St. Ignatius Church St. Ignatius
History Makers (in alphabetical order)
Sr.
Barbara Boyton (Born Aug. 14, 1948 - Died Nov. 30, 1992)
First African-American principal
of St. Ignatius School
Music writer and
composer
Graduated from St.
Xavier University
Sr. Barbara Memorial
Scholarship Fund was created in honor of Sr. Barbara's memory to help
provide financial help to the children who attend St. Ignatius School.
She was very
dedicated to making the children of St. Ignatius realize their potential
and to have pride in themselves
First African-American Pastor of
St. IgnatiusFirst African-American pastor at St.
Ignatius to be made a MonsignorGraduated from St. Charles Seminary in 1982Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus
Council 4146Chaplain for the Knights of Peter Claver of
PhiladelphiaSpiritual Advisor for the St. Ignatius
Council of the St. Vincent De Paul SocietyMember of the National Black Catholic
Clergy CaucusReorganizer of the Holy Name
Society Mayor Ed Rendell's Elected
RepresentativeMillion Women's March Planning CommitteeGirl Scouts of America Leader and Elected
Board MemberPA Horticultural Society
Captain for Clean Block Award
Judge for House and Garden Contest
Original Senior Pioneer MemberAward for Community Service form Police Department
16th Dist.CommitteemanWard LeaderMagistrateJudge First African-American Principal
in the Southeast Delaware County School DistrictFirst African-American to join the
Knights of ColumbusFirst African-American Scout Master to take
the troops to camp Major contributor
to St. Ignatius. He donated the first lectern to the church. Original
member of the St. Ignatius Council of the St. Vincent DePaul SocietyResponsible
for the Murphy's belonging to St. Ignatius so that his work in the parish
can continue through his descendents.First African-American Mail
CarrierFirst African-American soloist at
West Catholic High School for GirlsProfessed as an Oblate Sister of ProvidenceTaught Music to elementary students: They
won the Music competition at Catholic University of AmericaFirst African-American engineer
for the northeast corridor Penn Central RailroadInstructor for ConrailFirst African-American
treasurer of the Philadelphia Holy Name SocietyClass President of Roman Catholic Boys High
SchoolA city playground was named after Mr. John
Lee, Sr.First African-American
organist at the Cathedral in Harrisburg, PAGave the first cursillos at the maximum
security prisonServed in the U.S. Army WWII European and
Pacific TheatersInterpreter of German
Assigned to Intelligence
Taught at St. Joseph's Industrial in
Clayton, DEGraduated Cum Laude from Xavier
UniversityVarsity tennis player in collegeWorked for Pennsylvania Dept. of
Employment First African-American to play
basketball in the Catholic High School for girlsProecclesiae IT Pontifice AwardCardinal Gibbon's AwardLoyola College - Father Andrew White Medal
of HonorArchdiocese of Baltimore - Dr. Martin
Luther King Award First African-American from St.
Ignatius to graduate from West Catholic High School for BoysArchitect degree from Temple UniversityOutstanding athlete Served in US Army in WWII as a staff
Sgt. Personally
knew Saint Katherine DrexelShe was privileged
to iron Saint Katherine Drexel's" starch-work"Attended Holy
Providence SchoolGraduated from John
W. Hallahan Catholic Girl's High School in 1939Was a loyal,
faithful member of St. Ignatius ParishOne of the builders
of the parishPersonally
knew Saint Katherine DrexelWorked in St.
Ignatius rectory for 25 yearsOne of the pillars
of St. Ignatius churchInvolved in many
parish activities and organizationsResponsible for the
parish being blessed with her offspring's involvement in our parishFirst
African-American to play the organ at West Catholic High School for GirlsWorked for the State
of PAPlayed the organ at
Wanamaker'sPolitician
and longtime member of St. IgnatiusBecame one of the
first Black Judges at State levelFirst
African-American lay director of religious educationDirector of
religious education at St. Ignatius from 1979 to 1992Member of
the St. Ignatius Council of the St. Vincent DePaul Society which was at
that time predominantly menRaised four
great-nieces and nephewsMember of St.
Ignatius Home and School Assoc.Community activistCYO ModeratorFund-raiser for the
altar serversVery
involved with the Mayor's Commission in many aspects, e.g. Victim/Witness
protection program, Citizen Health Advisory Commission, Phila Corp. on
Aging in regards to SSI, MA, Horizon
and better cooperation between the SSA Office and the Dept of WelfareMember of the St.
Ignatius Council of the St. Vincent DePaul SocietyKnights of
Columbus Knights of Peter
ClaverMember
of our parish Liturgy CommitteeDedicated
Usher, Lector, Sexton and RCIA and CCD instructor for St. Ignatius where
he was a member from 1964 until the day he diedBaptized
and confirmed at St. peter Claver Roman Catholic ChurchSergeant
first class in the US Army during WWII; served in the Army Reserves from
1945 to 1965Our
parish's oldest Altar-serverAffectionately
known as "The Pope"Five
feet tall, he was a giant to us allInvented
materials used to make rockets for space travelReceived Award from
James A. Hooper, American Security Council Executive Secretary of Space
Aeronautics, Washington, D.C. for above inventionPast Sexton at St.
IgnatiusPresently retired
antique collector searching for the "Fountain of Youth"First
African-American to graduate from Hallahan Catholic Girls High School,
1923Attended St.
Ignatius School when it was Holy Savior, a German School