A Look Back, March 11

50 Years Ago

■A former Northampton Junior College teacher and administrator has been named chairman of the Massachusetts Commission for Occupational Education. Henry N. Trow, a Northampton resident for many years, will succeed Dr. Raymond Ostrander of Sandwich.

■A mass will be offered at St. Mary’s Church on March 26 in honor of the 25th anniversary of service of the Most Rev. Christopher J. Weldon to the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Springfield. Bishop Weldon was consecrated the fourth bishop of Springfield on March 24, 1950, in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City.

25 Years Ago

■After 40 years in education, 27 of those as a superintendent, Bruce E. Willard will retire as administrator of the Northampton school system next year. Willard told School Committee members Thursday he will leave after eight years in the position on April 3, 2001, his 64th birthday.

■Students from outside Northampton will continue to be able to enroll in city schools in September. The School Committee voted Thursday to stay in the state program that allows such transfers. The decision prompted debate among committee members, pitting philosophical and ethical arguments against financial needs.

10 Years Ago

■Millions of people watching the quiz show “Jeopardy” Monday night saw Northampton poet and Smith College employee Jennifer Jabaily Blackburn come from behind to win the show and take home $19,700. Blackburn works as an administrative assistant at Smith College in the Poetry Center and the department of French studies.

■Mayor David J. Narkewicz is one of 226 mayors to sign a friend-of-the-court brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to support marriage equality and uphold the right of gay and lesbian couples to marry. “I was pleased and proud to add my name,” Narkewicz said Monday.