I know the suspense has been building for the past weeks. Many of you have been inquiring about my Is It Real or Is It Memorex inquiry. Before I get there, don’t forget to send me your answers to Cars of Classmates Deux or post them on the Class of 76 blog site ST. XAVIER CLASS OF 1976 – A space for all things St X ’76. There is serious reunion swag at stake.
Back to Memorex, we have proven in this exercise an old dog can learn new tricks. Our brothers have helped me crowd source answers to these questions. The most helpful classmate, the man with the best memory, Dan Wurtzler, has earned his St. Xavier swag. His knowledge slightly eclipsed the memories of both Dick Roetker and Pat Long, denying Pat’s bid to be the Mark Spitz of 76 Class Trivia.
And now to the answers ….
1. True. The reunion starts on May 28 with the class of 1976 escorting into the Cintas Center the class of 2026. There are many more graduates in the class of 2026 so we still need more of the 76’ers to join in the procession. Please help, If you haven’t signed up yet, click here Class of 1976 50-Year Reunion – St. Xavier High School. See the video below from last year https://vimeo.com/1092778151/c9411e1678?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci if you need to feel the vibe.
2. False. Although Mike Osterfeld was a force to be reckoned with on the gridiron, Tom Schiller ruled the defense. He led the team in tackles with 95 tackles far surpassing the previous school record of 69.
3. False. It is true that although the nameless chemistry professor teacher often would rub his eyes in class, his affliction was not medical. Having no idea that their slide rules were used for mathematical calculations, our curious classmates made their own scientific discovery. They transformed the slide rule into a reflection device, with which they skillfully directed the sunlight into the afflicted teacher’s eyes.
4. True. During our senior year, the chess club vanquished all comers in the city and the state. The club fielded three teams which placed first, second and third in the city tournament and in December 1975 the first team became the other Saint Xavier High School state champion during the year.
5. False. Although many a scrawny 120-pound freshman classmate of 76 who happened to wander through the weight room, stood in awe of Dick Piening’s ease at which he manhandled the equipment, Bill Ohr, Spanish teacher and then wrestling coach, actually provided the weights. Anyone consulting the 1973 yearbook may have picked up a clue.
6. True. Obviously lacking adequate timekeeping equipment, the senior carpool of Dan Breslin and Brian Ross struggled routinely to arrive at first bell. Possibly out of the monotony of their habitual morning appearance at his office door, Mr. Meyer began adjudicating JUG based upon the creativity of the excuse. Years later Tom Meyer confided to Dave, Brian’s brother and carpool member, that his favorite was “The shower head was leaking, and I couldn’t find a wrench to fix it.”
Dan definitely later in the day.
7. True. Tom Balaban refereed Big Ten basketball for many years. He also was a fixture during the summer at River Downs many years after he had retired from coaching and teaching.
8. False. As they made their way across the back of Ursuline while many a young lady enthusiastically poured out of school to greet them, the lads were not Men of Moeller, rather they were Men For Others. On that day, they were Men for the Girls of Ursuline. Although a lass or two might have been somewhat confused by the football helmet, the other more prominent physical features clearly distinguish them as the Men For Them. It is also rumored that these lads also generously displayed their talents at many other diocesan girls’ schools.
9. True. After a two-year hiatus, when the school had pivoted to a regularly published Xpression that highlighted the literary and artistic talent of the student body, the class of 1976 resurrected the X-Ray under the guidance of the man, the legend of foreign language instruction, Jack Emmett, a.k.a. Latin Jack. William Egan from the art/photography department directed the photographic content and the eloquent English scholar, Wally Koral, presided over the sports desk as assistant moderators.
10. True. On a spring day driving home from school, a fellow class of 1976 graduate did not meander. Barreling down the Caldwell hill, he quickly came upon another car which was not proceeding at a commensurate pace. Almost instinctively, our brother pulled out to pass the car, crossing the double yellow only to challenge the oncoming driver in the left lane. With a steep hill on the right and with our brother’s car straight ahead, the alert driver veered sharply left into the drainage ditch adjacent to the tee box on the golf course. Hopefully, our alert driver had his driver with him.
11. False. There was an association of serious-minded classmates who called themselves the Harry Buffaloes; however, a recent poll concluded that not one of them could spell the word extinction much less profess its meaning.
12. True. Each month a different 1976 classmate hosts a happy hour on the first Tuesday of the Month Happy Hour (STOTM). All classmates are welcome. Orest Melnyk, the most recent host, held the May event at the Dead Low Brewery. Contact Bob Carroll at bob@rcarroll.com to add your email the invitation list.
13. True. Rich O’Connell ruled that fall Homecoming evening in 1975.
14. True. One hot August day, junior year, student athletes and coaches alike, who spread across the soccer and fields behind the natatorium, stopped all practice activities to marvel at Coach Tolbert’s expert manscaping advice to senior running back, Steve Roehr, who arrived that summer sporting a moustache. Coach Tolbert, who began his personal care session with a low but increasingly louder, “Roehr-r-r-r-r-r-r-r,” summarily ended with, “Don’t you know not to grow on your lip that grows wild on your ass.”
15. False. This 16th century prelate might be fooled by this trick question. However, no red-blooded Reds fan of the 1970’s would. The Big Reds Machine won their first back-to-back World Series in 1975 against the Red Sox even though the casual observer of the series’ highlight footage would infer otherwise. By the time the Reds had swept the 1976 Yankees, the class of 1976 had matriculated and advanced on to their pursuits of higher education.
Many thanks to my helpful crowd-sourcing crew. If you would like to revisit any of my previous emails, you can find them all on the class of 76 blog site at ST. XAVIER CLASS OF 1976 – A space for all things St X ’76.
Godspeed, FX
