1976 - 77
During the Summer
Fr. John LaBranche, who went to Judge Memorial Elementary until 1928 when he entered the seminary, later returning to teach at Judge in the 1940s, died while on vacation in Oregon. He was then pastor of St. Joseph’s in Ogden.
Staff member Helen Eugster’s 36-year-old son, David, Class of 1959, also passed away.
The Year
National Merit Finalists: Joseph Bottum, Jerry Gray and Dennis Wurster
National Merit Letters of Commendation: John Attey, Joe Hebert, John Piercey, Tony Sheeran, Michael Guss, Tim Delaney
Enrollment was 620 at the beginning of the year, including 444 in the three upper grades, which would have made Judge eligible to compete in the 2A Class. But the school applied for and received the Utah High School Activities Association’s approval to compete in 3A.
Administration: Fr. Thomas McNamara, principal; Jim Yerkovich, assistant principal, dean of studies; Fr. David Whalen, administrative assistant, dean of discipline. They oversaw a staff of 36, including new faculty members Sr. Frances Teresa and Mark Ackerman, mathematics; Sr. Maxine, science; Sr. Josephine, religion; Sr. Jeanette, librarian; Patricia Bettin, girls’ athletics; and Rick Rasmussen, English.
Michael Guss and Todd Schultz were co-chairmen of a fundraising effort involving sales of subscriptions to Catholic magazines and other periodicals.
“Waiting for the Stranger” was the title of the 95-page Literary Magazine. The editors were Wendi Cook, Cindy Formeller, Terese Hokanson, Mary McConnell and Sheila O’Hare, with assistance from Janet Maiorana, Kim Myers and Doris Vigil. John McGean was the advisor.
John Wood came to Judge as its “Artist in Residence,” on a National Endowment for the Arts scholarship program to bring artists to high schools. He worked with art teacher Mary Sweet on teaching students about drawing, printing and silkscreening, and also “experimenting with dance techniques” with dance teacher Debra Higham and class members. An accompanying photograph showed Judge students Bridget Kelly and Sue Vierra dancing in a Christmas program.
Judge students participated in a Mass at the Salt Palace marking two historic anniversaries: the Bicentennial of the founding of the United States, and the 200th anniversary of the Dominguez/Escalante Expedition through Utah and surrounding states. Thousands attended; 75 Diocesan priests participated in the concelebration of the Mass, alongside bishops and archbishops from around the West.
Julia Burke won the Betty Crocker Search for the American Homemaker of Tomorrow contest.
Plays
“The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail,” directed by Rick Rasmussen, with student director Beth Ehresman, starring John White, Don Sheeran, Cathy Trueba and Tom Wilson.
Sports
Coached by Frank L’Etoile, the football team missed the Class 3A tournament when it lost a playoff game to Bingham at Murray High School, its second contest in a 48-hour period. Judgeonian writer Joe Hebert was appalled that Bingham was able to take the lead late after a roughing the kicker penalty – “obvious acting job” – and the Bulldogs later failed to score on a fourth-and-goal pass play.
Julie Oki was captain of the volleyball team, which also was led by Kathy Shelton, Patrice Purcell, Stephanie Romero, Roxanne Larrabee, Patricia Harte, Kelly Madsen, Jackie Moore, Mary Hadley, Carol Timper, Katy Fagen, Sherianne Stephens and Therese Corbett. Patricia Bettin was the coach.
The boys basketball team went to state – the eighth straight trip for Coach Jim Yerkovich – led by Kevin Brady, Tony Sheeran, Ray Madsen, Dave Heaton and Steve Pino. Salt Lake Tribune sports writer Roger Graves wrote a Sunday feature story on Yerkovich and his towel, “a companion which has absorbed the ecstasy of triumph and the agony of defeat with the Judge Memorial basketball coach.” Yerkovich explained the origins of their attachment. “I used to always pick up a towel from the bench when I’d get nervous during a game. It got to the point that everyone knew I was going to do it. So Mrs. [Marjorie] Pierce, had her daughter Gail make me three special towels” – one a victory towel with red and gold persons on it, a neutral towel and a third towel with frowning faces for losses. “I’ve only used the victory towel,” Yerkovich said. “The other two have been in my drawer at home for the last seven years.”
STATE CHAMPION – Setting two state records, Twila Bridgewater personally lifted the girls swimming team to fifth place in the Utah State High School Swimming Championships at the University of Utah. Bridgewater collected her first state title – and record time – in the 100 breaststroke, completing that race in 1:11.03. She then duplicated her results with a record-setting 1:03.34 in the 100 butterfly. The Judge girls finished with 160 points. East won with 335.5.
Graduation
135 graduates on May 29 at Kingsbury Hall.
Valedictorian: Barry Eagan
Salutatorian: Anthony Sheeran
Highest cumulative GPA for the four years: Barry Eagan
Highest GPA during senior year: John Attey
Science Award: John Attey
Gold honor cords representing cumulative GPAs of 3.2 or better were worn by 49 graduates.
Grail Seal Bearers: John Attey, Michael Bolam, Joe Bottum, Maureen Corbett, Ellen Economou, Helen Fowler, Jerry Gray, Michael Guss, David Heaton, Joe Hebert, Roger Jackson, Nancy Kankelborg, Janet Maiorana, Michael Maloney, Eileen McDonough, Alison McFarlane, Kim Myers, Jane Neville, Julie Oki, Susan Schovaers, Ti Schulder, Tony Sheeran, Cathy Trueba and Doris Vigil.
Academic Awards – Mathematics and Computer Science: Tony Sheeran; Science: John Attey; Physics: John Attey; Advanced Biology: Jane Neville; Advanced Chemistry: Michael Maloney; Chemistry: JoAnn Slama; Biology: Angela Attey; Earth Science: Terry Murnin; Geology: Todd Schultz; English: Ellen Economou and Tony Sheeran; Social Studies (Psychology): Cathy Trueba; (Economics): John Attey; World Problems: Julia Burke; (Emerging Nations): Todd Schultz.
Advanced Typing: Kim Myers; Advanced Shorthand: Doris Vigil, Nancy Kankelborg; Bookkeeping: Doris Vigil, Alexander Gonzales; Office Practice: Valerie DeMarco; Music: Laurie Julian; Dance: Sue Vierra; Spanish IV: Nick Barber; French IV: Julie Oki and Maureen Corbett; Spanish II: Janet Maiorana.
