'It's A Guy Thing'
posted on: June 18, 2007
It was an all-boys high school on a college campus, "And we liked it that way," says Ambrose Academy graduate Tom Otting '54. As graduates of the former boys' high school associated with St. Ambrose College prepare for their 25th all-class reunion, Otting thinks back on his academy days.
Going to an all-boys high school had nothing to do with not wanting to be with girls. "We were very interested in them," Otting says with a smile. "It was just more relaxing ... with less competition." And the guys were able to goof off with each other without worrying about what girls might think of them.
Besides, says Otting, sporting events, homecoming and prom provided opportunities to get together with their all-girls counterpart, Immaculate Conception Academy.
But it wasn't all fun-and-games. The academy offered what was called a "classical education," according to Otting. One of his strongest memories is of long-time principal Rev. John McEniry waiting by the academy's only exit each afternoon. "Father was there every day, looking to see if we had books with us." If he ever attempted to leave empty-handed, Otting remembers being sent back to get a textbook. "It was assumed that most of us would go on to college." And college or not, most academy graduates went on to pretty good jobs, he points out, with the academy producing a fair number of prominent Quad Citians.
In 1958, St. Ambrose Academy merged with the Immaculate Conception Academy to become Assumption High School, and several Academy classes have held reunions ever since.
"When Jerry Kelly and I organized the first all-class reunion, we knew it would be a great addition,” says Otting. “We get about 100 to 150 former students from all over the country each year." The activities include good-natured ribbing among the academy grads, a rousing rendition of the academy fight song, brats, burgers and "just one barrel of beer now," says Otting. "It's a regular gab fest." An attempt at a joint Immaculate Conception-Ambrose Academy reunion in 1989 simply didn't work—for either side—Otting says. Perhaps that incompatibility is an echo of the special solidarity and unique pleasure in being a part of "just a guy thing" that the academy graduate continue to enjoy.
This year's celebration will be held on Sunday, July 8,12:30-4:30 p.m., "under the oaks" on the St. Ambrose campus front lawn. Admission is $5 per person for brats, burgers and beverages. For more information, call the alumni and parent relations office at 800/SAU-ALUM or 563/333-6290, or Otting at 563/359-3990.