Ninety Years of Faith, Knowledge, Service

NINETY YEARS OF FAITH, KNOWLEDGE, SERVICE The words echo, reverberating across auditoriums, classrooms, fields…a tradition of Faith, Knowledge, Service.

The message resonates, inspiring the hearts and spirits of students, faculty, staff…a tradition of Faith, Knowledge, Service.

The legacy grows, in the memories of dedicated alumni, living and dead, who have served, who have led, who have formed the long purple line…a tradition of Faith, Knowledge, Service.

For the ninetieth time, a late summer

Father Ryan has become a leader, not

morning is dawning and a set of doors,

only in this community but also across the

rich with the patina of high school

nation. It has been a place of knowledge,

students’ hands, opens to welcome

it has been a leader in the fight for social

another group of young men and women

justice and it has been an incubator of

to explore and to embrace the traditions

ideas that have guided our alumni across

that are Father Ryan High School. From

the world.

the announcement by Bishop Alphonse

Interestingly, this year’s celebration—

Smith in 1925 that he was opening a high

the 90th, so round and balanced and

school for boys—Nashville Catholic High

strong in its look—echoes historic and

School—Catholic families from throughout the area, many of

significant anniversaries of other Irish moments, ones that have

them immigrants to this country, welcomed a place for their

made this community cheer, ones that have made this community

children to learn in a place that championed their faith. Bishop

proud. Take a look at the years, take a look at the numbers, and

Smith’s vision remains alive, and over these ensuing decades

smile at the impact of Father Ryan, our 2014-2015 Honoree.

Tour 90 years of Faith, Knowledge, Service

Ninety years of education expressed in words like, “it’s a great day to be Irish,” “you will be known, you will be loved,” “education beyond the intellect.” Ninety years of young men and women leading their school and leading their nation. Ninety years of tradition. The refrain echoes again.

The first class graduates, having enjoyed a state basketball title and the first year of the Purple Masque Players

The school opens on West End Avenue

First athletic teams–football, basketball and baseball. Today there are 21.

Father Ryan opens on Elliston Place

The Class of 1945, distinguished as a group for their leadership in national civil rights, education, government, media and service…many of the men of this class and those before are part of the Greatest Generation

That’s the number of Father Ryan alumni and faculty who served in World War II; the school’s distinctive Hero Project has honored many.

In 1954 Father Ryan leads the nation as the first school in the state, in the South (along with Cathedral High School) to integrate its classrooms after the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. Principal Fr. Francis Shea delivers his oft-quoted line: “We don’t have black students or white students; we have Father Ryan students.”

In 1965, Father Ryan defeats Pearl before 8,300 in the first game in the South between an integrated team and an allblack team.

Father Ryan integrates athletics in the South, welcoming Willie Brown ’65 and Jesse Porter ’64 to the basketball team

Golf wins the State title, with future U.S. Open Champion Lou Graham ’56 leading the team; Wrestling claims its first of 20 titles, becoming the first team outside of Chattanooga to claim the crown; and Volleyball becomes a TSSAA sport, the second for women, later earning its first state title in 1992; and the total of state athletic titles in school history.

1970—the uniforms now include skirts.

Father Ryan enrolls its first female students.

Father Ryan opens for school on Norwood, its third campus ever.

Elements of the old adorn the new; the doors from Elliston Place, the stone from the building, and the spirit of thousands of alumni.

Father Ryan’s commitment to social justice continues, becoming the first high school in the nation to go brandless, removing the logos of athletic apparel manufacturers who don’t respect worker rights.

The number of principals in the school’s history, 10 of them priests

Number 6 – Bishop David Choby ’65 is installed as Bishop of Nashville, the sixty bishop in Father Ryan’s history and the second alumnus to hold this position.

The first on-campus athletic complex in Father Ryan history opens as the Jim Carell Alumni Athletic Complex, and Friday nights come alive with a new tradition.

Father Ryan receives its 90th National Merit Finalist, and two students receive military academy appointments, bringing to 25 the total appointments since 2000 (and more than 35 in the school’s history.

Faith, Knowledge, Service.