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ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH

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Class of 1925

Meet the Class

Varsity Basketball (1924-25)

Varsity Football (1924-25)

Graduate Highlights

At just 15 years old, Rau was the youngest member of his class at SLUH. He gained local attention in 1921 when he became the youngest ever graduate of Adams Public School in St. Louis. He was killed in action on April 20, 1944 when the ship he was serving on, the USS Paul Hamilton, was torpedoed.

Browning played football for Loyola High School from 1921-23 and its successor St. Louis U. High from 1923-25. He coached the football team at Saint Louis University during his time there as a student. After graduating from college in 1930, he married in 1935 and opened a tavern in Laclede's Landing.

Ordained a Jesuit on June 22, 1938, Diebold taught Theology and English at SLUH in 1934 and from 1945-53. He also taught at Saint Louis University and Rockhurst College and wrote three books with Fr. Michael P. Kammer, SJ.

A member of theater during his time at SLUH, Leon served in the U.S. Army during World War II. In 1944, he was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery during the Normandy Invasion. He was a battalion surgeon in the first assault battalion to be deployed on Normandy Beach. Once he arrived on the beach, he ran through heavy gunfire to set up an aid station 150 yards from the beach in a safe location. He became a doctor after the war.

Baldwin was an actor on Broadway before moving to California and signing a contract with 20th Century-Fox. His most notable roles were Meet Dr. Christian (1939), They Meet Again (1941) and Remedy for Riches (1940). After 20 years with Fox, he transitioned from the movie business and became a realtor. He was a realtor in Ventura, Calif. from 1946 until 1989 when he retired.

Known as Fred to his friends, Schalfly was a prominent lawyer who is best remembered as being the husband of famous activist and attorney Phyllis Schlafly. Together, they combated Communism and other high profile issues.

Known as Larry to his friends, he participated in theater during his four years at SLUH. After high school, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and saved a man while serving. One day in 1949, at the Lambert Field Naval Air Station, a 29 year-old man was being treated for bleeding ulcers. No one had the blood type that matched his blood type and he had no nearby relatives. Lawrence donated his blood to the man since they shared blood types.

About the Class of 1925 Project

By Drew Walters '21

At a young age, my parents gifted me a camera, which sparked my interest in capturing my surroundings. During my earlier years in the Boy Scouts, I served as our troop historian, photographing events like summer camp and various adventures. My favorite one was visiting Shiloh National Military Park in Shiloh, Tenn.

This progressed to photographing historic small towns and bridges across Missouri. Not only do I enjoy exploring small towns and seeing older bridges, I am passionate about preserving them in photos for future generations to enjoy and remember, as they won't be here forever.

My love for the Backer Memorial came from loving its beautiful architecture and wanting to know about its century of history. The 1925 Project began in 2017 when my parents gifted me a 1924 Dauphin yearbook. Inside was a well preserved signature of junior, William Allen III. This original signature motivated me to find out more about him and his classmates, since they would be the first graduating SLUH class on Oakland Avenue.

I researched all 153 classmates on ancestry.com to locate their descendants, so I could email them photos of their ancestors from this yearbook. Many of them were unaware their relatives attended SLUH, or had never seen these pictures before. I received many positive responses, which was very rewarding.

Celebrity Doctor

A relative of Walter Klie 1925 sent this photo to Drew Walters '21 as part of the Class of 1925 Project. It shows Klie, a dentist, working on the teeth of Jimmy Hoffa, the famed labor leader and president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters from 1957-71.

Jubilee Reunion

Gerard K. Gunther 1925 serves Mass for Fr. Joseph Dwyer, SJ 1925 the evening of their 50th anniversary class reunion (credit: 1976 Dauphin yearbook).