Class of '58...


Netcong High School in Netcong, NJ
Before there was a Netcong High Class of '58 there was a small group of graduates from Stanhope - the 8th grade class of '54 - eleven members strong. John O'Brien is not pictured; he broke his leg the day or two before this photo was taken. Netcong High was made up of students from Netcong, Stanhope, and Budd Lake, NJ.

I want to thank one man in particular for helping me through some hard times in my senior year - Coach D'Alonzo. Coach, your words not only helped me then but I like to think they helped me throughout my entire life. I don't think I would have had the courage to become a US Marine, jump out of airplanes, stay calm under enemy fire, build and fly my own airplane, and yes - even to ask a young, beautiful, Texas Marine to marry me. "Sometimes you have to look inside yourself, stand up and do what is right."

Click picture for close-up view

Stanhope, NJ 8th Grade Class 1954	Stanhope, NJ 8th Grade Class 1998	40th Class Reunion

Hackettstown 33, Netcong 6
It was our first game of the season and it was one that would set the tone for the rest of the season. We had been beaten by Hackettstown 33 to 6. Sitting in the locker room after the game, all battered and spent, we had given it all out on the field and we felt like a bunch of losers. Coach D'Alonzo walked in the room and said (this is how I remember his speech), "Do you guys know what you did out there on the field?" We ( at least I ) thought, "Yeah, we got our butts kicked." Coach D then said, "You scored a touchdown against them. You're the first Netcong team in ten years to do that." He paused and then said, "We have a real team here." Instead of feeling like a bunch of losers, all of a sudden we felt like winners. We went on to win the Group 1 State Championship. This was a special team with two special coaches: Assistant Coach Dunleavy was also a very important part of our team.



Netcong High School Alumni
For those who graduated from Netcong High in Netcong, NJ