The First Day of the Rest

Tuesday, May 28 is The Day when, 50 years ago, we received our high school diplomas, certifying that we could at least read and write. Actually, in the years forward, it became apparent that we knew a good deal more than just that. Too many of today’s college graduates are not as prepared for functioning as adults as we were. Most importantly, so far as I know, we all turned out to be good citizens. I might add that the Jesuits brought to us much of the best of Christian tradition.

In the local theaters that week were the "world premiere" of Peter Fonda and Sandra Dee in Tammy and the Doctor. Another first run downtown featured, Paul Newman and Patricia Neal in Hud, "A Story of Modern Texas," which was a screen adaptation of Larry McMurtry’s novel Horseman, Pass By. McMurtry achieved even greater fame with the Last Picture Show and Lonesome Dove. Recent news has it that the author had a sale of the contents of his bookstore in Archer City, the setting for the fictional Anarene. A re-run of Giant, first released in 1956, played at the Delman on Kings Road at Lemmon. For real class, there were 12 drive-in theaters operating, many of which featured The Naked Witch that week. For exceptional class (and nowadays exceptional political incorrectness), the Coronet on Fitzhugh ("adults only") featured Free, White and 21.

John Cuellar’s family’s El Chico restaurants featured an enchilada dinner for ½ price at 65¢ at the Lochwood location. Rival El Fenix did the same. Who was first? For other fare, you could have a combination seafood plate at the Zuider Zee Oyster Bar on Denton Drive for 95¢.

On another note: A previous post mentioned the demolition of the old school building, and asked if anyone knew the present whereabouts of any of the bricks. I’m continuing to look. More as it develops.

Sad Tidings

From John Cuellar:

Kevin J. Clancy '64 

Kevin Joseph Clancy passed away peacefully and surrounded by family at Medical City Hospital in Dallas, Texas on May 14, 2013. Kevin is survived by his loving, strong, and very funny wife, Ann Clancy; his children Danny Clancy and his wife Julie Clancy and their children, Dylan, Ryan, and Kylie; Kristin Ciccarelli and her husband Max Ciccarelli, and their children Cooper, Parker, and Wyatt; Tim Clancy, and his wife Traci Clancy, and their children McKenzie and Jack; Tripper Clancy, and his wife Maggie Clancy, and their child Olive; his mother, Irene Clancy; his sisters Kathy McDonald and Maureen Richoux; and an unquantifiable amount of extended family and friends whose lives Kevin touched over the years. Kevin was born in New York City, New York on September 5, 1946. After moving to Dallas, Kevin graduated from Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas in 1964, and went on to earn a B.A. and J.D. from Southern Methodist University, graduating in 1970. While establishing himself as one of the top criminal defense attorneys in Dallas over the past 40 years, Kevin cherished most of all the time he spent with his wife, children, grandchildren, and friends, leaving behind countless indelible memories of Cowboy games, annual trips to South Padre, St. Patty’s Day parades, golf outings and Sunday evening family barbecues in all of their minds. Services celebrating Kevin’s life will be held at St. Monica Catholic Church, 9933 Midway Road, Dallas, Texas 75220 on Friday, May 17, 2013 at 10:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made online to the Andrew W. Bark ’98 Memorial Scholarship Fund at www.jesuitcp.org/artforandy


Last Friday, 5/10/2013, the Dallas Morning News reported that Ruth Hartnett, wife for 45 years of our classmate Tommy Hartnett, passed away.

Ruth Hartnett

Ruth Roland Hartnett, 67. A celebration of Ruth's life was held Thursday, May 9, 2013. A family ceremony and burial was held at Grove Hill Memorial Park with Dr. Pete Deison of Park Cities Presbyterian Church officiating. Ruth was born in Dallas, TX to Robert and Becky Roland, where she grew up with two sisters, Jo Fox (deceased) and Libby Boggess. She is survived by her infinitely loving and extra caring husband of 45 years, Tommy Hartnett; the best children in the world, son Hiram Hartnett and his wife Kara, and daughter Hilary Pirkle and her husband Bill. She is also survived by her devoted sister Libby Boggess and her husband Holly, Jo's husband James (Foxy), step-sisters Judy Ray and Cindy Kemp, step-brothers Mike and Glen Morrow, sister-in-law Jeanine Hartnett, brothers-in-law Glenn and Dennis Hartnett, Michelle Wand and many nieces and nephews. She was blessed to have many grandchildren whom she adored: Will, Laurie Grace, Chase, Shaelyn, Kylie, Zoey, and Addison. Family has been a special blessing to her these last few years. She also cherished her three dogs and two cats, and all the pets who came before them. A special thank you to the doctors and nurses at Texas Oncology at Baylor Hospital and the wonderful staff at VNA Hospice, especially her nurse Chris. Special music at the graveside was provided by her son-in-law Bill Pirkle. A very special thank you to all the people who prayed for her. Ruth will always be remembered for her love of her family and animals, her sense of humor and her tendency to always be right! Memorials can be made with a donation to Straydog, a no-kill dog sanctuary: Starydog, Inc., P.O. Box 1465, Gun Barrel City, TX 75147.

The Old Renews Again

A six-story building on a site at Oak lawn and Blackburn in Dallas is set to be demolished.

No. This is not 1963, but 2013. The doomed structure is an office building located roughly where the east end of the upper practice field was on the old Jesuit campus. For the past 45 years or so this location has been known as Turtle Creek Village.

Lincoln Property Co., a well-known Dallas developer and investor last year bought Turtle Creek Village, a 13 acre mixed use retail and office development since the late sixties. The property was once about three-quarters of the old Jesuit campus bounded by Oak Lawn, Blackburn, Turtle Creek Blvd. and Irving Ave. This April 24, the company announced places for a "huge makeover" that will include a gourmet grocer The Fresh Market.

During our senior year, construction was already taking place on four acres of the lower field of what became 21 Turtle Creek Square, a high-rise high-dollar apartment building to rival older similar locations along Turtle Creek Blvd.

The rest of the land was sold to investors, and the old school was demolished during 1964. Unlike newer old buildings that are often imploded, it was torn down brick by brick, and the demolition took over six months. The estimated number of bricks was 2 million, enough for one hundred houses. In 1966, Turtle Creek Village was conceived, and was about fully leased and operating by the end of the decade. Among the tenants was the well known Mario’s Restaurant, which moved from Lemmon and Wycliff.

Now it is having a re-do. Given the activity in the Oak Lawn area and across the creek in what is now know as Uptown, it should be a success.

As for the old school, all that is left is a commemorative plaque on a pilaster in a parking lot near Oak Lawn Avenue placed there in 1992.

Some articles in the Dallas Morning News and other news sources can be found here. And  many thanks to Chris Bird for bringing them to my attention.

 

 

Does anyone have a brick from the old school?