Did You Know?
The original school jacket emblem was not what you might expect. The Bishop O'Connell Knights logo was depicted with a sailing ship, similar to what might be associated with the Knights of Columbus. These jackets were available for purchase at the school store in the fall of 1958, after the "Knights" mascot had been chosen by a student vote during the previous year.
According to an alumnus from the first graduating class, the association with the Knights of Columbus is not surprising, given that the organization was very supportive of the new school and it's sports programs. For example, during the first winter, when there were no interscholastic sports, the Knights of Columbus sponsored the intramural basketball leagues for boys and girls. The game were played at neighboring schools in the area.
The sailing ship image appears to be short-lived at O'Connell. When the team letter jackets came out in the spring of 1959, the emblem on the sleeve was a chess Knight. The rest is history. Go Knights!
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Photo from 1962 Shield Yearbook