McDonogh
Memories
The McDonogh experience creates bonds throughout our community that transcend generations. Scroll through the memories below to read reflections from our alumni, faculty, staff, retired employees, parents, and friends. And don’t forget to submit your own memory!
Share Your Memory
Help us commemorate 150 years by sharing your favorite McDonogh memory.
Share Your Memory47 years at McDonogh and you want one memory: spirit parade, spirit parade announcements, first march across the bridge into Gilman, bollard decoration day, funeral for Edwards gym, picnics on field trips, the graduations of two sons, exchanges with Odesa and Japan, cardboard boats, the house on Harley Hill, gardens, Room 1, Jane Bay on the back wall, paper cranes, Rome and lead poisoning, the chair, and D. Spagliardi noticing the changes in the halos of the Virgin Mary. And so many students.
Playing first trumpet in the school’s orchestra (dance band) for school dances and other events. Participants within the music program have, throughout the decades, shared a high level of affinity and respect for one another.
Climbing through the windows in the Eddies Gym basement so I could use the darkroom on the weekends.
McDonogh’s Holiday Project began in 1990 and partnered with St. Gregory’s Church in Baltimore. It initially sponsored 25 families and eventually included as many as 140, with gifts for the families’ children and fixings for a holiday dinner plus. Every year McDonogh took pride in gift-wrapping, assembling, and delivering everything for the families, with no family ever once being missed. The delivery flotilla of cars, vans, and trucks was always a sight to behold.
As a student leader in the Class of 1972, I remember the spring of 1971 when we learned that the Board had voted to eliminate the semi-military structure and become a civilian school the following fall, our senior year. It was only a year earlier when they announced that McDonogh would keep its military status. The decision didn’t fare well with the Class of 1971, who had a tumultuous year as the last military class. Many of us juniors winced at losing our senior year military leadership roles with majors’ oak leafs, captains’ bars, and sabers accompanying our uniforms, but we were also honored to be the class that would lead the way to a new structure that exists today.
Wrestling
I was a scholarship student at a time when scholarship students were required to be boarders. For nearly five years, McDonogh was not only my school but also my “home” in many ways. McDonogh transitioned away from its military heritage during those five years and experienced many other changes, but the campus and the community were a steady and dependable presence during a time of growth and change in my life. I am very thankful. To this day, the friendships I formed at McDonogh (especially in the dorms) remain incredibly valuable to me.
Watching the girls lacrosse team and the love and respect they all had for each other.
My finest memory is Bus 4, where I made friends for life and there were lots of laughs. Where else would I be friends with people from so many different grades? I remember everyone and have kept in touch with some of you. Thank you, Wilbur, Rob F., Ken, Val, Kent, Kris, Cort, Jeannie, Rob M., Karen, Courtney, Derek, Kyle—and BILLY! We were no angels; but I remember all of you and thank you for brightening up that 40-minute bus ride to McDonogh.
150th Book Coming Soon
Becoming McDonogh School tells the captivating story of McDonogh’s first 150 years.