St. John's Northwestern Military Academy

"St. John's Military Academy" redirects here. For other schools named St. John's Military Academy, see St. John's Academy.

St. John's Northwestern Military Academy (SJNMA) was founded in 1884 as St. John's Military Academy (SJMA) in Delafield, Wisconsin, by the Rev. Sidney T. Smythe as a private, college preparatory^[1] school. In 1995, Northwestern Military and Naval Academy (NMNA) in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, merged with St. John's Military Academy to become St. John's Northwestern Military Academy on the Delafield campus. In 2020, a Leadership Academy was added and the combined schools became St. John's Northwestern Academies. SJNA (St. John's Northwestern Academies) is a coed independent boarding and day school for boys and girls in grades 6–12. St. John's Northwestern Summer Academy offers Little Lancers Day Camp, Summer Academy Plus, and ESL courses.^[2]

St. John's Northwestern Academies
Location
1101 Genesee St. Delafield, Wisconsin United States
Information
Type	Coed Independent Boarding and Day School
Motto	Laborare, Ludere, Orare(Work Hard, Play Hard, Pray Hard)
Established	1884
President	Robert J. Fine, Jr.
Grades	6–12
Enrollment	185
Color(s)	Red, Black, White and Purple
Athletics	FALL SPORTS: Football, Soccer, Cross Country, JROTC Raiders, F-Tennis WINTER SPORTS: Basketball, Wrestling, Precision Air Rifle, NASP Archery SPRING SPORTS: Baseball, Golf, Tennis, SCTP Trap and Clays, JROTC Drill Team (Silver Rifles)
Team name	Lancers

Historic buildings

St. John's Northwestern campus consists of a collection of historic buildings, many with towers and battlements in a style that suggests a Medieval castle, with most of them arranged in a U around the drill field.

• The school's oldest surviving building is the 1857 rectory of St. John Chrysostom Church, a small Picturesque-style house which was repurposed in 1884 as the academy's first dormitory, infirmary and dining hall.^[3]
• Next is the odd Shingle style Memorial Hall, designed by John A. Moller with its two caps and built in 1893 as a recreational building/gymnasium.^[4]
• Next among the surviving buildings is the Dr. Sidney Thomas Smythe house, designed by John A. Moller and built in 1901, an unusual agglomeration of Shingle style (the massing) and Classical Revival (the Doric columns) styles. Smythe, the founder of the school, lived here, calling the house "Rosslyn."^[5]
• Knight Hall classroom building was added in 1902.

Smythe and DeKoven, with the Beacon in the middle distance

• Next was DeKoven Hall, designed in Collegiate Gothic style by Thomas Van Alyea and built in 1906, a four-story barracks/administration building with octagonal towers at the corners and battlements topping the walls.^[6]
• The dining hall and barracks Welles Hall was also added in 1906, designed by Van Alyea in a style similar to DeKoven Hall, but with a large square clock tower.^[7]
• The Beacon is a fieldstone monument built in 1923. It holds an eternal light and displays quotes from St. John's founder.^[8]
• Victory Memorial Chapel was built from 1921 to 1926, modeled by Van Alyea on the chapel at West Point, and clad in lannonstone.^[9]
• In 1927 the school added the two-story Hazelwood Hall designed by Van Alyea, housing barracks and classrooms,^[10] and it was expanded with Scott Johnston Hall in 1930, with a corner turret.^[11]
• Smythe Hall was added in 1929, a classroom designed by Van Alyea in a "castle" style like the previous buildings.^[12]

In 1977 these historic campus buildings were listed on the National Register of Historic Places for the complementary design of many of them and since the school is the oldest military academy in Wisconsin.^[1]

Notable alumni

• Ehab Amin, Egyptian basketball player^[13]
• Brandin Podziemski, Professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors
• Harold Huntley Bassett, United States Air Force major general^[14]
• Ralph Barnes, journalist^[15]
• Ed Bearss, Civil War historian, tour guide, and United States Marine Corps veteran^{[citation needed]}
• Roman R. Blenski, Wisconsin state politician^{[citation needed]}
• Eliot Bostar, member of the Nebraska Legislature
• Martin Breunig, German basketball player^[16]
• Donald Clough Cameron, writer of detective novels and comic books^[17]
• Jack Carson, actor in the 1940s and 1950s^[18]
• Theodore Case, chemist, physicist, inventor of the Movietone sound system^{[citation needed]}
• Ahmad Caver (born 1996), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League who played for the Memphis Hustle^[19]
• John M. Cavey, Wisconsin state politician^{[citation needed]}
• Tom T. Chamales (SJMA, 1942), writer and veteran of U.S. Army's Merrill's Marauders^{[citation needed]}
• Edward A. Craig (SJMA 1917), U.S. Marine Corps officer who commanded combat units during World War II and the Korean War.^[20]
• Darroll DeLaPorte, American football player in the Milwaukee Badgers^[21]
• Donald Freed, playwright, novelist, teacher and activist^{[citation needed]}
• Daniel Gerber (SJMA 1916), founder and president of Gerber Baby Foods.^[1]
• Nick Gravenites (did not graduate), blues, rock and folk singer for Electric Flag^[22]
• John A. Hazelwood, Wisconsin state politician^[23]
• Reggie Hayes, actor, screenwriter and director^{[citation needed]}
• Trévon Hughes (2006), basketball player in the Israeli National League^[24]
• George Kennan (SJMA 1922), U.S. Ambassador to the USSR (1952) and Yugoslavia. He helped develop the Marshall Plan for reconstruction of Europe after World War II.^[1]
• Monte Merkel, American football player for the Chicago Bears^[25]
• Frank Merrill (SJMA 1967), equestrian^[26]
• Sankar Montoute, American football player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.^[27]
• Alex Moyer, American football player for the Miami Dolphins^{[citation needed]}
• Thomas Cebern Musgrave Jr., United States Air Force major general^[28]
• Adam Rapp, novelist, playwright, musician and film director^[29]
• Frank C. Rathje (SJMA, did not graduate, honorary 1959), Chicago banker and lawyer^[30][31]
• Jack Riley, American football player for the Boston Redskins^[32]
• Curtis Roosevelt (NMNA 1948), the eldest grandson of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was a statesman who served as a delegate representing the United States to the United Nations.^[33]
• Daniel Rostenkowski (SJMA 1946), Illinois Democratic leader in the U.S. House of Representatives.^[34]
• Walter G. Schindler, highly decorated vice admiral in the United States Navy^[35]
• Tony Schumacher, award-winning drag racer^[36]
• Jayapataka Swami (Gordon John Erdman II, SJMA 1965), Hare Krishna guru.
• Martín Torrijos (SJMA 1981), President of Panama.^[37]
• Spencer Tracy (NMNA 1919–1920, non-graduate), two-time Academy Award–winning actor.^[33]
• Ty Warner (SJMA 1962), CEO and founder of Ty Inc., manufacturer of Beanie Babies.^[38]
• Minor Watson, character actor known for films in the 1940s^[39]
• Harold J. Week, Wisconsin state politician^{[citation needed]}
• Ronnie Williams, basketball player^{[citation needed]}
• George Wilson (SJMA 1933), NFL end with the Chicago Bears (1937–46). He later coached the Detroit Lions to the NFL Championship Game, 1957 NFL Championship before becoming the first coach of the Miami Dolphins.
• Harry Wismer, sports broadcaster and the charter owner of the New York Titans (now the New York Jets).^[40]
• Cornelius T. Young, Wisconsin state politician^{[citation needed]}
• Tony Zielinski (SJMA 1979), politician in Milwaukee, Wisconsin^[41]

Notes

1. Katherine E. Hundt (October 10, 1977). NRHP Inventory/Nomination: St. John's Hall. National Park Service. Retrieved October 11, 2019. With eight photos.
2. "About Us". St. John's Northwestern Academies. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
3. "St. John Chrysostom Church Rectory". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
4. "Memorial Hall". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
5. "Smythe House". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
6. "DeKoven Hall". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
7. "Welles Hall". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
8. "The Beacon". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
9. "Victory Memorial Chapel". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
10. "Hazelwood Hall". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
11. "Scott Johnston Hall". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
12. "Smythe Hall". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
13. Martinez, Quinton (March 9, 2017). "Amin's journey to A&M-CC has spanned more than a decade". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
14. "MAJOR GENERAL HAROLD HUNTLEY BASSETT". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012.
15. "Guide to the Ralph W. Barnes papers 1918-1943". Mark O. Hatfield Library. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
16. "Martin Breunig Bio - University of Washington Official Athletic Site". GoHuskies.com. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
17. "Novelist Cameron Is Dead". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. November 19, 1951. p. 11. Retrieved June 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
18. Foster, Charles (2003). Once Upon a Time in Paradise: Canadians in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Dundurn. pp. 59–77. ISBN 9781550024647. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
19. Miller, Ed (February 17, 2017). "ODU guard Ahmad Caver went to great lengths to be noticed". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
20. "Lieutenant General Edward A. Craig". Marine Corps University. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
21. "Darroll DeLaporte". Database Football.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
22. Gravenites, Nick (1995). "Bad Talkin' Bluesman". Blues Revue (18–26). ISSN 1091-7543.
23. "Who's Who in the Wisconsin Capitol". Wisconsin State Journal. August 1, 1918. p. 2. Retrieved June 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
24. "Trevon Hughes High School Info". uwbadgers.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2015.
25. "MONTE MERKEL". profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
26. McDonnell, Brandy (November 10, 2002). "Wild About Horses Merrill Family Continues To Beat Odds With Successful Horse Breeding Ranch". The Oklahoman. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
27. "Sankar Montoute". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
28. "Biographies : MAJOR GENERAL THOMAS CEBERN MUSGRAVE JR". Archived from the original on July 16, 2012.
29. "Life Story". Goodman Theatre. May 4, 2021. Archived from the original on June 12, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
30. Official Reference Book. The Club. 1922. p. 114 – via Internet Archive. frank rathje.
31. "St. John's NMA: Honored Old Boy of the Year". Archived from the original on January 4, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
32. "Jack Riley". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
33. Schoettler, Daniel (September 2, 2019). "Military academy may get monumental homecoming". Lee Newspapers. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
34. "Rostenkowski, Daniel David". History, Art & Archives. United States House of Representatives. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
35. "Admiral Schindler to speak in Iberia during sugar fete – The Daily Iberian, 23 September 1957, Monday Page 1". newspapers.com. newspapers.com archive Websites. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
36. "Schumacher hopes to race into spotlight". Star Tribune. August 17, 2000. p. C6. Retrieved June 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
37. Leonard, Thomas M. (2014). Historical Dictionary of Panama. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 274–275. ISBN 978-0810878358. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
38. Smith, Bryan (May 2014). "Behind the Beanie Babies: The Secret Life of Ty Warner". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
39. "(untitled brief)". Illinois, Alton. Alton Evening Telegraph. January 6, 1908. p. 3. Retrieved June 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
40. "Sports Figure Harry Wismer Taken By Death". The Times Herald. Port Huron, MI. December 4, 1967. p. 2. Retrieved June 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
41. "Alderman Zielinski's Biography". city.milwaukee.gov. April 8, 2006. Archived from the original on March 5, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2019.

External links

• Official website