Greetings, all. Francis here again. We have a guest column this week from Dick Klus, a member of the faculty whom we all remember well. Enjoy ….

In the fall of 1972, the Class of 1976 entered St. Xavier High School. As a group, they showed great promise, but I’m sure many if not all were apprehensive of the high school experience ahead of them.

I was serving in the role of Assistant Principal for Discipline/Student Affairs. During the next two years, I would get to know the members of the Class of ’76 well. Some of the ‘76ers I would get to know VERY WELL!

As I recall some 50+ years later, they were a well-behaved group. There were no major infractions of good order, but there were the usual misdeeds such as tardiness and violations of the dress code, typical actions of immature young men wanting to test the limits of good behavior. Then, near the end of the ‘76ers sophomore year, there was “The Bus Incident.”

A certain enterprising ‘76er sophomore, deciding he wanted the east side bus to detour from its prescribed route and drop him off at the front door of his residence, told the bus driver he would get him a better job with his father’s company if the driver would take the bus to his front door rather than stopping at the assigned stop at the street corner. Unfortunately, the driver swallowed the bait.

After some period (days/weeks/months?), the driver pulled to a stop at the ‘76ers residence; and, before letting the ‘76er depart the bus, asked about his prospects for a job with the father’s company. The ‘76er laughed and sneeringly commented that it was all a hoax!

The driver then refused to open the bus door…the strong-willed ‘76er attempted to bull his way out…the driver left his seat and grabbed the ‘76er…and they wrestled to the floor! As another student on the bus later described the situation to me, “Mr. Klus, all hell broke loose!”

Fortunately, the bus did not cause an accident and no students were injured. When I called the yellow bus company (not Queen City Metro) and reported the incident, the owner, a nice guy named Lou, with a crusty, gruff manner replied, “That S.O.B. is fired! You will have a new driver tomorrow!” Now I had to deal with the ‘76er, the other wrestling participant.

I do remember banning the ‘76er from riding the east side bus for the remainder of the school year. This was a punishment/inconvenience for the parents as the ‘76er’s father reminded me on the phone when he said, “Now I have to transport him to and from St. X.”

I can’t remember the additional discipline, but I didn’t like suspensions for several reasons. Rather, I probably enacted my favorite method of discipline: INDEFINITE JUG! Yes, that’s it!

EPILOGUE

In August of 1974, the School president, Fr. Schuler, asked me to become the Director of Alumni, Development and Public Relations, and Tom Meyer succeeded me as AP. I wish Tom was still with us to relate some tales about the ‘76ers’ junior and senior years. Tom was a great guy! RIP!

I do remember well the commencement exercises for the illustrious Class of ’76. The guest speaker was Fr. William J. O’Malley, S.J. Fr. O’Malley was a long-time AP English teacher at McQuaid Jesuit in upstate New York. He also played the role of a priest in the movie The Exorcist. Fr. O’Malley’s speech was one of the best commencements talks I’ve ever heard in my 50+ years of commencement talks.

It was so well received that Paul Zook and I printed it in the ST. X BULLETIN, the black and white publication circulated quarterly to alumni, parents and other friends. I believe it was in the 1976 summer or fall issue. Contact Nick Kemper, the capable and willing St. X archivist, for a copy of Fr. O’Malley’s speech.

In closing, I am pleased to maintain contact with the members of the Class of 1976 though reunions, Brewer Open Colf Outings, and monthly STOTM gatherings. Thanks for including me!

Dick Klus