This Could be the Start of Something Big (1941-1947)
During the next several years Fr. Maxwell with the support of the parish priests began what would become an organization that 65 years later could claim to have reached over two million young people through its efforts for youth. During the period between 1941 and 1946 the CYC provided organized sports for grade school age children directly. The high school teams continued to play under an affiliation with the Muny league until 1946. During those first few years the involvement of the parish priest of the Archdiocese was outstanding. With so many of the fathers, brothers and uncles in service to their country during World War II, the parish priest provided not just spiritual guidance, but support to the children and families as they too dealt with the disruptive forces of war.
In the spring of 1946 an incident occurred that challenged the principals of the CYC and the Archdiocese of St. Louis. At that time the CYC Senior teams (over 18 years of age) played under an affiliation with the Muny league. When the CYC Visitation parish team attempted to play two early season games they were prohibited from doing so apparently because the team included five African-American players. Visitation Pastor and Team Manager Fr. P.J. Malloy and the CYC leadership fought the ruling noting that the CYC had always allowed all team members to participate. After an extended debate the CYC with the full support of all its nearly 60 teams pulled its support from the league and proceeded to form the CYC Senior and High School leagues. The principals of the CYC and its members had been challenged and they never blinked. As a result the CYC began providing a sports program for all ages, which set no restrictions based on the color of your skin. It might be noted that the Visitation incident happened one year before Jackie Robinson stepped onto a Major League baseball diamond. It should be noted that Globe Democrat sports writer Robert L. (Bob) Burnes provided the C.Y.C. with a voice to the public on this issue. Mr. Burnes would remain a friend of the Catholic Youth Council and of the cause of youth athletics for the remainder of his life.
The following year changes in the administration of the CYC came about as Fr. Maxwell was assigned to be pastor of the Epiphany of Our Lord Parish in South St. Louis. As he left for his new assignment the CYC had grown to a significant 7500 youth members, and the best was still to come. It is interesting to note that Fr. Maxwell who was instrumental in the formation of the Boys Club and the early success of the CYC was not an athlete. In fact, he knew very little about the games themselves and by all accounts never played sports. However in his vision and wisdom he saw all the positive influences and rewards of amateur athlete competition. He saw it as a vehicle for young people, not only to use as a way to develop their physical skills, learn self discipline and the values of teamwork and goal setting but perhaps more importantly as a way to keep our children close to the church. To keep them in the shadow of the church. He was intensely interested in providing for young people, to minister to them and to care for them. His work, dedication and perseverance set the benchmark that all in service to youth need to approach.
To succeed Fr. Maxwell Archbishop Joseph Ritter needed a man of outstanding abilities, vision and faith. He found him when he appointed Father Lloyd Sullivan as Director in the fall of 1947. Father Sullivan, who would also leave his mark as one of the builders of Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital knew the value of youth athletics. He was after all, a world class soccer player, who choose the priesthood instead of the “pitch”. That following spring Father Louis Meyer, who was serving a the CYC’s volunteer basketball committee chairperson, was selected to be the Assistant Director of the CYC. Thus was established a powerful one-two combination, that would be the heart and soul of the CYC efforts for the next dozen years. Fathers Sullivan and Meyer, were two men fiercely devoted to the Church, passionate in their service to young people and totally dedicated to their life as priests of God. These two men, along with the new Executive Secretary (actually Sports Director) Bob Guelker and a dedicated, though grossly underpaid and overworked staff, were destined to lead the CYC to new heights in providing an ever-expanding menu of youth programs, events and opportunities to the young people of the St. Louis Archdiocese. These unselfish men and women were destined to lead the CYC sports program to a position of preeminence in the St. Louis amateur sports community.
