Bellarmine High School 1942 Football Squad. Thirty-one players, manager and coach Gordon Toner on field, school building in background. The first grid game was against the newly confident Lincoln High School on September 25, 1942. The Belles were defeated by the Abes 14-0. Pictured are, front row, left to right: Al Buhr, Jerry Knelleken, Louis Renner, LaVerne Mantineau, Jerry Barry, Joe Ferry, Harvey Collins, Tom Comantos and Pete Stefonie. Middle row- Jack Kelly, Frank Taylor, Ray Sullivan, Al Gallwas, Phil Brown, Bud Barnes, Ken Ruffo, Jim Burkehouse, Jack Hermson and Larry Donohue. Back row- John Kelly, Dick Carbone, Ed Oswald, Gene Mack, Cliff Schiesz, Jim O'Brien, Dean Biggs, Claude Knecht, Larry Rask, Dick Simpson, Jim Farrell, Al Fairhurst, Gordon Toner (Coach.)

Football--Tacoma; Football players--Tacoma; Private schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma)--Sports;

Bellarmine High School Basketball team. The Bellarmine High School sophomore basketball team are the champions of the Tacoma sophomore league. The just beat the Lincoln and Stadium teams. This win also makes them the Upper City Teenage League champions. Names appear in newspaper (T. Times, 3/16/46, p. 5).

Basketball players--Tacoma; Sporting goods; Students--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma);

Large group of students at Bellarmine High School standing outside by the grotto with a statue of the Virgin Mary. School buildings, new flower beds and automobiles in parking lot are also shown.

Church schools--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On May 11, 1943, over 300 guests witnessed the Bellarmine Junior ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) unit inspection & review. Bellarmine, an all male Catholic school, was the only high school on the Northwest coast with a ROTC unit. Military drill and classes were compulsory for sophomores and juniors. The cadets demonstrated close order drill, battalion parade and extended order formation. (T. Times 5/11/1943, pg. 11)

World War, 1939-1945--Students--Tacoma; Church Schools--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Reserve Officers Training Corps (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Military art & science--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In 1946, Bellarmine was one of only two Washinton high schools that offered junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Each day a full class period was devoted to some phase of theoretical or practical military training. Studies included first aid, marksmanship, map reading, and the fundamentals of marching. Uniforms furnished by the government were worn two days per week. (Cage, 1946, p. 20-21).

Military education--Tacoma; Military training--Tacoma; Cadets--Tacoma; Reserve Officers Training Corps (Tacoma); Bellarmine High School (Tacoma);

In 1946, Bellarmine was one of two high schools in Washington State that offered Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC). Military training included first aid, marksmanship, map reading, and the fundamentals of marching. This portrait taken in May shows the school's statue of Mary looking down toward Bellarmine's JROTC Color Guard holding their flag and a U.S. flag, with Mount Rainier in the background. (Cage, 1946, p. 22).

Military education--Tacoma; Military training--Tacoma; Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint; Rifles; Flags; Cadets--Tacoma; Reserve Officer Training Corps (Tacoma); Bellarmine High School (Tacoma);

Bellarmine High School football team is celebrating a victory after playing on a wet and muddy field. Their victory brings them closer to the state title and championship. In spite of the heavy downpour the game was fairly well attended and Bellarmine did not let down their fans. View of muddy football players leaving the field after winning the game.

Football--Tacoma; Football players--Tacoma; Mud--Tacoma; Victory celebrations--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Private schools--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma);

Bellarmine High School is celebrating their football victory, they are the 1947 city champions. A group of cheerleaders from St. Leo's are participating in the school's pep rally, they will perform for the winning team. Some of the cheerleaders are wearing St. Leo's sweaters and some are wearing Bellarmine's. Both schools are joining together to celebrate the football victory.

Victory celebrations--Tacoma; Victories--Tacoma; Football--Tacoma; Cheerleading--Tacoma; Private schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma);

This was Bellarmine High School's varsity basketball team as photographed in the school's gym in December of 1947. The team was coached by Andy Slatt. Team members included Pat Olsen, Dick Jensen, Don Hermsen, Norm Smith and Otto Fink. The month of December would prove to be a successful one for the Lions as they would record victories on the road against Gonzaga (Prep), Shelton and defending state champs, Pasco. (T.Times 12-19-47, p. 10-article only)

Basketball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Basketball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gymnasiums--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Council of Churches was sponsoring National Youth Week. They were presenting a special program throughout Tacoma high schools and colleges. The presentation followed a dinner hosted by Bellarmine. View of Bellarmine students and their guests in the school's cafeteria.

Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Priests--Tacoma; Dinner parties--Tacoma; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cafeterias--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma);

The Annual Military Ball at Bellarmine was sponsored by the Bellarmine Reserve Officers Training Corps, over 200 people attended the dance. The school gymnasium was decorated with flags and native greens. View of R.O.T.C. cadets and their dates that attended the Military Ball (T. Times, 1/25/47, p. 10).

Reserve Officers Training Corps (Tacoma); Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Military uniforms; Ball dresses; Evening gowns--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Members of the R.O.T.C. at Bellarmine High School march in formation and the color guard carry the R.O.T.C. and United States flags in this photograph from May of 1950. The rifle team brought considerable publicity to the private school and city by winning second place in the Sixth Army intercollegiate and interscholastic rifle matches, small bore; second place in the William Randolph Hearst rifle competition in the Army area; and sixth place in the entire United States. Bellarmine won 10 out of 11 pistol matches with other high school R.O.T.C. units against which they competed. Ordered by Tacoma Athletic Commission, E. Metcalf. (TNT, 5/12/1950, p.D-7)

Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Reserve Officers' Training Corps (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Military education--Tacoma; Military training--Tacoma; Rifles; Flags; Cadets--Tacoma;

Presentation of medals to members of Bellarmine High School Rifle Team. Members of the R.O.T.C. march in formation and the color guard carries the R.O.T.C. and United States flags. Bellarmine became the second high school in the State of Washington to secure a Junior Reserve Officer Taining Corps program in 1935. At that time the program served mainly as a vehicle to help students attend the high school. The Department of the Army detailed one officer and three enlisted men as instructors in the school's R.O.T.C. course. Ordered by Tacoma Athletic Commission, E. Metcalf. (A Heritage on Bellarmine Hill, Gregory C. Rathbone; TNT, 5/12/1050, p.D-7))

Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Reserve Officers' Training Corps (Tacoma); Students; Military education--Tacoma; Military training--Tacoma; Rifles; Flags; Cadets--Tacoma;

Bellarmine Cadet Exercises. In the foreground are four JROTC students with flags, two military officers and a civilian while others look on. The cadet exercises occurred on May 5, 1938 at Bellarmine High School. Also on that date promotions in the ROTC unit were announced, ranging from privates first class to cadet captains. (T.Times 5-5-38, p. 12-article on promotions)

Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Private schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Reserve Officers Training Corps. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Flags--United States;

A group of young men working with garden tools on May 11, 1936 at Bellarmine High School's annual campus clean-up event. 185 students took part in the annual event. School building by Hill, Mock, DeForrest and Griffin, Architects, 1928, in background. (T. Times 5/12/1936, pg. 5)

Church schools--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Bellarmine basketball stars. Group portrait of five team members holding basketballs. The player in the second row, to the right, is reported to be Robert A. O'Connell. The player at the top is believed to be team captain Richard "Dick" Smith. Wearing uniform #4 is Clare Normile, center for the team. In 1940 there were only three teams that vied for the City championship--Stadium, Lincoln and Bellarmine. That March the season ended in a three-way tie with all teams sporting a 4-4 record. Bellarmine, once thought out of the race, had beaten Stadium 30-28 in two overtimes to force a two-game playoffs. On March 11th Bellarmine defeated Lincoln on Lincoln's home court 25-23. The following evening saw Stadium thump Bellarmine 31-20 to send the Tigers to the state championships. (T. Times; TNT- various articles on team incl. 3-9-40, p. 10; 3-10-40, p. 13-A; 3-12-40, p. 12; 3-13-40, p. 18)

Basketball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Private schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Normile, Clare;

Father Gordon Toner, S.J. of Bellarmine High School and "wounded" Don Spurgin attend an unidentified victim as they practise for a possible Japanese attack on Tacoma in the emergency aid center at Bellarmine. By April of 1942, Tacoma had made extensive plans in case we became the target of Japanese bombers. Emergency hospitals were set up in each of the city's three high schools, six junior high schools and the College of Puget Sound. Funds were raised in the areas that the hospitals would serve to purchase medical supplies and equipment. (T. Times 4/25/1942, pg. 3)

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Emergency medical services; Disaster relief; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); War casualties; World War, 1939-1945--Medical aspects--Tacoma; Toner, Gordon; Spurgin, Don; Priests--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Bellarmine group pictures for yearbook. Bellarmine High School was a school for boys operated by the Jesuit Priests, it was founded in 1928 by Father David P. McAstocker of St. Leo's. View of ten Bellarmine students studying in the library. Student sitting on left side is wearing a lettermen's sweater. R.O.T.C. section in background.

Studying--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma);

Bellarmine High School, miscellaneous annual photos for the 1946 yearbook "The Cage." Pictured in front of the school is Room 1 of the Sophomore class. To the left of the center row is faculty member Mr. Neil McCluskey. Students are as follows: 1st row: F. Shilley, H. Pessein, J. Knelleken, T. McMonagle, R. Hawley, R. Parenteau, C. Kelly, M. Brands. 2nd row: McCluskey, R. Rivers, R. Knelleken, R. Flink, G. White, J. McPhail, L. Heimbecker, M. Heide, D. Zukowsky, G. Henricksen. 3rd row: P. Shugrue, J. Lawson, J. Roller, J. Gillies, M. Anslow, J. Martin, J. Stoke, O. Fink, T. McNamara, E. Daniszewski, L. Lanz. The private school opened in 1928 by the Jesuit fathers as Bellarmine College for Boys. It was later renamed Bellarmine High School. TPL-8146 (Bellarmine 1946 yearbook "Cage")

Religious education--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma);

Bellarmine miscellaneous annual photos. View of Bellarmine students in front of school building, getting their photo taken for their yearbook, The Cage. The young man on the front row, fourth from left has been identified as Raymond Knelleken. Bellarmine was a boy's school operated by Jesuit Priests. Father David P. McAstocker of St. Leo's was the school's founder. (Cage, 1946) TPL-8145

Religious education--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Knelleken, Raymond;

"The Lion", Bellarmine High School's monthly newspaper was distributed throughout the year to students, but also appeared in the annual yearbook. All issues were included in the last section of the "Cage". "The Lion" helped students remember all past events that went on throughout the year. View of Bellarmine student getting ready to distribute the March 1, 1947 edition of "The Lion".

Newspapers--Tacoma; Newspaper carriers--Tacoma; Religious education--Tacoma; Private schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma);

Bellarmine High School had many of the "Cage", their annual yearbook, photos taken by the Turner Richards Studio. The cage included class pictures, activities, clubs, sports and issues of "The Lion", their monthly school newspaper. View of Bellarmine High School band, twenty three band members and a Bellarmine faculty member.

Youth bands--Tacoma; Religious education--Tacoma; Private schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma);

Large group of students and a priest at Bellarmine High School outside by the grotto with a statue of the Virgin Mary. Background includes a residential area and undeveloped land which is possibly the future site of Allenmore Hospital, the Elks' club, and adjacent shopping center. A glimpse of light standard on school grounds at left.

Church schools--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950;