The O'Donovan Rifles named in his honor
Since 1951, the Honor Company of the La Salle Cadets drill team has been called the O'Donovan Rifles in honor of the late Major James J. O'Donovan. This is a fitting tribute, since O'Donovan was during the years 1938-1941 a professor of Military Science and Tactics at La Salle Institute, and was a rifle drill instructor there.
Snippet below from La Salle Institute Webpage
Extracurricular JROTC activities enhance the entire cadet by providing teamwork and leadership opportunities to deepen military knowledge, engage in skills training and demonstrate their pride in La Salle Institute.
Drill Teams
Drill teams include the McCormicks (Junior Varsity) and the O’Donovans (Varsity). The teams are composed of students that are interested in the fine art of Military Drill. As a JV member, cadets practice drill without the use of weapons. Once they progress to Varsity, they will be able to compete at armed events. The teams participate in several performances throughout the year and engage in competitions with other JROTC Schools in New York and New England. They march in most of the local parades, and compete annually at the national drill competitions in Florida.
This Document was sent to me from a nephew of James O'Donovan. He probably obtained it during an early period of the O'Donovan Rifles Inauguration, perhaps even at the beginning. It seems that the members of the O'Donovan Rifles would have received a brief history of the name of their outfit by way of this memo.
The following newspaper articles discussing some of the history of the La Salle Cadet Regiment, and the organization of O'Donovan Rifles in 1951
Class Picture of James O'Donovan's high school, La Salle Institute. I received a copy of this from the archives of La Salle Institute, for which I thank the generous La Salle Staff.
