against 21 Mon. U.S. Military Academy West Point Hofstra on April 8 at Dexter Park. Now nineteen games long, the 23 Wed. *Fordham University Dexter P ark schedule includes twelve contests with Metropolitan Collegiate Confer­ 26 Sat. *City College Lewisohn Stadium ence opponents, as well as Army at West Point, the New York Mari­ 28 Mon. Wagner College Dexter P ark time Academy, and Wagner. 30 Wed. *Brooklyn College Dexter P ark *Fordham University Fordham Field Last year the club won 10 and lost 6. Prospects for 1947 are good May 3 Sat. for the 28 man squad of the Redmen. Indications are that they will 6 Tues. *Manhattan College Dexter Park Queens College be serious contenders for the Metropolitan title. Sophomore Johnny 8 Thurs. Dexter Park Weiss, promising hurler of last year's team, will shoulder the heavy 10 s t. *New York University Ohio Field burdens of the pitching staff, helped by freshmen Jerry Brown of Baby­ 12 Mon. N.Y. Maritime Academy Dexter P ark Dexter Park lon H. S., AI Payne of Trinity and Frank Rinkor of Loughlin. Veterans 14 Wed. *City College Hempstead with the club are outfielder John Canniz.z.o, second-baseman Pat Digilio, 17 Sat. *Hofstra College Dexter Park shortstop Don Hogan, and center fielder Bob Noble. 19 Mon. John Marshall College 24Sat. Kings Point M.M.A. Dexter Park SHORT STOPS: Basketball team won 16 and 6 in the regulat· season, los·ing also to No.