To justify its existence every book must have a purpose. That of the Alumni Directory is to bring back memories of James Madison and the three or four years each class spends within its walls. It is meant to evoke warm feelings of a time when life was innocent, carefree and less complex.

What is this Madison we are attempting to record for posterity…and for our own nostalgic thoughts many years hence? Well, Madison is a high school, and it is made of the same kind of red bricks as are most of its counterparts. But we are not outsiders, and never shall be. Our memories consist of an emotional grab bag of happiness, comedy, sadness, nostalgia and more. We belong to Madison and it belongs to us.

Graduation need not be a severance of the students’ connection with their school. The Directory bridges the distance, no matter how great or small it may be, between the alumni and Madison. The Alumni Association has compiled the present directory with the hope that in years to come it will be opened again and again. If, in the near or distant future, this record is contemplated with satisfaction and enjoyment, that will be the reward of our labor.

THE NAMING OF JAMES MADISON HIGH SCHOOL

In an ever changing world there are certain universal concepts which constitute the only solid framework to which the young and inexperienced may cling. Among these concepts is democracy.

That spirit of regard and respect for the rights and feelings of other human beings is a reassuring sign to the entering student.

The keynote of our school, (“Education Is The True Foundation Of Civil Liberty”), is in harmony with the major chord of the character of the man for whom it is named…JAMES MADISON, Father of the Constitution.

THE HISTORY OF MADISON

The white rabbit put on his spectacles, “where shall I begin, please your Majesty?” he asked.
“Begin at the beginning, ”the king said, very gravely,” and go on ‘till you come to the end; then stop.”
Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland)

To remember the Madison experience you really must start by remembering Brooklyn. All of us take it for granted that it was really a superlative place in which to grow up. We had well groomed apartment houses and quiet tree lined neighborhoods. There were endless schoolyards where you could play after school and weekends. We had a myriad of sports available. You could play basketball, football, softball, stickball, and these schoolyards turned out a legion of Madison Stars.

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In Brooklyn and in Flatbush you didn’t need cars. The BMT would take you every place, although sometimes it was slightly crowded. But locally you could resort to the wonderful Coney Island Avenue trolleys to take you around.

We had big screen movies and we had neighborhood theaters. Look at that price! Ten cents!

We had our own newspaper, the BROOKLYN EAGLE. There were magnificent libraries and top flight Colleges. There was Brighton Beach and Coney Island which, essentially, were our Hamptons. NATHANS! Was there ever a better hotdog? And note the 5 cent price. Kings Highway was our shopping center, Luiginos our hangout, and for upscale dining, in Sheepshead Bay there was LUNDY’S.

The 50’s were a golden age for the BOYS OF SUMMER. Maybe you can remember them. Furillo, Robinson, Campanella, Reese, Snyder, Roe and Hodges. But who can forget that October day in 1955 when we WON IT ALL. And the elation of that day can best be described by the words “WHO’S A BUM”?

This was our Madison World. While the cars and some of the population have changed, the school truly retains its character today. It is ranked among the very top schools in the city of New York in every respect. Since 1938 we have had an active Student Government Organization in Madison. The SGO consists of three major groups: the Executive Board, the Cabinet, and the House of Representatives.

In 1952, seven years after the ending of World War II, Madison held its dedication of the war memorial murals. They were painted in the auditorium by Abraham Joel Tobias, and entitled The Sacrifice of Youth for Democracy and The Fulfillment of Youth Under Democracy.

In the year 2000 hundreds of Madison Alums came together at Leonard’s of Great Neck, in a wonderful Reunion celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Madison. While fondly remembering the past, we also spoke about seeking ways to support and encourage the promising students of today’s JMHS so that they may realize their dreams and ambitions also.

The Senior Class has privileged times which they celebrate, such as Senior Hat Day, Dressed for Success Day, Seventies Day, Crazy Hair Day, Senior Jersey Day, Pajamas Day, Tie Day, Diva Day, Hippie Day, College Sweatshirt Day and The Senior Ski Trip.

Remember…Boosters, Go-Getters, Cheerleaders, Twirlers, Honor Girls, Arista, Orchestra, Chorus, Mock Trial Team, Moot Court Team and many more clubs. These organizations and activities provided strong opportunities for developing new and lifelong friendships. There was the Math Team, which won the city championship in 1955 and in 1999. In 2003, Mrs. Lerner’s Moot Court Team of the Law Institute, defeated Stuyvesant High School in the final round at the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court.

We wrote in each others Logs how great you were, I know you’ll be successful, and let’s keep in touch. But when we walked down Bedford Avenue for the last time as Madisonians, little did we know that many of us would not see each other until forty or more years later.

Our alumni have won Academy Awards, Pulitzer Prizes and Nobel Prizes. They have become a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, U.S. Congressmen, a Borough President, Judges, Attorney’s General, Medical and Research Scientists, Media stars, Renowned Artists, a National Teachers Union President, College Presidents, Sports Professionals, Authors, and more, much more.

In order to honor the achievements of our outstanding alumni the Alumni Association has instituted the “Wall of Distinction” as a special tribute. The “Wall” represents the opportunity to recognize the extraordinary achievements of our alumni and honor the school that prepared them. These distinguished graduates have been recognized and honored by the JMHS Alumni Association. The “Wall of Distinction” which is proudly displayed in the main lobby of Madison serves as a beacon of inspiration to the hundreds of thousands of students who will view it during this millennium. Each year several new members will be added, so that the “Wall” will be filled with an impressive array of alumni.

WONDERFUL TIME, WONDERFUL MEMORIES, WONDERFUL MADISON.