John Francis Shea, Jr. [1567] ¹

  General Notes:

Notre Dame Victory March
Without a doubt the most recognizable collegiate fight song in the nation, the "Notre Dame Victory March" was written just past the turn of the century by two brothers who were University of Notre Dame graduates.
Michael J. Shea, a 1905 graduate, wrote the music and his brother, John F. Shea, who earned degrees in 1906 and 1908, wrote the words. The song was copyrighted in 1908 and a piano version, complete with lyrics, was published that year.
Michael, who became a priest in Ossining, N.Y., collaborated on the project with John, who lived in Holyoke, Mass. The song's public debut came in the winter of 1908 when Michael played it on the organ of the Second Congregational Church in Holyoke.
The "Notre Dame Victory March" later was presented by the Shea brothers to the University and it first appeared under the copyright of the University of Notre dame in 1928. The copyright was assigned to the publishing company of Edwin H. Morris and the copyright for the beginning of the song is still in effect.
The words and music which begin with the words "Cheer, cheer for Old Notre Dame" are in the public domain in the United States, but are protected in all territories outside of the country.
Notre Dame's fight song was first performed at Notre Dame on Easter Sunday, 1909, in the rotunda of the Administration Building. The University of Notre Dame band, under the direction of Prof. Clarence Peterson, played it as part of its athletic event 10 years later. In 1969, as college football celebrated its centennial, the "Notre Dame Victory March" was honored as the "greatest of all fight songs."
Michael Shea was the pastor of St. Augustine's Church in Ossining until his death in 1938. John Shea, a baseball monogram winner at Notre Dame, became a Massachusetts state senator and live in Holyoke until his death in 1965.
Lyrics:
Rally sons of Notre Dame:
Sing her glory and sound her fame,
Raise her Gold and Blue
And cheer with voices true:
Rah, rah, for Notre Dame
We will fight in ev-ry game,
Strong of heart and true to her name
We will ne'er forget her
And will cheer her ever
Loyal to Notre Dame
Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame,
Wake up the echoes cheering her name,
Send a volley cheer on high,
Shake down the thunder from the sky.
What though the odds be great or small
Old Notre Dame will win over all,
While her loyal sons are marching
Onward to victory.

  Research Notes:

Social Security Death Index
Name: John Shea SSN: 016-05-3205 Last Residence: 01104 Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States of America Born:8 Jul 1887 Died: Sep 1966 State (Year) SSN issued: Massachusetts (Before 1951 )

  Noted events in his life were:

• Graduate: Notre Dame University, 1908, Notre Dame, Indiana. ⁴

• Graduate: Notre Dame University, 1906, Notre Dame, Indiana.

• He had a web site at D:\Shared\Genealogy\Notes\Shea\nd-fightsong.pdf.

• He appeared on the census in 1920 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ⁵

• He appeared on the census in 1910 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ⁶

• He appeared on the Federal census in 1900 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ⁷

• He worked as a Real Estate, Insurance Agent in 1920 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ⁵

• He was elected as Massachusetts State Senator 1921 to 1924 in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. ³ SHEA, JOHN FRANCIS, 95 Lexington Ave., Holyoke, 2nd Hampden Senatorial Dis-
trict, Republican. Two two year terms.
Committees: Public Health (Chairman), Public Institutions, Street Railways, Ways & Means.

There are references in the "Journal of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts", 1856 Volume 3
By Massachusetts. General Court. House of Representatives
Public documents of Massachusetts 1896, Volume 11,

• Membership: Circus Fans Association, 1942, Boston, Massachusetts. ⁸

• His obituary was published in the New York Times on 24 Oct 1965 in New York, New York.