1920s

26 Marking 100 Years

As the grandson of J. Norbert “Doc” Gelson of the Class of 1926, I write on the 100th anniversary of this distinguished class’s graduation from Notre Dame. In one of his final columns for this magazine, I.I. “Izzy” Probst, secretary of the Class of 1926, wrote, “Soon we will be forgotten except in the archives.” My father, John Gelson ’53, responded, “Not so.” He knew their legacy would endure far beyond the written history, and he entrusted me to be the penman. I reached out to Izzy and asked if he would record his memories of his class. At age 97, before beginning, he wrote to the small group of surviving classmates to inform them that “Doc Gelson’s grandson” would write the final column for the class. One classmate responded, “What if one of us outlives Doc’s grandson?” — a wry reminder that this class was not yet ready to be counted out. Izzy became the last surviving member of the class and passed away at the age of 102, but not before sending me pages of his recollections. I now have the privilege of fulfilling that promise by writing this final column honoring the members of the Class of 1926. The class began with an incoming freshman group of approximately 550 students. Tuition was $175. Homecoming in 1922 was a 27-0 victory over Indiana at Cartier Field. The Senior Ball was held at the then new Palais Royale Hotel, now a historic landmark. At Commencement on June 13, 1926, the University conferred degrees on 314 graduates. During their time on campus, they witnessed the legendary 1924 National Championship season and the 1925 Rose Bowl victory under Knute Rockne. Notable graduates included Clem Crowe, my grandfather’s roommate in Sorin Hall. He was a two-time All-American end on Notre Dame’s “Seven Mules” team and captain of the 1925 squad. He later served as head football coach at Xavier and in the National Football League with the Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Colts. J. Arthur Haley worked for the University as business manager in Athletics and later as its first director of public relations. His tenure included the construction of Notre Dame Stadium. Donald Halpin, the last manager under Coach Rockne, became president of the Newark “Fighting Irish” Football Club, in a short-lived minor league. John Quincy Adams, a descendant of President John Quincy Adams, and Joseph Bach, a member of the football team, were also members of the class. Arthur Bidwill served as president of the Blue Circle, a student service and booster organization founded in 1922. Members of Blue Circle were likely among those involved in the clashes between Notre Dame students and the Ku Klux Klan in South Bend in May 1924. His family owned the NFL Chicago Cardinals. Frankie Bon was senior class president, and Edward Crowe was class secretary. At their 25th reunion, Ray Durst presented each classmate with a private papal blessing. J. Vincent Soisson served as class president in 1976 at the 50th reunion. Frank Deitle and John Ryan later served as class secretaries. Rudolph Goepfrich worked for Bendix and became known for his expertise in brake systems. Malcolm Knaus and his roommate, Gail Gurnett, were members of the track team, along with William “Bud” Barr, who served as captain. Dan O’Neill hailed from Butte MT. My grandfather served as president of the New York Alumni Club and later worked for a time with Coach Frank Leahy in the insurance business. He sent four sons and two grandsons to Notre Dame. His NY license plate: “ND 26.” Their memory, and that of all their classmates, endures in the legacy of the University they cherished. I close with the inscription from the 1926 Dome: “To you, men of ’26, we offer this book. May it live long in your hearts, a precious memory of your days with Our Lady of the Dome, and may you carry away with it her blessing. Goodbye and God speed you.” — John F. Gelson ’77; Sea Girt NJ