'39-40
On October 8, Ed Serwan brought home the state singles championship by defeating the junior champion of Kansas City, 6-0 and 6-2. The tennis squad grabbed the Prep League championship for the fourth straight year.

On Press Day, February 10, The Colonnade, was judged second-best all-around high school paper by the Midwest Catholic High School Press Association. Of 12 awards given, McBride received 3.

The greatest basketball team in the first twenty-five years of the history of McBride took in its stride the Prep League, Normandy tournament, district and state championships with an outstanding record of 25 victories and only 3 defeats. To gain the title, the team defeated Paseo of Kansas City 28-24, Carthage 30-28, and Springfield 30-28. In the Springfield game on March 16, the champs, with a two-point lead, carried out a beautiful stall during the last one and a half minutes. The stars and mainstays of the Micks were: Ray Obie, Johnny Haug, Jim Nichols, Ed Serwan, Franny Haug, Danny Miller and Wally Cady. Ray Obie was selected to the all-district, all-regional, and all-state first teams.

Telegram from St. Louis U. High: "When better basketball is played, John Haug, Francis Haug, Miller, Nichols, Obie, Serwan and Cady will play it. Congratulations to the Normandy, Prep League, District, Regional and State Basketball Champions of 1940."

James Shanahan, sophomore, was awarded fourth place in a nationwide essay contest sponsored by the Everyday Reading Magazine. Dick Ryan's essay took first place in the district in a contest sponsored by the Women's Auxiliary Missouri Pacific Unit 141 of the American Legion.

The camera club, begun in 1937, had its most active and successful year. Most of the photography in the beautiful 72-page yearbook was the work of the club.

Carl "Toddy" Kamp resigned from the position which he had magnificently filled for fifteen years.

'40-41
Following the completion of a full term by Brother Julius Kreshel, Brother Ambrose Loosbrock was named principal of McBride.

Due to the record enrollment of 884, four freshmen classes were placed on special shifts. Two of the classes attended from 8:15 to 12:00, and the other two from 12:00 to 3:45.

The tennis squad brought home the fifth straight Prep League championship.

Although McBride ended the Prep League basketball season in third place, the team registered the fifth district championship. As a result of his great play in this district tournament, Danny Miller, guard, rated all-district.

Captain William T. Ryder '31 was the first paratrooper in the United States Army. His story -appeared in the February issue of American and in the April issue of Reader's Digest.

On May 17, the spelling team, coached by Brother Schuster, captured the city championship in the tournament sponsored by KSD.

Father Blasen formed a new spiritual organization, the "Mick" Club. The name is an anagram of "Mary Immaculate's Christian Knights."

'41-42
The Student Council was born on September 22 when five students were appointed to make plans for its adoption. Brother Clarence Saunders was the organizer and first moderator. James Webb, the first president, was elected on November 6.

The tennis team earned its sixth consecutive prep championship by defeating St. Louis U. High in the season finale.

A large innovation was introduced on December 19 when the Student Council passed a bill, with faculty approval, permitting seniors to smoke during the cafeteria period.

With "Baldy" Klevorn and Tom O'Sullivan playing outstanding basketball, the team captured its third consecutive district championship.

April 23 marked the first time that the annual senior play was presented with a mixed cast. Seniors from Rosati-Kain participated.

During the latter part of April, the spelling team continued undefeated, to retain the city championship.

Jim Bloss took first place in the pole vault event at the state meet in Columbia.

Brother Louis Schuster introduced a new form of entertainment at McBride, the program known as "Kornzappoppin," featuring modern music at its best. The program became an annual affair.

'42-43
William Noonan, a senior, was nominated to the presidency of the St. Louis C.S.M.C. Inter-Unit.

The debate squad closed the most successful season in six years by tieing for the city championship of the Missouri Debating League.

On March 1, McBride launched its first big War-bond drive. The goal was $75,000 in bonds for the purchase of a pursuit plane, and was easily surpassed by the end of the year.

William Geary, a junior, took first place in the annual Marianist oratory contest, sponsored by the Western Catholic Union on April 28.

In the state meet on May 8, Bill Smith took first place in the 440 in the flashy time of 52 seconds.

By winning its last three games, the softball team gained a co-championship with Central Catholic in the Prep League. Baseball was being replaced by softball for the duration of the war.

The glee club, under the direction of Brother Mueller, combined with that of Rosati-Kain to gain a superior rating at the Fontbonne music festival. The honor was repeated in the following year.

'43-44
Tom Toolen, Jr., was the first second-generation McBridean to enroll. His enrollment began a tradition which has lasted to date.

After a year of experimentation at McBride with the semi-micro method in chemistry, Brother Fred Weisbruch employed it in all the chemistry classes. The students used Brother Fred's laboratory manual in mimeographed form. Three years later, the Manual was published by D. C. Heath and Company.

Early in February, the school reached the goal of $450,000 in war bonds and thereby earned the right to name a flying fortress. McBride was the first school in Missouri to accomplish this feat.

In a tournament on February 22, the debating squad clinched first place in the Catholic Interscholastic Speech League. The team won fifteen debates while losing only five.

Bill Smith proved himself to be one of the most outstanding track-men in the school's history. In the Prep meet, he won the 100, 220, 440 and the broad jump. At the district he set a record of 50.4 in the 440.

McBride again tied for the championship in softball, but was defeated in the playoff.

'44-45
This school year was marked with a Prep League championship in softball for the third consecutive year. In addition, Ed Morgenthaler and Dick Roth set several records in track, most notably in discus (137'), in shot (56' 9-1/4"), and in the high hurdles (15.7). The Mick runners also tied for second in the state track meet.

During the third week of March, the goal of $500,000 in bonds was reached, giving the school the privilege of naming a P.T. boat in honor of the city of St. Louis. A special evening on April 24 was held for the formal presentation to the Coast Guard of a plaque representing this purchase.

The two seniors with the highest number of points earned in activities during four years were James Callahan and Paul Hencke. As in the previous year, they received an award from the Alumni Association.

'45-46
Due to the large enrollment of over 1000, a triple shift was found necessary. The senior, junior, sophomore, and four freshman classes followed the ordinary schedule. Three freshman classes attended from 8:15 to 12:00, and the other three from 12:00 to 3:30.

Brother Dan Rabitt, the new athletic director, spent a tremendous amount of energy stepping up the athletic spirit of McBride. Among his achievements were: the "Colonnade Caravan," a large cheer squad; and an extensive intramural program of six-man football, freshman track, basketball and ten-man soccer.

McBride captured its first Prep League championship in ten years by defeating C.B.C. 19-13 before 8000 fans. The winning tally came with just 6 seconds left and the ball on the 35 yard line.

Gene Pepper was named on Star-Times all-district and Wally was chosen on the Post-Dispatch all-district team.

By the end of the year 1945, the school had collected the grand total of $2,193,389 in eight war loan bond drives.

The basketball team ended the season in a three-way tie for the Prep League championship.

In the boxing tournament, an all-time high of 150 boys participated.

'46-47
The enrollment set an all-time record of 1085. The school also accommodated 350 DeAndreis boys for a year while their school was being completed.

Early in February, Kenneth Jaas earned the distinction of being the first Mick to win the city championship in American Legion oratory.

For the second consecutive year, the basketball team ended the season in a three-way tie for the Prep championship.

At about the same time, the freshman closed the best "C" team season in McBride's history. They had an amazing record of 23 victories and 1 defeat.

Ken Jaas and Joe Bumbery were rated first and second for the year among the thirty-six debaters of the C.I.S.L. For the year, McBride placed third in this league among 17 schools.

After one and a half years of preparation, the band finally made its real debut in the form of a concert on May 18. The infant organization of over fifty members was marvelously well directed by Mr. Paul Strub.

'47-48
Art class was introduced into the upper-class curriculum by Brother Ralph Molnar.

The McBride War Dead were honored with the donation by the Alumni Association of an altar with plaques on each side containing the names of McBride students who had died during the war.

McBride captured the Prep basketball championship. Earlier, the team had captured the DeAndreis tournament trophy by defeating St. Louis U. High in the finals. Bob Murphy, a junior, was chosen on the all-district team.

In the second week of March, the third and last Alumni Association band drive ended. The success of the drive enabled the organization to finance a complete set of uniforms for the school band.

The Marianist Club completed another excellent year under Father Brand with the following assemblies: Mission, Living Rosary, McBride War Dead, Immaculate Conception, Christmas, Chaminade Day, Lent, Career and May.

'48-49
McBride won the DeAndreis basketball tourney for the second straight year. Junior, Dick Rosenthal, was named all-district by the three local papers.

There were enrollment problems at McBride as far back as '48-'49 -- except in reverse. The plan to limit enrollment was carried out to success.

Toward the end of November, a soccer team was organized by Brother Egea. The sport had been reinstated in the Prep League.

The Sweetheart Prom on January 28 was the best organized student dance ever held at McBride. It was sponsored by the Alumni Association and the Student Council.

During March and April, the band toured the Archdiocesan high schools, entertaining each student body with a concert program.

During the early part of May, Donald Cudihee was awarded a four-year scholarship to Notre Dame. He was chosen from among the representatives of all the St. Louis Catholic High Schools for boys.

Something new was added in boxing - an interschool boxing tournament between McBride, St. Louis U. High, Central Catholic and DeAndreis.

'49-50
The basketball team put together one of its best seasons in many years. The Micks recorded twenty-two victories and five defeats. In the process the team captured the Prep League co-championship.

The gridders came up with a good year. The team rolled to a 6-2-1 season.

The Band, directed by Mr. James Strub, presented a winter and spring concert to the student body.

'50-51
On the gridiron, the Micks compiled a 6-2-1 record, which was good for the second spot in the Prep League. The loss to traditional rival, S.L.U.H., cost McBride the league crown.

The Student Council was not to be found with empty time on their hands. They sponsored the Harvest Hop, Varsity Dance, April Dance, and the Sweetheart Prom, and Junior-Senior Prom. Along with these projects, they took upon themselves the outfitting of the cheerleaders and the promotion and sale of the yearbook.

The Band held Christmas and Spring concerts, and the Choraleers organized a Christmas caroling group and contributed their talents to the Music Festival.

The bright spot of the basketball season was Gene Hine's selection to the All-Prep team. As all the starters from the previous year's championship team had graduated, the Micks were forced to struggle through a rebuilding campaign. Their efforts led only to a 6-15 record, but the many young players profited from a year's experience.

Career Night was held March 19. Nearly 500 students, their parents, and their friends turned out to listen to the advice of men who had become prominent in their professions.

Tie-cutting day was an annual ritual. Seniors manned the doors and cut in half the ties of all the students. This was a protest of the dress regulations which required the wearing of a tie.

'51-52
Student Council activity increased this year. The Council undertook a collection to purchase gifts for Christmas stockings which were to be distributed to the patients at the Veterans' Hospital. Student self-supervision became a new field of endeavor as the Council played a bigger hand in running assemblies and supervising bus loading. The Council also sponsored the usual three dances and the Sweetheart and Spring Proms.

The Sodality had a full program of monthly meetings and bi-weekly discussions of current problems. With the joint sponsorship of the Mothers' Club and the Fathers' Club, the Sodality presented the McBride Christian Culture Series.

For a third straight year, McBride was runner-up in the Prep League. The highlights of the 6-2 season were the Sumner game, in which McBride limited Sumner to a single first down, and the 33-0 whitewash of C.B.C.

Speech and Debate fared well, finishing .500 in the C.I.S.L. and .750 in the N.F.L. The teams were in attendance at the KXOK Junior Town Meeting. Sophomore, George Gitto, won 1st place for the second straight year in humorous interpretation.

The "Iron Men" were the talk of the basketball campaign. Moran, Koch, Swyza, Collins, and Massa were the iron men who played the entire game in the upset of S.L.U.H. and DeAndreis.

The baseball team claimed the Prep League championship. Mr. Willett put together a powerful track squad.

The Band and Chorus busied themselves presenting a Christmas concert, participating in the Spring Archdiocesan Music Festival and providing music at assemblies. Charles Garavaglia, playing the organ, represented McBride at the KWK High School Revue.

'52-53
The Sodality sponsored a Clean-up Day in which the seniors cleaned the school from top to bottom. They also organized a Christmas drive to aid poor families.

The Debate and Speech Club participated in the KXOK Junior Town Meeting and discussed the controversial issue of overemphasis of sports in high school.

"Murder at a Class Reunion" was the one-act play presented by the Drama Department.

Jim Wilson was the recipient of the Alumni Association's Favorite Football Player Award.

For the fourth successive year, the Micks were runners-up in Prep League football competition. A loss to S.L.U.H. was the only barrier to a perfect season.

The loss of the home court advantage and the five "Iron Men" was too much to overcome. The Micks dropped to 12-13 but managed to share third place.

And, the baseball team captured the Prep League co-championship.