1955

1955 American Legion Nationals - Finals

This is an original of the photo that appeared in the Miami Herald and other newspapers. Courtesy of Jerry Dalton.

1955 Jane Macey Photo

1955 Jane Macey Photo

1955 Jane Macey Photo

1955 Dream

Photo courtesy of Jerry Dalton.

1955

October 22, 1955: NATIONAL LEGION CHAMPIONS - CYO Golden Knights of Blessed Sacrament, Newark, strut to victory in the American Legion National Junior Drum and Bugle Corps Championship contest held at Memorial Field, Flamingo Park, Miami Beach. The Knights topped a field of 16 corps from all over the United States to win first prize of $750. All four top places went to Catholic corps. St. Vincent Cadets of Bayone came in second and Holy NameCadets of Garfield, third. Combined societies of the parish met the victors at Penn Station, Newark Oct 15 with a police escort and cavalcade of cars and buses. A victory party was held in the evening where each of the corpsmen received a traveling bag. Rev. Robert Garner, moderator of the corps, Msgr Cornelius J. Boyle, pastor, and Very Rev. Msgr. John J. Kiley, archdiocesan CYO director, spoke. Robert Yukanavage, drum major, spoke on behalf of the corps. Next appearance of the Knights will be in the Veterans' Day Parade which will take place Nov. 11, in Newark. Courtesy of Joseph Rogers.

1955 Knights Write

July 4, 1955 - A LONG LINE - Members of the Golden Knights, drum and bugle corps champions, compose a mammonth letter to an Army friend stationed overseas in Germany. The youngsters (l. to r.) are John Boyle, Joseph Rogers, and William Semanek. The Golden Knights, members of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Youth Organization will hold a musical cacalcade competition at 2 P.M. at Newark Schools Stadium. Courtesy of Joe Rogers.

1955 Dream

Photo courtesy of Jerry Dalton.

1955 Golden Knights

Courtesy of Jerry Dalton.

1955 CYO Rally

Newark Schools Stadium. Courtesy of Jerry Dalton.

1955 Dream Color Guard

Courtesy of Jerry Dalton

1955 Color Guard

Courtesy of Jerry Dalton.

1955 Golden Knight Record

BS takes an early 1st place during the 1953 season - on year prior to winning its first National titles. Thanks to Al and Sunny Cohen.

1955 BSGK Staff

The BSGK Staff: Bottom row, left to right: Quartermasters Bob Boyle, Andy Prachar, and Jim Paul. Top row, left to right: Marty Nolan(Co-Director), Frank Dalton (Publicity Manager) and Vinny Walsh (Co-Director). Courtesy of Jerry Dalton.

1955 Legion Nationals Concert

BSGK in Concert at the '55 Legion Nationals. Courtesy of Jerry Dalton.

1955 Dream

Photo courtesy of Jerry Dalton.

1955 Off To Defend

October 6, 1955: OFF TO DEFEND TITLE - Newark's Blessed Sacrament CYO Golden Knights drum and bugle corps. 1954 American Legion junior national champions, wave goodbye at Penn Station before entraining for Miami where they will defend their title Sunday at Legion's national convention. Among the 38 corps challenging the Blessed Sacraments group for the title will be the St Vicent's Cadets of Bayonne, state, and national VFW champions, and the Holy Name Cadets of Garfield. Courtesy of Joe Rogers.

1955 Competing Guard

The 1955 off season competing color guard (which competed 1954 through 1956). The members included GKs from the corps color guard and drum section. Drum Major Bob Yucknavage was the captain of the competing guard. From left : Jim Mc Mahon, Donald Huber and Bob Myler (regular guard members), Guard Captain Bob Yuknavage, tenor drummers Gary Carlton, Bill Sysyn and Jake Samarie. The photo was taken in the auditorium of Blessed Sacrament School.

1955 Crazy Rhythm Brass Quartette:

Bob Pepsin, Bill Semanek, Bob O'Connell, John Leonhardt. Photo courtesy of Bill Semanek.

1955 Squires

1955 Squires, from the '55 yearbook. At least 15 of the Squires listed here became Golden Knights, some marching through the '60s to as late as 1967 (e.g., drum major Eugene Kennedy ('63), Rick Nardelli, Bill Lundy, Guy Earl, Larry Shefter ('67), Tim O'Brien, Danny Murphy (currently Director of the alumni corps). Courtesy of Al & Sunny Cohen.

1955 Yearbook

1955 Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, from the '55 yearbook. Courtesy of Al and Sunny Cohen.

1955 Nationals Victory Article

1955 Nationals Victory Article - Article courtesy of Joe Rogers.

1955 Al Nationals Recp

The Golden Knights shed their "Cinderella" name by capturing the 1955 AL Nationals. From the 1955 yearbook, courtesy of Al and Sunny Cohen.